Sigrid is studying ‘BSc Economics with Econometrics at the University of Exeter in England. . Although French, she took her ‘A Levels’ exams in England and achieved very good results (A*AA, the equivalent of a ‘Mention Très Bien’ in the Bac) before being admitted to Exeter, her first choice of university. Read her testimonial below and find out more about her university experience at Exeter!
Profile
PRENOM : SigridNATIONALITE : FrancaiseNOM DU CURSUS SUIVI : Economics with EconometricsNOM DE L’UNIVERSITE : University of ExeterUN DETAIL FUN SUR TOI : I’m moving to Hong Kong in 3 months!
Why did you choose to study abroad?
What courses did you apply for abroad (in the UK and elsewhere)?
I had applied (in 2017) for a degree in Economics or a degree in Economics and Econometrics (it depended on the university offers) . I wasn’t attracted by London as a place to study, I really wanted to experience student life on a campus. Since I didn’t have a French baccalaureate, I didn’t apply to study anywhere other than the UK. I could have, but I’ve always liked England, and the studies suited me.
Why did you choose this subject/curriculum for your Bachelor’s degree?
I chose to study economics for my Bachelor’s degree because I didn’t know exactly what sector I wanted to go into later, and a Bachelor of Science is the best way to avoid closing any doors if you’re still undecided. I did my A-levels in Economics, and I really liked the subject, so I wasn’t taking much risk of being disappointed with this course. The course I was most attracted to (and eventually chose) was ‘Economics and Econometrics’. I was worried that Economics would be a little too Political Science-oriented. On the contrary, econometrics is the most scientific branch of Economics. It’s theoretical and applied mathematics and statistics. As I’m more scientific than literary, the double degree with Econometrics enabled me to do more mathematics than a simple Economics degree, as well as having access to different careers after graduating (Data Science for example).
What other universities did you apply to in the UK, and why did you end up choosing this one?
I applied to the universities of >.BristolWarwick Exeter St Andrews and Bath . All have large student campuses and are in the top 10 of English universities ; I didn’t really have a preference between them, apart from the courses they offered. With my A-levels results, I had the choice between Bath, Bristol and Exeter. What finally convinced me to choose Exeter was the location of the campus and the curriculum offered by the University. There are lots of campus tour videos online, so you can see the whole university (if you can’t make it to the open days). I didn’t particularly like Bristol in comparison. In terms of curriculum, Exeter was exactly what I was looking for. To sum up, the ranking of my schools didn’t particularly influence me (since they were all in the Russell group, and of a similar level) ; so I concentrated on the environment and the choice of curriculum. 
What was the admissions process like for you?
Did your school, for example, help you put together your application?
My high school was English, so there was a follow-up for our applications with UCAS. An advisor was on hand to help us choose courses and universities, as was the UCAS Personal Statement.
How did you go about writing your UCAS Personal Statement?
I started preparing for it very early on, at the end of my junior year (since I was sure I was going to go through UCAS). This allowed me to do a lot of tests and in the end select only the parts I liked best. I don’t think you should be afraid of doing several drafts, even some entirely different ones at first. Then, when it’s time for the final test, it will be easier to assemble the best ideas from each. 
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?
Writing my UCAS Personal Statement fell right at the time of Trump’s election and the Brexit vote; my inspiration wasn’t hard to find. In relation to Econometrics, I’d also always been passionate and intrigued by Big Data; I’d done online degrees in some programming languages to try and understand it better for myself. To apply for an economics degree, all you have to do is choose an economics subject that interests you, if it really does, it will come across. I’d advise dividing the UCAS Personal Statement into 20% our background and personality, 60% the choice of course, 15% our future ambitions and 5% what we’ll bring to the university. A highly original personal statement (with humor, for example) is not recommended.
Did you have to attend an interview? If so, how did you prepare?
I didn’t have to interview for my degree.
Why did you choose the University of Exeter in particular?
Have you been influenced by the rankings? Do you think students should look at rankings to choose?
Yes, rankings do have an influence, as they go with the quality of teaching and buildings, the opportunity to go abroad, access to job offers, etc. But the general view is that, apart from Oxbridge, the top ten universities (which are generally part of the Russell Group) are all equal. But the general view is that, apart from Oxbridge, the top ten universities (which are generally part of the Russell Group) are all the same. This is very different from France, since English universities cover all subjects, and rankings vary from one university to another every year. I would advise students, if they have the grades, to apply to these universities. And between them, choose the one where the course interests them most, as well as the city where the campus is located. To sum up : it’s better to get a first (Mention ” Très Bien “) from the tenth university (because you’ve chosen a course you like in a city where you feel good) than a 2:2 or 2: 3 (mention ” passable ” or no mention) from the fifth university. In the end, between these universities, it’s the grades you get that will matter most, so make the right choices to get the best grades ! 
Did the content of the curriculum at your particular university influence your choice of university?
Econometrics is not yet offered as a single degree subject (because it’s recent, and complementary to economics). Despite the fact that all economics bachelor’s degrees include one or two econometrics modules, only some universities offer a double degree in Economics and Econometrics, so this really influenced my choice.
What do you think of the campus and the city in which it’s located?
The city of Exeter is what I was looking for after my A-levels. It’s a calm and welcoming city, but one that’s full of students. It’s very easy to get to the seaside at weekends by bus or train, as well as to visit Bristol or Bath, which are less student-oriented cities than Exeter. When it comes to going out, Exeter has enough cafés and bars to keep you busy, and lots of parks and green spaces. As far as nightlife is concerned, there aren’t many nightclubs and they get boring very quickly, but it’s pretty similar in the other university campuses (>Bristol, Warwick…). The only city with a real night-time atmosphere is London, but on the other hand, students from the same university are much more dispersed and can feel lost in such a big city. The Exeter campus is quite incredible : each faculty has its own building, and the heart of the campus (‘the forum’) includes a gigantic library open 24 hours a day. What I particularly like are all the slightly hidden areas of the university : rooms with sofas, cafés and even bars. You can always find the atmosphere you want, whether you’re working or relaxing. The University of Exeter invests heavily in research, so the physics, biology and medicine buildings are well-developed and well-equipped. The Faculty of Economics and Business is one of the most recent; it includes, for example, a simulated trading room linked in real time to the Stock Exchange. 
What are the 3 things you like best about your university and the 3 things you’d like to improve?
What I like most is being able to go out if I feel like it, but above all to be calm and serene when I feel the need. It’s very easy to get away from student life, which can sometimes be tiring, and to walk along the riverbanks or the parks and green spaces that are open to the public (many students come to lie down to rest or read when the weather’s nice). Another advantage of Exeter is that the city’s ‘student’ district is quite small, so everything is close at hand. You don’t have to walk 40 minutes to go shopping, to the bar or to the university – almost everything is within walking distance ! For Parisians, Exeter has an airport that’s only a 1.5-hour flight from Paris, and really affordable rates for students, who even get one piece of luggage free with their student card. The only downside to this city, in my opinion, is its topography : there are lots and lots of ups and downs, and the university is on a hill ! And for those who don’t like walking, the city’s bus service is pretty poor. For example, there’s only one bus to the university (apart from some halls of residence which have their own bus).
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?
Yes, there are about 30% foreigners. French students who want to meet up with other French students can do so; there are associations that bring them together, and most tend to keep to themselves. I’ve never had any problems fitting in; but I came to university already bilingual, so I never considered myself a ‘foreigner’ and made English friends very quickly. Some halls of residence have more foreigners than others (e.g. Lafrowda), whereas mine in 1st year was only (with a few exceptions) with English students (as we receive A-level results after the Bac). 
What’s your student residence like? Are you housed on campus?
Comment était votre résidence étudiante en 1ère année (confort, propreté, proximité du campus…) ?
My first-year residence (Northernhay House) was ideally located : right in the center of town and a 15-minute walk from campus. I was in a classic apartment, i.e. shared with 5 other university students : with one bedroom (double bed) each, two bathrooms and a shared living room/kitchen. I’d been in a boarding school before so I wasn’t too apprehensive, but everything went really well and I made my best friends among my flatmates, and still live with some of them now. In terms of cleanliness and comfort, the residence service (Unite students) was always available and very understanding (losing a key on the way home in the evening, for example !). During the first term, some students even drop in to see if everything is going well mentally and academically. Of course no one forces you to answer, but I found the intention very benevolent.
How far from the university are the halls of residence? Where do 2nd and 3rd year students live?
Some halls of residence are located on campus; others are no more than a 20-minute walk away. In 2nd and 3rd year, many students live in houses rented from agencies, although some decide to stay in residences, as it’s much more convenient. Unfortunately, some agencies (but not all) don’t really care about students once the rent has been paid when something happens to the apartment (water leak, mold, heating breakdown, etc.). What I would have liked to have known in my first year is that the choice of accommodation for the 2nd year is made as early as the end of October/beginning of November of the 1st year (not only for Exeter by the way). That’s very early to know who you want to spend a year with. If you’re not sure at this stage, I’d strongly advise you to stay in a halls of residence, as there are many examples of flat-sharing arrangements that haven’t necessarily worked out well in the second year (even more so for a ‘foreigner’ who has to pay the whole year’s rent in September). If you plan ahead, student residences are usually within 3 to 25 minutes’ walk of the campus; second-choice residences can be further away, but most students prefer to stay in a student residence rather than live more than 30 minutes from the university.
What’s the food like in your residence and in others? Is it possible to cook for yourself ?
Some residences offer a “catered” canteen. (” catered “) ; but most offer self-catering. (” self-catered “). The canteen option never appealed to me because meals are only served at certain times. I chose the “self-catered ” option because I wanted to be able to organize my schedule freely. 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? Once you’ve received an offer from the university, you’ll have immediate access to the residency application process, which is very simple and intuitive. Unite Students’ residences are the least international. Although very welcoming, I wouldn’t recommend them if your English isn’t fluent. Lafrowda is one of the most popular, located on the campus and boasting a huge number of buildings. The atmosphere is quite festive, so it’s recommended for first-year students. There are plenty of residences in Exeter, so all students have places. Most students have fond memories of their first year ; the only negative feedback I’ve had is from Birks (the most expensive) and Duryard (the furthest from campus and the city). 
Could you describe your experience at your university?
How many hours of lessons do you have each week?
I have about 4 or 5 hours of classes a day (except Wednesdays). These are either ‘lectures’ (lectures in amphitheatre, not compulsory and you can even listen to the recording of the lecture on the university website) or ‘tutorials’ (tutorials in small groups of around 10 students in which you can ask questions and do applied exercises).
How much work?
The English system involves an enormous amount of homework. Classes are very fast-paced, so you need to work for two or three hours after each lesson on your own to fully understand the content. But the amount of work also depends very much on the course you choose. In Economics, the average is to work 4 or 5 hours a day in addition to the lessons.
Do you have exams once or several times a year?
I have exams four times a year. The school year is divided into two « terms ». The first begins in September and ends in December. Some courses (including mine) have « midterm » exams (about 10% of a module’s grade). All courses have exams at the beginning of January for one or two weeks, to validate the modules of the first « term »(80 to 90% of the grade). The same process is repeated for the second « term », from January to April, with final exams in May. The academic year therefore finishes at the end of March, with exams around mid-May.
Are you involved in any student associations?
Joining an association is the best way to meet students outside your course. The University of Exeter has over 50 associations , so the choice is very varied. I belong to several associations; on the sports front, I joined the climbing association. Exeter has a large climbing gym, where students also benefit from special rates when they join the club. The club organizes courses twice a week, as well as outings to natural sites (and, of course, parties and events, as all clubs do). I’m also part of the ” Model United Nations ” association : every week the club meets to discuss a topical issue, and each student has to represent a country and has a limited speaking time. All associations are presented during Fresher’s week, when students can sign up directly on campus. My advice to first-year students is not to try to get involved in too many associations at once, a fairly common mistake. It’s better to choose just one or two, as they are time-consuming and you really won’t have the time to get involved in more than three. Also, although some are free, most are chargeable, usually £5 but up to £90 for sports associations, so it’s better to think carefully before signing up than to rush in during Fresher’s week. Also, don’t forget that you can join an association at any time of the year, so there’s no need to get anxious in September (every association has an active Facebook group).
Is there anything about the university system in the country where you’re studying that you’d like to improve?
I think it’s important to realize the importance of personal work in this system. We are very free, most courses are not compulsory and you have to ask for help. It’s a system that’s not for everyone : English students have learned to be independent very early on (as many come from boarding schools) but this isn’t generally the case for foreign students. You have to be prepared for a certain shock. Fortunately, first-year grades don’t count towards your final degree grade*, so you’ll have a first year to adjust. * If you don’t want to go on an exchange abroad during your third year.
Do you have any other comments or advice for students interested in applying to your university or other foreign universities?
To sum up, I think the most important thing is to ask yourself whether living on an English campus and being very independent is right for you when you graduate. If this is the case, find out about the different courses on offer and which one will suit you best, as this is ultimately more important than the university you choose. You should also find out about the Brexit, which could have an impact on certain admissions conditions. 
