Lydia Peoples talks about L'Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rennes and Rennes, France
This report is intended to help future and prospective exchange students going to Groupe ESC Rennes. The format includes a series of questions that I had before leaving for France and the report is divided into two main sections: the school L'Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rennes; and the city of Rennes, France. Photo of Lydia was taken by Claudia Orum, Center for International Business Studies.
ESC RENNES: WHAT IS THE SCHOOL LIKE?
ESC Rennes is not a university. It is a private Ecole Superieure de Commerce; a state owned business school. It is a very young school, only eleven years old. The entire school consists of a single building (although construction on an addition was begun in the Spring of 2001). There are approximately 500 students enrolled. Roughly 100 of these students are international, representing about 25 different countries. There are 1st and 2nd year undergraduate BA students and 3rd year graduate MA and MBA students. Exchange students have the option of receiving their degree from ESC Rennes, or getting exchange credit applied toward their degree at their home universities.
What are the facilities like?
Although the school is small, it is equipped with standard amenities. There are roughly 80 computers containing the Microsoft Suite, SPSS, and the Internet. Only four printers are available. The school does not furnish printing paper, so you have to buy and bring your own. Because of the high student to computer ratio, there is a huge demand for the computers and there is almost always a wait to use one. Also, French keyboards are arranged differently, and they take a while to get used to. If at all possible, it is advisable to bring your own laptop to France with you. Several students have done this in the past, and the computers worked fine with a standard electrical converter kit you can buy at Wal Mart.
The library is small, but it does have textbooks in English and an online database for researching articles in magazines and journals. There is also a canteen that serves a daily lunch and a limited variety of other items (sandwiches, fruits, yogurts, coffee, etc.). The small workout room contains free weights and a few machines. All students are given a magnetic keycard that allows access to the school and computer labs 24/7, weekends and holidays. If you go in the spring, be prepared, there's no A/C!
What are the classes like?
The classes are small, generally about 25 students. Lectures are normally held for three hours at a time once a week Monday or Wednesday. However, some classes are taught as "seminars," and this means 18 hours of class over a three day period (Thursday-Saturday) for two weeks during the semester. The grading system is on a 20 point scale, but the highest grade attainable is usually only a 14. A passing score is 8/20 for BA courses and 10/20 for MA classes.
All foreign students are required to take French Language and French Culture classes. These are taught for 1 1/2 hours each once a week. Students who had at least a basic knowledge of French before coming to ESC significantly improved their language skills, but students with no background in French (like myself) didn't find the language classes very helpful. My suggestion is that you learn the language before you get here! Although ESC Rennes offers a variety of electives, the school places a heavy emphasis on Marketing and Human Resource Management. This program is perfect for TAMU Marketing and Management majors, but students in the MIS, Finance and Accounting programs might have difficulty finding electives that fit into their degree programs. Bonus, there are no required textbooks to buy!
RENNES: THE CITY
How do I get there?
Rennes does have its own airport (RNS), and there are daily flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) for about $75 $100. There is also a SNCF/TGV station with trains running roughly every hour between Rennes and Paris Montparnasse. In addition, less frequent trains run directly to CDG. A one way train trip between Rennes and Paris costs about 280 FF ($45) full price, or 140 FF ($20) with your 'Carte 12 25' student discount card. A word of warning,it's a chore to drag excessive luggage on and off the trains and there is limited space on the train for storing luggage.
If it's your first time to France, you have large/multiple suitcases, or you don't speak French; consider taking a direct flight between CDG and RNS. Like all European cities, there is an extensive bus system in Rennes. A single one way ticket costs 6,50 FF (about $1), or you can purchase a discounted monthly bus ticket for 136 FF (about $20) with your STAR 'Carte Campus.'
The school also sells bicycles at the beginning or each semester, and many students prefer to buy a bike rather than ride the bus.
Where am I going to live?
The 'Come On' organization at ESC will help you find living accommodations in Rennes. There are leases available for a semester or a year. Your 3 housing options are:
- Sharing a furnished apartment with other foreign students.
- Your own furnished dorm room (dorms are not affiliated with ESC).
- Living with a family.
The majority of foreign students choose the first option, and most of them find apartments in the neighborhood called Villejean. Villejean is located close to the school (a 15 minute walk or a five minute bus ride on the #16), and everything you need is there (i.e. grocery store, post office, laundry, banks, pharmacy, swimming pool, etc.) From Villejean, the Center City is about a 30 minute walk or a 15 minute bus ride on lines #8 or #16. Housing is not expensive (less than $300/month + electricity), but you can expect to pay at least one month's deposit plus an agency fee.
What do I need to do when I get there?
First you will need to complete all your paperwork at the school (buy insurance and your library card, and get your student I.D. and magnetic keycard). Second you should find a place to live. Once you have an address in France, you can go across the street from the school to the Prefecture and apply for your Carte de Jour (residence card). This is a long and bureaucratic process, but the students from 'Come On' will help you. Third, open a French back account. This will allow you to receive a Carte Blue debit card and pay rent by direct transfer.
When you have a bank account, you can apply for the CAF (French government student housing subsidy). This is another very long and bureaucratic process, and I suggest you to start early if you expect to receive any money before you leave France. I also recommend buying a STAR 'Carte Mensuel' (for discount monthly bus tickets) and an SNCF 'Carte 12 25' (for discount train tickets). While both of these will cost money initially, the long term savings is substantial.
Most foreign students also choose to get a mobile phone with they are in France. It is possible to buy a phone without signing a yearly contract, and then just recharge the minutes as you use them. A word of warning it costs nearly $2/minute to place a call from the States to a French mobile number. If you are expecting calls from family/friends back home, it is wise to invest in a landline. FYI, a photo ID is required for everything in this country, so bring plenty of passport pictures with you!
Of course, it is impossible to cover every topic of interest, but I hope I have given you some insight into ESC and the city of Rennes. Have a fun and exciting time in Rennes!
Lydia Peoples, 2002 MBA Graduate