Lille University

Lille  –  France

www.univ-lille1.fr

Country and City

Lille is a very attractive city with beautiful old buildings, quaint streets and squares with wonderful food, wine, restaurants and bars.  There is excellent shopping and speedy access to the rest of Europe via fast trains and the motorways - Marseilles is 4.10 by TGV train.  The countryside around Lille is very pleasant and it would be a good city to live in – very student friendly with over 150,000 students in the Lille region.

University

USTL is a “1” university in the French university system.  It has 20,000 students across nine discipline areas: Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Computer Science/Electronics/Electro-technology and Control, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Earth Sciences, Economy and Social Sciences.  There is also an Institute of Business Administration, a Marine Biology Station of Wimereux and the University Centre – Economy of Lifelong Learning.  USTL works closely with Strasbourg 1 and other “1” universities in France.
 
The University promotes life-long-learning and believes in flexible delivery.  It is a strong research university with 47 research laboratories with strengths in the areas of microelectronics, nanotechnology, physics (laser technology), advanced mathematics and economics.  There are two masters courses available in English: International Executive Management through the Business School which will cost a maximum of €3,000 and there is a possibility that €2,000 can be negotiated.  The second masters is Global E Business which will cost €300 for a year.  This masters program is supported by the Government, hence the very low cost.

Australian students are very popular and in turn, Australian students have enjoyed the student life in town with the many bars, restaurants etc and they have found it easy to mix with French students.

Lille has very limited English subject offering, so would probably be a destination better suited to French language students who are interested in the sciences or business areas.  

The University has good sporting facilities and it is easy to join sporting clubs.

Orientation
I am sure there is an orientation program but unfortunately, I do not have any details.

Accommodation

Average cost for a room in one of the University’s dormitories on the campus with kitchen but no bathroom would be €200 per month.  In town €250 – 300 would be the cost for a shared flat.  Students should budget €500 per month living costs up to €600 depending on lifestyle.  Students are able to purchase an unlimited transport pass for €45.

International Relations Office and General Information

The International Relations Office is located on the Main Campus and again, the staff are warm and welcoming.
 
Summer School
The Lille Summer School which will be held from 2nd – 15th July 2006 on European Economic, European Institutions and European Business Practice and Management.  The cost for the two weeks is €500 with a third project based week from 17th – 21st July to raise the number of required ECTS from the 5 for the two weeks to 7 which is what is required by Australian institutions. The €500 covers tuition fees, accommodation, lunches in Lille (except on certain excursions) local transport pass, course material and organised visits and excursions. The approximate cost of the additional week is still being calculated but it could be about €200. The course will need 25 students to be viable.

Accommodation for the Summer School would be ‘up-market’ studio apartments with private bathroom.  It is preferred that students have completed two years of study, but not necessarily with a business background and there are no prerequisites.  Business students should look carefully at the program or be less advanced in their studies. Also included is a ‘fun’ French Survival Course which is given by Mr. Alain Higgins, the International Project Manager from the office of International Relations.