Through hardships to an exchange program: Nina Lebedeva on life in France and studying at ESCP Business School
Nina Lebedeva, a first-year student of the “Strategic Management and Consulting” program, shares what not to do before going on an exchange, what to expect when interacting with the French, and what to keep in mind when renting private housing.
Who hasn’t dreamed of studying abroad? It always seems so distant and unattainable. But the International Office at GSB offers students a great opportunity not only to spend a semester on exchange but also to earn a degree from a foreign university.
At the beginning of the academic year, I learned about the exchange program at one of the events. I immediately got excited about the idea of going abroad and seeing how the learning process works there. Collecting the documents took a lot of time and effort. Finally, everything was sent, and I had to wait for the results. My passport was expiring in August 2022. I didn’t want to take any chances and decided to apply for a new one. Risky move. Time was ticking, and passport processing isn't fast. Then, one morning, I received the long-awaited email with a positive response. I got accepted to ESCP Business School. Who would’ve thought? A dream come true! The first business school in the world, its Master in Management program ranks 7th globally, it’s located in the historical center of Paris, and that’s just the beginning of its advantages. When I applied, I couldn’t even dream of getting in. But there it was – the acceptance letter in my inbox, my new passport still not ready, and me already writing my confirmation of participation.
Then came the French visa saga. The website of the French Embassy is not as straightforward as it may seem. You really have to dig to find what you need. I got my passport exactly one month and a week before departure. All the fees were paid, the documents submitted. My visa was issued the day before the flight. I highly recommend not doing it this way – apply early. The embassy reopened on January 4 after the holidays, and I picked up my visa right before it closed. My flight was on January 5 at 8:00 AM. Was it luck? No – networking. If I hadn’t kept calling and politely telling them how desperately I needed my visa that day, I wouldn’t have gone. But better not to find yourself in that situation at all.
We had booked housing back in early December. We bought insurance. We submitted documents to apply for the local French health insurance system (AMELI). It’s a useful thing – it covers things like vaccinations and PCR tests. We applied for the student transport card NAVIGO. Big mistake. Sure, it sounds tempting to get a card for €350 for the whole year. But we only received the card in February. Two months of waiting. And we only got it after asking a French acquaintance to call the transport company for us. The French are not in a rush — neither in delivery nor in life. It’s much more convenient to apply for the monthly NAVIGO card (€75/month). To get one, you’ll need to provide your student ID and your rental agreement. You’ll get the card right away. If someone tells you it’s unavailable because you’re not a resident, confidently explain that you’re a university student with permanent housing — and that your friend has already gotten the card.
France is a country that smells like croissants, with blooming gardens and stunning architecture. But also — watch out for scammers. My bank card was stolen. Be careful.
If you go anytime soon, you’ll likely face issues with money transfers. It’s an unpleasant and costly problem. Currently, there are two ways to transfer money: 1) through crypto exchanges (rates are usually +10 RUB) or 2) with help from friends abroad. Next issue – opening a bank account. I was rejected by about five banks. But I managed to register with the online bank REVOLUT (when registering, be sure to indicate that you're a Russian tax resident — otherwise, your incoming transfers might get blocked). This account helped me survive for the last two months. I couldn’t withdraw cash, but Apple Pay worked just fine.
The students at the school were very open and friendly. At the beginning, they would always ask how my family was doing, how they could help, and offered kind words of support. I never experienced a single hostile look. The only real challenge was with the banks. Also, Russian citizens are not eligible for Tax Free refunds. I didn’t notice any price spikes for groceries (despite media reports about empty shelves and inflation — we didn’t see any of that). Food has always been more expensive than in Russia. Electricity is pricey, though. Be prepared. If you live in a dorm, it’s one thing. If you rent privately, it’s something else entirely. For five months in a one-room apartment, I paid over €800 for electricity (the heating was electric; the space was 25 m²).
Many people messaged me asking whether it’s worth going. My answer is always — yes! For me, it was an incredible opportunity to see how international students study, how they interact and build friendships, to meet amazing professors, take part in various events (lectures, roundtables, fun social gatherings), study in the library, gather with classmates to work on cases, improve language skills (including learning to understand different accents — oh, those Indian accents!), and feel like a movie character. And that’s just a small part of what this journey can offer you.
