Studying at the Sorbonne: The Costs
I’ve been
getting a few messages from prospective students around the world about
studying at the Sorbonne. It’s exciting and terrifying to hear from people just
starting their journey, and I can imagine all of the questions they have.
Essentially my memory of starting at the Sorbonne in 2010 was one giant
question mark over my head.
How will I
make ends meet? Will I understand the professors? Will the work be too hard? Am
I too old? Am I too experienced? Am I not experienced enough? What will I WEAR?
Here I am,
over three years later, still making it, trudging away at my doctorate. For
those just starting in the undergrad or masters programs, however, there is of
course much advice I could give you. So I will. While I love to answer
questions via email, I want to make some information instantly handy, so
hopefully you’ll find some answers here regarding practical information for the
Université de Paris system (note: I am no expert at all on the Grandes Ecoles,
like ENS and Sciences Po, but a lot of the same info will apply).
If you have
burning questions, or themes you’d like covered, let me know! But why not start
with the most pressing: money.
Students can work the equivalent of 20 hours a week, which doesn’t amount to
much if you’re making 8-10 euros per hour. Don’t rule out other student jobs,
like tour guiding for backpacker groups or looking for a paid internship (good
luck!), but whatever the case may be, there are a few notes to keep in mind.
Student
life can be rough in a city known as one of the most expensive in the world,
but fear not. Money woes need not prohibit studying in Paris if you know what
you’re doing…
1. Essentials:
Housing can be had for as little as 450 euros if you’re OK with sleeping in a
closet or sharing a flat with others. You'll have to dig to find a place, and beware of scams on Craigslist, but it is entirely possible! Affordable housing at the CitéUniversitaire are notoriously rare, but apply for them well in advance to try
and secure a spot. After rent, the rest of Paris is doable. Cell service can be
had for 20-30 euros a month while internet and landline boxes can be had for
15-30 euros a month depending on the service.
2. Getting
Around: Student metro cards, called the Imagine R, are the best way to tackle
the city. On the weekends, they will even let you go out to the airport or to
Versailles even if you only have the zone 1-2 card that costs 35 euros a month (Versailles
is in zone 4!). Otherwise, used bikes (available on leboincoin.fr or
craigslist, for example) are another cheap and healthy way to get from home to
campus. I got my most recent one for 90 euros, but the lock will set you back
another 30-40. Call it an investment piece.
 |
| Take a seat...it's cheap! |
3. Eating:
Students don’t eat fabulously unless their parents are oil tycoons, but they
eat just fine – if not more memorably than most visitors to Paris. For fewer
than 4 euros, you can get a copious meal at any of the Resto-U, or university cafeterias, using
your student card. Student “formules”
abound around university locations, meaning a baguette sandwich, pastry, and
drink could only set you back 5-7 euros. Lebanese fast food, falafel, and
Japanese food are also affordable favorites among students. For those with at
least a hotplate, outdoor markets offer literally kilos of food for mere euros,
while the Asian supermarkets (in Belleville, for example) are the best for
stocking up on the essentials like rice and canned goods (and in my case,
peanut butter).
4.
Socializing: Student discounts galore! Movies, museums (if you’re 26 years old
and younger), Erasmus parties, tourist attractions, etc. – being a student in
Paris has its perks. It may be one of, if not the best city to be a student. In the spring and summer, outdoor
festivals, open air cinemas, and dancing along the Seine are all free and great
ways to meet locals. In the autumn and fall, you can walk around the see the
window displays and lights at Christmas, spend an all-nighter exploring art
installations city-wide during the Nuit Blanche, or visit undiscovered
monuments for free at the Journée de la
Patrimoine. The city is your oyster (note: oysters are typically
expensive…).
5. Tuition:
The best part? School costs next to nothing. Non-EU students have to pay a
supplementary fee for social security, but plan on allotting 500 euros to educational
costs – for the year! That means every euro you have left can go to
experiencing all that the city has to offer.
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