Charles is French. After his Bac at the Lycée Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague (Franklin) in Parishe was admitted toDurham University in England, where he completed a BA Liberal Arts – History & Politics. Read his testimonial below and find out more about his university experience at the prestigious University of Durham !
Profile
FIRST NAME : CharlesNATIONALITY : Frenchçaise
COURSE NAME : Licence en arts libéraux – Histoire et politique UNIVERSITY NAME : Durham TYPE OF BACCALAUREATE AND RESULT OBTAINED : Bac ES with 15.3/20 average
NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL : Lycée Franklin in Paris
Why did you choose to study abroad?
What courses did you apply for abroad (in the UK and elsewhere)? Why did you choose this subject/curriculum for your Bachelor’s degree?
I applied to England to study history in a competitive environment. I was – and still am – passionate about it, and knew that in England I could study it while maintaining a high level of professional integration. I chose the Liberal Arts curriculum to be flexible in my choice of subjects, and so took political science modules during my 3 years, as well as economics modules in 1st year and art history in 3rd year. 
What other universities did you apply to (in the UK and elsewhere) and why did you end up choosing this university?
I applied for 2 courses in Durham, at King’s and St Andrews.
What was the admissions process like for you?
How did you go about writing your UCAS Personal Statement?
I identified the reasons why I wanted to study history, the authors who had made an impression on me and what explained my passion for the subject (for me, the impact that a nation’s perception of its own history could have). I also talked about my extracurricular passions, any internships I’d done, etc. 
What readings/resources did you find useful to mention in your Statement, and could you recommend to a student interested in applying for the same course?
I asked students and friends from previous years of my high school for their UCAS Personal Statements. Otherwise, I scoured each program’s website to make sure I wasn’t missing an important point. I also found English tips online.
Did you have to go to an interview?
No.
Why did you choose this particular university?
Have you been influenced by the rankings? Do you think students should look at rankings to choose?
Yes. I didn’t know Durham 1 year before I applied, and I became interested in it because it’s very highly ranked in the English History league tables. I think these rankings are important, especially to see what each college specializes in (e.g. Durham, history rather than political science or economics, which is reflected in the rankings and which I was able to see for myself during my experience). 
Did the content of the curriculum at your particular university influence your choice of university?
Yes, I was very happy to be able to choose this flexible curriculum. In retrospect, I would only have asked for Liberal Arts courses, which were less common 5 years ago than they are now.
What do you think of the campus and the city in which it’s located?
Durham is a small town, very English, far from London. I was quite scared of it during the “open days”, but I spent 3 fantastic years there. To be able to really immerse myself in such a very English environment, in a city with all the advantages of a campus university (proximity of facilities, student atmosphere, outings) was a blessing.
What are the 3 things you like best about your university and the 3 things you’d like to improve?
The contact with the administration and teachers, who were really warm and always understanding.. Outings : lots of cheap and cheerful pubs and clubs Colleges: Durham has 14 colleges (basically, like a house in Harry Potter: students live and eat there in 1st and sometimes 3rd year. Each college has its own reputation: academic, artistic, athletic, party, posh). This creates a unique atmosphere and small communities from the outset, giving plenty of opportunities to socialize and ensuring that no one is lost when they arrive. Durham is the 2nd best sports university, and the sports facilities are exceptional. As for areas for improvement, little effort is made to immerse students professionally, and they are often a little disoriented – as I was – by the end of the course. Durham is known as the bubble, and this “out of this world” feel can be a little oppressive at times. Durham lacks international renown, as I’ve noticed in France and in international rankings, where Durham is poorly ranked compared to other English universities.
Do you have any international friends (French or otherwise) at your university?
Are there many international students at your university? How easy do you find it to integrate and make friends at your university as a foreigner? The Durham experience was that of a complete immersion in an English university. All my friends were English except for 2 French women, as I only knew 5 French people in my year out of 3,000 students (excluding Erasmus students, who tend to keep to themselves). It was very intimidating at first, because you have to be able to speak English with native speakers and integrate into an unfamiliar and rather unfamiliar context. It took me a while to learn to speak confidently, especially in a group, and to be able to use an appropriate sense of humor… But I was never alone, as I was able to meet friends in my college right from the start who are still some of my best friends today. 
What’s your student residence like? Are you housed on campus ?
What was your student residence like in 1st year (comfort, cleanliness, proximity to campus…)?
In my college, with rather rudimentary facilities. The whole college (Hatfield in my case) has since been rebuilt. It was across the street from my history classes, which were 30 seconds from my room ! Hatfield was otherwise very central and provided access to all of Durham within 10 minutes.
How far from the university are the halls of residence? Where do 2nd and 3rd year students live?
From 30 seconds for lessons in the city to 10 minutes for lessons on campus. In 2nd year, students have to find private accommodation, often a shared flat in the small Viaduct student quarter. In 3rd year, students have the choice of returning to college or staying in a shared apartment, which is what I did.
What’s the food like in your residence and in others? Is it possible to cook for yourself ?
English food meets expectations : horrible. You can’t cook for yourself.
What was the process like to get a place in a residence? Which student residences would you recommend to French or international students at your university?
You have to apply to a college on UCAS, which may or may not choose you based on your personal statement. I’d recommend the Bailey colleges, which are traditional and in 19th-century buildings in the center of town, as opposed to the newer, more out-of-town Hill colleges.
Could you describe your experience at your university?
How many hours of lessons do you have each week?
6-9 hours a week.
How much work?
The first year is really a period of acclimatization, and the work is very soft. The pace increases until the final year, when it’s very demanding, and managing essays requires a good deal of autonomy and organization. 
Do you have exams once or several times a year?
Once at the end of the year.
Are you involved in any student associations in Durham?
I was the first French president of the Durham Whisky Society in my last year at Durham, and often went to tastings in my second year. I played soccer for my college’s B team, and participated in the Football Club’s social events. Is there anything about the university system in the country where you studied that you’d like to improve? No, being able to study the subject of one’s choice and then choose a different career path is one of the great advantages of the English system. I have friends who studied geography, theology, archaeology or chemistry and who are now working in law firms, consultancies or large corporations.
Do you have any other comments or advice for students interested in applying to your university or other foreign universities?
The key is to talk to people who know the university. I had few people who had been to Durham in my circle, and talking to my little brother’s teacher (who was at boarding school in England) and had done Durham was very enlightening, especially in my choice of college, which is of considerable importance at Durham.
