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By Ava Steinicke 

A double degree in a Bachelor of International Relations and Development Studies  

2024 Semester 1, Exchange at Sciences Po, France  

Studying at SciencesPo, Europe’s number one institution for political studies, as an exchange student it is an amazing opportunity. But, as much as exchange is about the university you are enrolled in, it is also about the community, the city, and the culture that you will be submerged in for the duration of the semester or year. SciencesPo has seven campuses that ANU exchange students can attend: Paris, Reims, Le Havre, Menton, Dijon, Nancy, and Poitiers. At first, I found having so many options was overwhelming, I had drafted so many pros and cons lists to help me deliberate which campus was the right fit for me. In the end I chose the Reims campus and I am so happy that I did! My reasons why at the start have transformed now that I have completed my exchange semester, but I would say there are 4 factors for determining which place is the right fit for you, this includes the campus, the cohort, the city, and the opportunities.   

  

 The Reims campus boasts history and beauty, it is a heritage building from 1619, that was formerly used as a Jesuit college. Across the past four centuries it has also been an orphanage and a war hospital. There are two spectacular libraries. The new library revolves around an atrium with a tree planted in the centre and has glass ceilings and walls that let in lots of natural light. The ancienne (old) library is three flights up a grand stone staircase which opens to the wood-panelled room that is lined with books and has recessed study nooks. Getting around campus is a bit of a maze, but there are such a variety of learning spaces such as the small attic classroom in Building G or the massive basement lecture hall in Building K. The two courtyards are my favourite aspects of campus, whether I’m studying on the steps, chatting with friends, eating lunch under the cherry blossom trees, or getting involved with the student societies.  

  

 The Reims campus is just for undergraduate students, all of which are first and second years (or 1A and 2A, as they are called at SciencesPo). This is because all of 3A is done on exchange! There are about two thousand students (which is the second largest compared to Paris) and about 10% of the cohort are exchange students themselves. Having such a large amount of exchange students means you are sharing the experience with other people who are wanting to make the most of the brief time you are abroad and are also going through the same culture shocks and language barriers as you. With the exception of the Paris campus, the other regional campuses have a much smaller cohort of only a couple hundred students. Another thing to note is that most students on the Reims campus are bilingual in French and English, this is great if you have minimal French language knowledge and want to make friends with domestic students. Reims offers the North American Minor to its domestic students which requires students to take their courses in English, therefore most social events and students are bilingual.   

  

 Reims is the capital of the Champagne region and is known for its Champagne Houses like Tattinger and Veuve Clicquot and the 13th Century Gothic Cathedral where the Kings of France were coronated. The cobblestone streets are lined with French-style buildings, there are many beautiful greenspaces and parks, the nearby bars and cafes always offer indoor and terrace seating, and there is always a boulangerie (bakery) with the best croissants and baguettes nearby. You truly will feel as though you are living like a local within weeks of living in Reims as you can easily become immersed in the French culture. The city centre is called Place Drouet-d’Erlon, it is where all the shops, bars, and restaurants are and it is situated between the train station and the cathedral. I recommend living closer to this area rather than in accommodation closer to SciencesPo as you spend most of your time socialising in the city centre rather than on campus. Reims is also quite affordable in terms of living costs. Rent is paid per month and is often cheaper than Australia. Food and groceries are around a similar cost to Australia given the conversion to euros, but it is noticeably cheaper than the prices for the same items in Paris. Reims is only 45 minutes away from Paris by direct train which costs only €11 to €30 depending on the time of day, availability, and booking in advance. You’ll find yourself going on many day trips and weekend trips to Paris, so I recommend purchasing the carte avantage jeune (through the SNCF app) for €50, this guarantees discounts on all train fares and mine paid for itself within a month!   

The Reims Campus offers so many excellent courses, SciencesPo’s prestige and excellence is undeniable. Most of the teachers commute from Paris as they all are practicing professionals in their fields, the opportunity to learn and be mentored by them is highly rewarding and engaging. For example, I took a Human Rights Law class taught by Christophe Fabre, who is a Paris Bar attorney that is a registered assistant counsel with the International Criminal Court. Likewise, there are so many opportunities to be involved in student life through the associations and by attending the many events that they carry out during the semester. Since I was living in Champagne it is no surprise that I had to become a member of the Champagne tasting club! I also loved living near the train station so I could travel to nearby cities on weekends such as Strasbourg, Lille, and Brussels. Your exchange will be unique to you, but Reims offers the best of everything so that you can adapt the experience to your preferences. I have made so many memories with an array of friends from around the world, I couldn’t picture my semester abroad any other way!