Why go abroad?

Arguments, advantages and incentives for going abroad

First, think carefully about what you want to do at university – what type of studies, what specialization, up to which cycle – and then see how you can integrate the international dimension into your curriculum, bearing in mind that you can accumulate several international mobility experiences during your studies: different exchange programs, internships, short stays etc.

You will make every decision in consultation with your course program coordinators and/or exchange coordinators.

Unbeatable arguments for going abroad
  • A unique experience: it’s an opportunity that will enrich you personally and professionally, making you more responsible and independent, with a different outlook on the world.
  • An opportunity to discover another culture, another educational, professional, political and societal system…
  • A chance to meet people from all over the world and enjoy a wide range of intercultural experiences.
  • Undeniable linguistic progress.
  • An asset on your CV. Be aware, too, that more and more people are going abroad, and having international mobility on your CV will no longer be a plus but rather a necessity, so take advantage of the many opportunities on offer at the UBE and go!
Advantages of exchange programs
  • No loss of time: your period of study abroad will be recognized at the UBE, provided you have earned the required ECTS credits at your partner university.
  • No registration fees at the partner university: you pay only the registration fees at the Université Bourgogne Europe, and are exempt from tuition and exam fees and have access to laboratories and libraries at our partner universities. However, your host university may ask you to pay various small fees (administrative, association, health insurance, transportation, etc.). Some agreements, notably with the United States, provide for payment of a portion of these fees. Before applying, ask your exchange coordinator for details of the agreement.
  • If you are enrolled in a double or triple degree program, you will study at several universities, paying only the tuition fees at the UBE, and at the end of your studies you will obtain a degree from each university where you have studied, which is even more rewarding than a simple exchange program.
  • A number of financial aid options are available to facilitate your stay abroad.

Misinformation that can discourage you from going abroad

In any case, only the best students go abroad !

False. The UBE’s goal is for every student to be able to go abroad at least once during his or her academic career, whether on an academic exchange or an internship. Many departments give all students who regularly pass their semester exams the opportunity to go abroad, and not just the best students.

I can’t go, I’m not very good at languages…

If you’ve got the basics to get by on a day-to-day basis, go for it ! You don’t necessarily have to be bilingual to go abroad: you’re going abroad to improve your language skills, among other things. Your coordinator (the UBE professor in charge of one of the agreements with a partner university) will decide whether your language skills, and your motivation, will enable you to validate your year abroad. And don’t forget that in just a few weeks you’ll be making rapid linguistic progress!

I’d like to go to South Korea but I don’t speak Korean

You don’t always need to speak the language of the country you want to go to, as courses are often taught in English at our partner universities !

I don’t want to repeat my year at the UBE after my exchange.

If you pass all the subjects at your partner university and obtain the required number of ECTS credits, no time will have been wasted, the UBE will validate your credits obtained abroad and you will be awarded the UBE diploma at the end of the academic year if you pass the exams.

Only language students can go on an exchange abroad.

False. The UBE has over 800 cooperation agreements in all disciplines! Every UBE student has the opportunity to go abroad, whatever their field of study. And even if it’s not possible for you to go abroad on an exchange because of the way your studies are organized at the UBE, don’t forget that you can always go abroad for an internship!

It’s hard enough to study in France, so if on top of that I have to study in another foreign language that’s neither French nor English… I’m really afraid I won’t pass my year!

If you work regularly, attend classes and make the necessary effort, you should get credit for your year. After a few weeks’ adjustment, you’ll quickly get used to the new language of instruction. You just have to find the right balance between your studies and your hobbies.

And if you feel you’re having trouble in your studies while abroad, talk to your coordinators at the UBE and at your partner university to find a solution before it’s too late. Finally, it is always possible to put an end to your mobility experience and finish your semester in France without being penalized. To put your mind at rest, very few students fail their year abroad.

If you have difficulty validating your semesters in France, the UBE exchange coordinators won’t let you go abroad anyway, so as not to expose you to failure. But if you regularly validate your semesters in France, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be eligible for international mobility – don’t set limits on yourself, apply to go and your coordinator or course program leader will judge whether or not you have the capacity to study abroad!

Contact

International Office
Maison de l’Université