Universite de Poitiers - Maison des Etudiants
Sarenka Allmacher
Image: Sarenka AllmacherIn March 2017, the ERASMUS coordinator of the Department of Psychology of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dr Kaufmann, asked me: ‘The University of Poitiers has selected you for a place in the ERASMUS+ programme. Do you accept the offer?’ One question, one short answer: ‘Yes!’
Not only could I fulfil my dream of living and studying in France, but it was also the beginning of one of the biggest adventures of my life.
My name is Sarenka Allmacher and I spent the third year of my undergraduate programme in Psychology (the academic year 2017/2018) as an Erasmus+ student at the University of Poitiers in western France. It was a very enriching experience and I can recommend everyone a stay abroad with ERASMUS. I was excited when I boarded the train to France and could feel my heart beating, not knowing what was lying ahead of me. However, the feeling quickly dissipated when I arrived in Poitiers where I was warmly welcomed and got the chance to get to know another culture, meet friendly, inspiring people and form lasting bonds of friendship. During my stay, I also took the time to travel through France and experience the many facets of the country. At the University, I became familiar with the French university system and a different system of learning and teaching while being able to deepen my knowledge in Psychology in various fields. Thus, I would encourage everyone to take this step and embark on an adventure abroad!
View of Poitiers
Image: Sarenka AllmacherIn France, flatshares are a lot less common than in Germany. Most students live in student residences, a smaller part in ‘studios’, i.e. single apartments, and yet a smaller part shares a flat with friends or a partner. You may be allocated a room in a student residence by the University, or you can look for a room yourself—the International Office will provide you with a list of contact details of potential lessors. I chose the last option, but the organizational effort is much higher than when being allocated a room. During the first semester, I lived together with an Italian student at an elderly couple’s place. Not only were they very warm-hearted and helpful, but also very interested in maintaining a cultural exchange. During my second semester, I lived in the student residence Roche d’Argent, where I met many friendly students—all in all both were positive experiences.
Poitiers is a city rich in culture and history. Its city centre is located on a rocky plateau surrounded by more city quarters at its foot, through which the river Clain flows. If you want to cover greater distances in the city, the bus is a good option; outside the city, it is advisable to take a train or car. Although Poitiers is a small city, it has a cosy and warm flair to it. Thanks to its location and good access to transport, it is easy to visit bigger cities.
The first weeks were very exciting as there were many things to be organized and as I was getting used to speak French and meet many new people. Events took place every day, which brought many new impressions.
If you want your stay abroad to get off to a good start and connect with others, here are a few tips: Schedule an appointment with Mme Delb at the International Office and with the coordinator of your faculty within the first days of your arrival. (For Psychology, this is the very helpful and friendly Mme Tessier.) The responsible coordinator helped me with all kinds of questions. In addition to that, the support by the ESN university group was really good. They were organizing all kinds of events for ERASMUS students, so that you meet other international students very quickly.
Street of Poitiers
Image: Sarenka AllmacherThe University has one of the biggest campuses in France. Although some of the facilities are located in the city centre, most of them are located at the campus, ten minutes from the centre via bus. After a first phase of orientation, I quickly became familiar with everyday student life. What was unusual to me in the beginning was that nearly everyone used their laptops during the lecture, as the lecturers rarely provided presentations.
While the lectures were delivered in a chalk-and-talk manner, the seminars were more application-oriented, which I really liked a lot. Using practical examples and various exercises, the lecturers vividly introduced us to the contents, which made for an enjoyable learning experience.
Other than that, I participated in a French language course in both semesters. Together with different sports courses and the psychological subjects, it made my schedule well balanced. For only €10 per semester, students may select up to three sports courses from a wide range of options. In addition to that, on some weekends, sports-related short trips called ‘stages’ are organized. As for sports courses, I chose climbing and HipHop dancing; and I learned catamaran sailing and surfing during three different stages. Those interested in cultural aspects can choose from different options in Poitiers, such as the Confort Modern, Plan B, Maison des Étudiants (concerts), and the TAP or Dietrichs (cinema, theatre). Other than that, there are the beautiful the English tearoom Jasmin Citronelle and a range of cool and cosy cafés, e.g. Tée ou Café, Sweet Time and Company, and the Bibliocafé, which is very popular among students because of the many cool events that take place there—French courses, knitting evenings, concerts and many more. The Taverne de Greek where you can play Playstation, Xbox or computer games for free was another place I liked very much. In addition, I loved to meet my friends in the Bibliocafé for a cup of coffee and to play cards or Wizard, or just chat.
City Hall_Poitiers
Image: Sarenka AllmacherThere are not many discos in Poitiers (you will get to know Wallaby, Bodega or The Room very soon), but instead many cool bars which you can find at the Place du Notre Dame and in its side streets. I’d recommend Relax, WC, Zinc, Est-Ouest, Carrebou, or the Palais de la Bière near the campus.
Further, Poitiers is renowned for the Futuroscope, a futuristic theme park with 4D attractions. It is expensive, but worth a visit especially in summer. Other than that, Poitiers is a city rich in history, which is why a guided tour leading you to the beautiful town hall, the church Notre-Dame-la-Grande and the cathedral St. Pierre, among others, is highly recommendable.
I often spent my free time with my friends in one of the many parks such as the Parc de Blossac, or went jogging along the river Clain. Nearby there also is a swimming lake, Lac de Saint-Cyr, where we once rented a bungalow for the weekend—highly recommended! Due to its central location within the country: A train to Paris takes roughly 1 ½ hours, and you can reach Nantes in the North and Bordeaux in the South in approximately 2 to 3 hours. La Rochelle, a beautiful coastal town with its port, beach and an enchanting flair is also worth a visit. You can reach other cities easily by train; apart from that, BlaBla car or a shared ride are good alternatives. As for an overnight stay, I’d recommend you hostels or especially Airbnb—the more people the cheaper and funnier it will get! For example, one night I stayed with two other people on a boat in the port of La Rochelle. Besides some short trips, a stay in Paris and a trip to the eastern part of France with my family, I particularly cherish the memories of road trips with my friends along the northwestern and southern coast of France.
Although there were many smaller and greater problems to be solved throughout the year, I grew in experience and always had support. The people in Poitiers, be they French, be they international students, were very kind, warm-hearted and helpful so that Poitiers really became home. It was an enriching year full of many new impressions, during which I learned and experienced many new things. Therefore, I can only encourage everyone to participate in the ERSAMUS programme. I will gladly help you if you have any questions!