Options for getting a bachelors' degree as an English speaker in Paris
July 20, 2018 5:57 AM
I'm a British citizen, living in the UK, but quite likely moving to Paris at the end of this year for my partner's new job. We have a young child, and we are planning that for the first year of our stay, I would be a stay-at-home parent. Possibly longer than that, though I'm keen to learn French and get a job after that year. I'd like to get suggestions for the best way to study for a bachelor's degree while we are in France.
Hello MeFi!
First time I've asked a question here, so go easy if I'm doing it wrong please.
I'm a British citizen, living in the UK, but quite likely moving to Paris at the end of this year for my partner's new job. We have a young child, and we are planning that for the first year of our stay, I would be a stay-at-home parent. Possibly longer than that, though I'm keen to learn French and get a job after that year.
The British government is presently tying itself in knots attempting to withdraw from the European Union. Far too big an issue for this question, so I'll just say that we would be legally resident in France before Brexit day, and I'm hopeful that existing residents on both sides will be left in peace.
At the moment, I am studying towards a Computing degree with the Open University, which is by far the biggest distance learning university in the UK. I could continue to study this from France, but I am a bit disappointed with the inflexibility of course choices within my degree path (the Open Degree is a great idea but that way you don't get a qualification with an actual topic in the name), and (while it probably still seems cheap to Americans) the fees are quite high for me to pay while not working, and I'm not super happy to just hand my partner the bill. So I'd like to make myself aware of alternatives first.
Our child will go to a local French nursery once we are able to get a place, so while I couldn't leave the city to study elsewhere, I would have time during the day to attend classes if that made sense, and I can keep some evenings free. Quite keen on a less isolated study experience.
I do not speak French well at the moment (not a complete beginner but very rusty) but I plan to learn the language seriously, and I hope that studying in French might eventually be realistic. However, I know that is at least a year away, and as a 34 year old I'm not sure I would fit in with ordinary French undergrads. I've read that "mature students" are still considered pretty weird in France.
I like computing so far, and my code mostly compiles and runs :-) but I'd be open to a change of subject if that meant substantial time or money saved, or allowed me to consider classroom rather than distance learning courses. Having a degree and writing good code are independent characteristics.
Fulltime study at the Open University (ie the same credit load as at a regular classroom university) costs just under £6000 GBP per year. Pro rata if I study at a lower intensity. That is already quite a lot of money for me, and I wouldn't be interested in paying any more than that for distance learning. I would be tempted to go higher for a taught course, but I don't want to borrow from my partner. Yes, I do realise that it's still very cheap compared with across the pond.
If I switch to fulltime OU study as I mentioned above, and I'm lucky with the childcare situation, I can graduate in two years. I'd be looking for a reason to take longer studying anywhere else, such as more flexible course options, less isolation, lower fees, or a direct linkup with an employer.
I have considered:
*Keeping up my current OU studies, as discussed above.
*The University of London External System. Cheaper, but no tutor support at all, and from reading around online, the university administration seems quite poor. I don't want to pay for a system where I wouldn't get feedback on my assignments.
*Athabasca University. More flexible distance learning and online proctored exams (ie no travel to exam centres), but too expensive.
*The American University of Paris. If money was no object, this is where I'd like to study... but I can't spend that much.
*An ordinary French university. Cheap, but my immediate problem is that I don't speak French well enough. And if I fix that, not sure how good the teaching would be. I've heard of vast overcrowded lecture halls and teaching staff who just don't care. I guess that doesn't apply to all courses or institutions, but I don't know how to pick a good one.
*Sciences Po. Teaching in English, but I don't think I'd pass the entrance exam, and if I did, being a parent means I couldn't handle the workload. Also would be a big random shift away from computing.
*Dropping out, to take free MOOCs and just code by myself, and have more time for learning French and getting a job. The cheap option, and I know lots of people write good code and get paid well without having a degree, but I know I'd have more options as a graduate. There's also less opportunity cost to studying in years when I don't *need* to earn money.
Hello MeFi!
First time I've asked a question here, so go easy if I'm doing it wrong please.
I'm a British citizen, living in the UK, but quite likely moving to Paris at the end of this year for my partner's new job. We have a young child, and we are planning that for the first year of our stay, I would be a stay-at-home parent. Possibly longer than that, though I'm keen to learn French and get a job after that year.
The British government is presently tying itself in knots attempting to withdraw from the European Union. Far too big an issue for this question, so I'll just say that we would be legally resident in France before Brexit day, and I'm hopeful that existing residents on both sides will be left in peace.
At the moment, I am studying towards a Computing degree with the Open University, which is by far the biggest distance learning university in the UK. I could continue to study this from France, but I am a bit disappointed with the inflexibility of course choices within my degree path (the Open Degree is a great idea but that way you don't get a qualification with an actual topic in the name), and (while it probably still seems cheap to Americans) the fees are quite high for me to pay while not working, and I'm not super happy to just hand my partner the bill. So I'd like to make myself aware of alternatives first.
Our child will go to a local French nursery once we are able to get a place, so while I couldn't leave the city to study elsewhere, I would have time during the day to attend classes if that made sense, and I can keep some evenings free. Quite keen on a less isolated study experience.
I do not speak French well at the moment (not a complete beginner but very rusty) but I plan to learn the language seriously, and I hope that studying in French might eventually be realistic. However, I know that is at least a year away, and as a 34 year old I'm not sure I would fit in with ordinary French undergrads. I've read that "mature students" are still considered pretty weird in France.
I like computing so far, and my code mostly compiles and runs :-) but I'd be open to a change of subject if that meant substantial time or money saved, or allowed me to consider classroom rather than distance learning courses. Having a degree and writing good code are independent characteristics.
Fulltime study at the Open University (ie the same credit load as at a regular classroom university) costs just under £6000 GBP per year. Pro rata if I study at a lower intensity. That is already quite a lot of money for me, and I wouldn't be interested in paying any more than that for distance learning. I would be tempted to go higher for a taught course, but I don't want to borrow from my partner. Yes, I do realise that it's still very cheap compared with across the pond.
If I switch to fulltime OU study as I mentioned above, and I'm lucky with the childcare situation, I can graduate in two years. I'd be looking for a reason to take longer studying anywhere else, such as more flexible course options, less isolation, lower fees, or a direct linkup with an employer.
I have considered:
*Keeping up my current OU studies, as discussed above.
*The University of London External System. Cheaper, but no tutor support at all, and from reading around online, the university administration seems quite poor. I don't want to pay for a system where I wouldn't get feedback on my assignments.
*Athabasca University. More flexible distance learning and online proctored exams (ie no travel to exam centres), but too expensive.
*The American University of Paris. If money was no object, this is where I'd like to study... but I can't spend that much.
*An ordinary French university. Cheap, but my immediate problem is that I don't speak French well enough. And if I fix that, not sure how good the teaching would be. I've heard of vast overcrowded lecture halls and teaching staff who just don't care. I guess that doesn't apply to all courses or institutions, but I don't know how to pick a good one.
*Sciences Po. Teaching in English, but I don't think I'd pass the entrance exam, and if I did, being a parent means I couldn't handle the workload. Also would be a big random shift away from computing.
*Dropping out, to take free MOOCs and just code by myself, and have more time for learning French and getting a job. The cheap option, and I know lots of people write good code and get paid well without having a degree, but I know I'd have more options as a graduate. There's also less opportunity cost to studying in years when I don't *need* to earn money.
This thread is closed to new comments.
Can you try getting into a French university and see how it goes? If dropping out is an option you're considering, you could always do so later. Some seem to offer programs in English.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 6:39 AM on July 21, 2018