The Important Dos and Don’ts of Getting a Master’s Degree in France
As American students in our final year of studies in France, Jalen and I know exactly what it takes to survive in French graduate school as international students. We’re sharing our top tips to make your experience as a student in France as straightforward and rewarding as possible. Read on to discover the dos and don’ts of getting a master’s degree in France!
The Dos of Getting a Master’s Degree in France
Do Learn French
While to some it may seem obvious, many students come to France for their studies without speaking much French at all. While it’s true that some French universities offer degree programs taught completely in English, students lacking a good command of the French language miss out on the full range of available opportunities. Furthermore, speaking French makes for easy communication with peers, professors, and university administrators – all of which are key to a successful experience in French graduate school.
Do Budget Carefully
The best things in life are free…except for studying in France! Though tuition fees for public French university remain inexpensive for foreign students, budgeting for rent, public transportation, phone service, groceries, and leisure activities is absolutely necessary. Realistically evaluating your financial situation and planning your spending in advance will allow you to focus on your studies instead of on your bank account.
Do Use Your Resources
University is challenging, and that’s why French schools offer resources that French students and international students alike should utilize to their advantage. The services provided by the Direction des Relations Extérieures et du Développement International (DREDI), the Bibliothèque universitaire (BU), the Bureau de la Vie Étudiante (BVE), the Service Universitaire des Activités Physiques et Sportives (SUAPS), and the Service Universitaire de Médecine Préventive et de Promotion de la Santé (SUMPPS) are meant to facilitate student life and should not be ignored!
Do Reach Out For Help
You don’t have to go it alone! Closing yourself off to the help of your classmates, educators, and admin is a surefire way to fail. Whether you’re confused about an assignment, lost on campus, can’t find a book in the library, or just need someone to talk to, suffering in silence may save you a moment of embarrassment, but it will only harm you in the long run. Whether their struggles are big or small, intelligent international master’s degree students in France ask for help.
Do Know Your Benefits
Inexpensive CROUS meals, free access to museums and libraries, discounts at the theater and the movies, and cheaper public transportation subscriptions are just some of the benefits that come with being a student in France. Carry your student card with you at all times to ensure you can benefit from student discounts wherever you are, all while giving yourself a little extra wiggle room in what is likely a tight student budget!
Do Cultivate Patience
Patience is a virtue that you must develop as a foreign student in France. Consider, for example, that I didn’t know until September 1st that the second year of my master’s degree was to begin on September 6th, and that our class schedule changed dozens of times throughout the year with little rhyme or reason! International students must learn to thrive in a system where deadlines are sometimes unclear and knowing key dates months in advance just isn’t possible. Letting go of the need to feel fully in control is the only way to prosper in French university.
The Don’ts of Getting a Master’s Degree in France
Don’t Put Off Necessities
All too often, we see candidates that hope to attend French university flounder at the last minute to fulfill time-sensitive application requirements. For example, it is absolutely vital that applicants know the tests they are required to take to be admitted to French university, like language certifications (ex. TCF, DELF, DALF) and aptitude tests (ex. Score IAE-Message), as well as the documents they need to assemble in advance, like diplomas, transcripts, work contracts, and translations. Being a person who prepares in advance will not only lead to a strong application, but to triumph in French graduate school.
Don’t Buy School Supplies
Thinking about buying tons of binders, folders, notebooks, pens, sticky notes, or even textbooks before school starts? Don’t waste your money! Would you believe that the only item Jalen and I ever purchased for our master’s degrees was a single pack of lined paper? It’s true! All we really needed to succeed in French university was a reliable laptop, and anything beyond that was purely optional. We recommend that you go to a few classes to get a feel for your program before sinking any money into school supplies that you may never use.
Don’t Misunderstand Your Time
French university requires a huge time commitment. During the first year of our master’s degrees, we spent 26 to 29 hours per week in class, and that’s not counting time spent on homework, projects, or studying! When you add up school requirements and basic tasks like keeping your living space tidy, taking care of your personal hygiene, and getting enough sleep, there’s not much time left to do anything else. If your plan to support yourself in France requires you to work a hefty amount of hours weekly or if enrolling in a program is mostly an excuse to hang out abroad, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Don’t Assume It’s Like Home
How different can French university really be from school in your home country? You might be surprised at the number of dissimilarities you’ll find! A rigid mindset will make you closed off to your new academic environment and won’t allow you to adapt appropriately. Instead of finding fault with the differences of the French education system, successful international students open their minds to new norms. Changing your paradigm will empower you to acclimate more easily and to appreciate French education for what it is!
Don’t Misinterpret Your Visa
Understanding the terms of your residence permit as a foreigner in France is non-negotiable. International students in France must be intimately familiar with the process of obtaining their first visa, renewing their residence permit, and changing their status after their studies if they want to stay within the legal bounds of their residency. Furthermore, working restrictions mean that working remotely, monetizing online content, or working beyond the maximum number of hours aren’t permitted, and ignoring these restrictions can spell trouble with the French authorities.
Don’t Get Behind
Procrastination is a foreign student in France’s worst enemy. Many French university programs require students to find internships and write master’s theses while simultaneously attending classes and completing coursework. Neglecting to regularly make progress on such long-term requirements will be a death blow to the completion of your degree. Given that French graduate programs expect students to be independent and self-motivated, it’s all the more essential that international students don’t fall behind on these tasks.
Keeping these dos and don’ts in mind is the first step in achieving your goal of graduating from French university. Have more questions about our experience as American master’s degree students in France? Leave us a comment!
One Comment
Valerie Lim
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