There are many opportunities for students to study abroad. The ERASMUS and SOCRATES programmes are exchanges organised between European universities, related to all academic disciplines. There are great opportunities for law students to study all over Eur ope but in particular there are many places for British students to study in France and for French students to study in the UK.

I spent the third academic year of my degree studying law in France at the University of Aix-Marseille which has a law exchange programme with my own university: the university of Edinburgh.

Opportunities to study law in France

Most British universities have established law links with French universities. For example, in Edinburgh it is possible to go to study at Rennes, Aix-Mars eille and Paris Sud. It is normal to study in France in the context of a Law & French degree, but it is not necessary. There are more and more law courses available in the U-K which offer study in France as an integral part of the degree. Perhaps the most famous course is the joint degree offered by Kings College London and La Sorbonne in Paris.

It is also perfectly possible to study individually at a French university as a free mover under European law. The disadvantage of not studying abroad under the auspices of an organised programme is that the student must then pay his or her course fees. In France, however, these are lower in the UK: so it is an option for a masters degree.

French university system

Studies at a French university are divided into the three cycles, culminating in the third cycle which is the equivalent of our postgraduate courses.
The courses I studied were at a mixture of levels: there were second and third year courses which were akin to ordinary courses in Edinburgh. The style of teaching at French universities is rather different to the one to which we are used in the UK Lecturers tend to dictate their lectures rather more and the lecture theatres are always packed! This is at least in part a result of the fact that universit y entrance in France is much more open than in the UK. The equivalent of tutorials ( travaux dirigés) consist of around thirty students who have to prepare case commentaries. Examinations are rather different too: they are often oral rather than written. Ora l examinations entail giving a presentation to the examiner after a few minutes preparation time.

Practical advice

University accommodation in France is remarkably cheap by very basic. It depends on how much you value your home comforts! Although perhaps more comfortable, it should be noted that private accommodation is generally not very cheap to rent. It is possible , however, to get housing benefit on a graduated scale to a limit of 900 FF per month. This is known as the C.A.F (caisse d'allocations familiales). It is easy to obtain after you have obtained your residency permit (carte de séjour).

For your carte de séjour, you must make an appointment at the nearest Préfecture and take along:
- your passport,
- a certificate from your landlord,
- four passport photos,
- health insurance,
- a fiche d'état civil,
- your student card,
- a justification of your financial means.

As regard to standard of language required, it is always a culture shock on arrival but, in general, students soon pick up the required level. Your university may also be able to help you find a language course before you start.

Personal opportunities

The opportunities which study abroad presents are numerous. Socially, there is a chance to mix with many different people form many different places. In most universities, foreign students tend to bunch but it is worth remembering that this may not be bes t for developing your language. There are marvellous opportunities to travel while abroad, both within France and its neighbours. It may be possible to organise a stage (work experience) with local employers to boost your C.V.

Conclusion

All this information has been presented in a fairly impartial way. This is because in essence, ERASMUS is a very personal experience and it is for each individual to take advantage of. My experiences provided me with many good memories and a great deal of travel. My personal advice is simple: give it a go!