• Shop
  • I support the UBE
  • I register

    • “It’s very important to know and understand other cultures for our personal development”

    “It’s very important to know and understand other cultures for our personal development”

    Dijon. Darcy Garden.

    Andreia-Ileana, from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies in Romania, spent a semester of her second year of Master’s studies at Université Bourgogne Europe in 2013/2014 on an Erasmus exchange. She gives us a first-hand account of her time here.

    I decided to go to France because it is a country with a rich history. Université Bourgogne Europe has a good reputation among French universities and the city of Dijon is calm but at the same time a student city with lots of international students.

    Knowing the French language is a big asset in the professional world and the best way of learning French is to be in France. The language barrier was one of my biggest fears when I arrived in France. I studied French in Romania but once you are in France it is difficult to speak French without an accent. But I improved by studying a lot and by speaking with French people.

    Before arriving I had a beginner’s level and after my stay here I progressed to an advanced intermediate level. At the beginning I had difficulty understanding the classes but conversations with my friends and colleagues were essential in passing my exams with good marks.

    French life

    I lived in a Crous student residence where I paid 204 euros per month for a room. During my stay here I was able to meet lots of international friends with whom I often went on walks.

    I also visited other cities in France: Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rennes, Saint-Malo, Beaune… I find French culture and history very interesting. I think it is important to know and understand other cultures for our personal development.

    I really liked the historical centre of Dijon and Darcy Square. I really enjoyed how calm the city was. I also discovered French cuisine and I love quiche lorraine! And when it comes to boys, I am sorry but Romanians are the best!

    If I had to choose my best experience here I would say it would be the friendships which I made during my stay in Dijon. I would change absolutely nothing if I could do it again! A message for students who want to come to UBE? Discover, try new things and make the most of it!

    More information: UBE’s International Office

    Co-financed by the European Union.