INSA Lyon

The experience was simply amazing. I had taken up the exchange program with an aim to improve my French, but my success exceeded my expectations. The students and teachers understood English but by the end of the year, it was easier explaining somethings in French than in English (which I am well versed in!). Also, there was a huge exchange student community which was also determined to learn the language which helped a lot in interaction.

The social secuirity was compulsary unlike in India and cost us a significant amount of money. Also the residence permit had to be paid for unlike previous years. Otherwise there were no particular surprises. The transportation is expensive so I would suggest buying a second hand bicycle. The university resterauent offers a variety of option sets with respect to the timings of meals hence it would be best to choose the set which suits you the best ( eg meals on weekends or no meals, breakfast included or excluded etc. )

A bicycle would be a good idea to save some money. The ski slopes are closeby, so have a go at skiing when you are there. A railway student card gets significant discounts so get it made. And then visit Paris in the summer. Geneva is next door so have a look into it. And if someone is planning to travel europe then a Eurolines bus pass is the best way to proceed. It is cheap and the trip is very adventurous.

The housing at INSA varied in quality according to the price unlike in my university where it is the same for all hostels. Our lodging was free, and having been alloted the lowest quality rooms was a dissapointment. But because of the excellent location of the rooms and the satisfactory maintainence of the hostel, there was little else to complain about.

The best sport is definitely soccer. But there are plenty of tennis courts as well, so the oppurtunity should'nt be missed out. The student bar K-fet, which is inside campus is a nice place to be at specific special occasions. Otherwise there is a popular nightclub next door called 'Oxxo' which has free crepes on wednesdays. However the definitive nightclub is in the city center called 'Ayer's rock'. Lyon has its share of events...the Boujolais festival happens in october when the 'noveau' Boujolais arrives by ship in lyon. Another event to watch out for is the 'Fete de lumiere' at the time of which the whole town is bathed by light with special events at the town center.