Finishing high school can be stressful, especially if you know that you will have to move out on your own. Choosing where you are going to study is a big step in every young adult’s life. Thousands of French students are in that situation every year, along with international students that decide to come to France for their studies.
How do you decide where you should go?
As a foreign student, it was very hard to decide where I wanted to pursue my studies but let me tell you why I ended up choosing Grenoble.
The city itself
Grenoble, also known as the Capital of the Alps, is a French southeastern city in the middle of three mountains: Chartreuse, Vercors, and Belledonne. It is also the capital of the department of Isère in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
It is at a perfect distance from other cities like Lyon or Paris, which lets you explore France as often as you can during your studies.
The city is small enough to make you feel welcomed, but there is still a huge variety of things to do or visit!
Ski resorts
Grenoble is the perfect city if you love winter sports like skiing or snowboarding. If you have never had the chance to try them, this is also your chance to visit some ski resorts like Chamrousse or Les Deux Alpes.
It is a lovely opportunity to spend time with your friends during Winter, away from the city life.
The Bastille
It is one of the most known main sights in Grenoble. It is located on the Chartreuse mountain, and from up there, you get a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings. You can also find some really good jogging tracks and restaurants.
You are able to go there on foot, or you can sit and enjoy a ride on the cable cars and a view over the Isère, the river that crosses the city.
Cultural activities
There are several outstanding museums in Grenoble such as the Museum of Grenoble which has an extensive painting collection, CNAC (National Center of Contemporary Art) that has several exhibitions in store throughout the year.
As of performance halls, the Palais des Sports is not very far from campus and it hosts several famous artists.
Also, one of the cinemas that I have tried and recommend, is La Nef because it will occasionally show movies with subtitles!
The student life
There are over 60.000 students in Grenoble from 180 different nationalities.
The campus can be easily accessed from the city center – trams, buses, and biking lanes are available to everyone!
The University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA) offers a high-quality wide range of disciplines such as :
– Science, technology, and health
– Human and social sciences
– Arts and letters
– Languages and communication
Students play a huge role in the creation and conservation of student associations that exist to fulfill everyone’s passion: sports, art, music, games, etc.
The city’s nightlife can have a pleasant atmosphere. Students usually go out, have fun with their peers, and even meet new people. Bars, restaurants, and pubs are all over the city and local people always know the best spots!
Scientific and engineering courses are a part of Grenoble’s high tech expertise. The city’s university plays a big role in innovation as it is near research laboratories like the CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory), CEA (Nuclear Energy Commission).
Numerous well-known scientific courses are offered to you by the University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA), including the ones available at the school I am attending, Polytech Grenoble.
What is Polytech Grenoble?
Polytech is a French national network of fifteen engineering schools, one of those being in Grenoble.
Polytech Grenoble is one of the engineering schools that you can find in the city and has seven different courses :
– Computer science (INFO)
– Computer science and electronics for embedded systems (IESE)
– Electronics engineering and industrial IT (E2I)
– Geotechnical and civil engineering (GGC)
– Health Information Technology (TIS)
– Materials (MAT)
– Risk prevention (PRI)
You can apply to join one of those courses, usually after studying for two years prior (preparatory classes, bachelor’s degree, a two-year technical degree, etc.)
If you get accepted, you will spend three years in Polytech Grenoble, which will let you develop your skills in science, technology, human relations, and English. You will also have the opportunity to do international internships and get in contact with reputed companies.
In the meanwhile, you can also get involved in the student life and help newcomers feel welcomed throughout your master’s degree.