I hope it is alright if I post this in English, because I need to make a fast decision and I'm writing French very slowly   .

Basically I have to decide between EDHEC Nice (Financial Economics Track) and Paris 1 for my exchange semester (Economics)

1) The things that would draw me towards Paris are that the courses are taught in French, hence I could improve my French much easier, while at EDHEC English is the teaching language. I thought that if I mainly talk English to classmates there is not much room for improving my French (not sure though), at least not to the degree as with French classes.

2) Of course on the other side EDHEC Nice is a grande école and very known in France (?).

Since I would consider working in France this would be of great help to me. But the language advantage of Paris 1 is still very great in my opinion.
What do you think is more valuable in my position, EDHECs position as grande école or Sorbonne's "traditional" reputation and the fact that I could easily better my French in Paris?

Thanks for any input!

You say economics but is it your major?
 
because the exchange at EDHEC will be about finance all along, with a few subjects in strategy/HR or maybe international economics. as for paris I, that would depend on the masters degree. I think the Economics masters degree at Paris I exclude students only studying "Business economics" and not hard economics with maths and all
 
do not worry about the language at EDHEC: as there is a vast majority of french students, the working language within groups is french. so while you do not "learn in french", you will have plenty of opportunities to speak french with students (btw, the French course is crap)
 
leaving aside subjects and languages, I do believe that EDHEC has a better reputation in France as far as business is concerned.

Thank you for your reply. I am majoring in Economics, yes (Am in the last year of my bachelor). Nevertheless the courses at EDHEC Nice fulfil my exchange requirement (I simply have to follow the Financial Economics track). After all, it is "just" an exchange semester, most people say that the workload at other unis hardly reach the level at my uni (Netherlands)
 
Still, I find it a bit misleading that they call it "Financial Economics" at EDHEC, because they mainly teach Finance. I saw that there is a Financial Econometrics course offered, but a student from my uni told me that it was really basic compared to what we learned (as bachelor students!)
 
Anyhow, I am aware that the level of studies in France is really different than in the Netherlands and I dont mind for now.  
 
Have you been at EDHEC as a foreign student if I may ask? I am not really counting on any language courses because those are probably crammed and not very helpful, hence I was tending more towards Paris.  
 
But it's true, EDHEC is probably more consistent with Business and Econs studies than the traditional Sorbonne.  
 
Thanks for your input!

Oh and in your opinion, are exchange students well integrated at EDHEC? I was wondering how difficult it would be to socialise with French people and not only with other exchange students.  

So far, the Sorbonne is worldwide renowned.
It really depend of what you're looking for, but for what I can state so fare... Sorbonne could be better.

I mean, Edhec is well known in france, but not that much outside (and so are others top business school), while Sorbonne, regarding to its background is "famous". Current courses and real values don't influence the perceived opinion of HR outside France.

 
I am at EDHEC, currently doing my gap year, between my 1st and 2nd year in the FE track
 
indeed, your exchange shall be pretty easy compared to what you have back home (maastricht uni?). so you're right, courses do not count as much as the city and the country
 
As aka said, Sorbonne will be better known abroad and also has a good reputation in france, in finance as well.
 
From what I have seen, exchange students are pretty well integrated as long as they do the necessary steps to break the ice
 
that being said, if i were an exchange student, I would prefer Paris to Nice
 
if you wish to work in France and have the means to do so, you should consider applying to Grande Ecole masters, they really favour foreign students
 
would you be coming in next semester, in september?

Thanks for the input, yes it's for the coming fall semester. And yes, its uni maas

my pleasure

maybe we'll have the chance to meet on campus

i know a guy named robert from uni maas who came during fall semester a year ago. i may have his contact details somewhere if you'd like

good luck with everything

Alright, if I should decide for Nice I might let you know
I'm actually well provided for with info about both uni's, I am still rather undecided though  
 
Many things speak for Nice but Paris does have nice sides about it. (no pun intended)

Anyone around to answer one more question?

 
Totally agree. If your main objective is to work in France, choose EDHEC. Otherwise, choose the Sorbonne.

I'd love to do an internship in Paris after my semester abroad, and I really cannot tell in how far it would help being at EDHEC for this (considering that it would only for a semester abroad - no degree!)
Do you think it still matters to employers?

If it wasnt for the academic aspects I would probably choose Paris straight away.

From an academical point of view, EDHEC is imo the best choice. If we focus on the student life, I would say that EDHEC is far better than Sorbonne.
BUT : you are a foreign student, moreover in exchange, I think Paris is really attractive to you, and the Panthéon Sorbonne brandname too. "Sorbonne" is also very famous abroad, more than EDHEC, it is important for your résumé/CV if you want to work abroad.
If you want to work in France (ahem... ), EDHEC is the best choice.
We can't chose for you, I gave you my opinions, it's up to you.

totally agree with the comments above.

I think the edhec Grande Ecole brandname is a plus for french recruiters, defo.

However, you'll need to speak french fluently in most cases, except with BNPP.

 
Didn't see this.
So I will make a double post : if you want to make an intership in a big company/group in Paris area, EDHEC is the best choice. But since it is just an exchange semester, I don't know if it makes a real difference, recruiters will focus on "Maast. Univ" more than on your exchange.

 
Yep, French proficiency is a must have to work in France, excepted maybe in trading rooms (working in market finance is not a good choice though).

Do you guys think i will have an opportunity to learn french in Nice? Apart from a language course cause that's not really useful in my opinion.
 
The thing is I can write and read really well, just need to be thrown into the cold water and speak more French.
One big plus for Paris was that the Sorbonne teaching is held in French and hence there would be more opportunity to talk the language.
 
I thought maybe I could do coloaction with French people in Nice or join a sports club or something? You guys think it would work?
I just hear a lot that people dont even have the opportunity to speak French there (just like here in Maas, Im from Germany and I barely need to speak Dutch here).

What will make you speak French is not the language of the courses (it will require you a lot of work imo), but the social life.
Student life is richer at EDHEC I think, since a lot of parties are organised each weak, there is associative life, sport clubs, working groups...
But it is really hard to make a choice since Sorbonne is very valuable abroad. And Paris is very attractive for a foreign student, and such experience can bring a lot for job interviews.
 
Other things to take into account : housing cost is 1/3 higher in Paris. And there is no beach in Paris . There is twice more sunny days in Nice . And you can go to Paris on week-ends in train.
But Nice is not Paris, less things to discover there

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh this drives me crazy. I think Ill throw a coin now.

Actually, it's quite simple, if you intend to work in France later, go to the Edhec, if not, Sorbonne

Decided. I will go to EDHEC.  
 
 
 
 

Alea jacta est

Indeed
 
 
 
(took me long enough lol)

if i were you i would have chosen France Business School

 

 
Do not listen to enyg, he is an under-graduate.
 

if you come to edhec nice let me now i live in nice i can help you for meeting people and practising your french ahah.

I agree with the comment above for working in paris edhec has a better reputation than sorbonne because top ranked business shcool is more recognized than university.
But im speaking about " programme grande ecole" i dont know how an exchange could be considerate.
PS: sorry for the double post i made a mistake

Arguably the better option.  

Regarding the social/daily life, it's way more pleasant to live in Nice. We have the sun (almost everyday ), the beach, plus, the city is really terrific, of course it's not Paris but there is also many things to do/see in the South, and I'm sure you will definitly enjoy it.
 
Moreover, the rumor says that we are much more welcoming over here.

 
Haha I will see whether Nice will live up to that rumor So far I'm not regretting my choice, looking forward to be back in the pretty South of France  
Only thing I gotta worry about now is the housing. But I guess there is still some time. Would be nice to live close to the beach though, and not close to EDHEC (yes I heard all these things already from others )

By the way, there is an Edhec topic, if you need more informations : http://forum.hardware.fr/hfr/Emplo [...] 4541_1.htm
 
You'll find plenty of useful tips in the first page

 
 
Ok thanks