Exchange student

Doing a university exchange at ESPOL

Students from universities with an agreement with ESPOL or the Université Catholique de Lille can spend one or two semesters at ESPOL as part of their studies. This exchange can take place under an Erasmus agreement or a global or bilateral agreement. Do not hesitate to check our FAQ for exchange students!

Why choose ESPOL and Lille?

ESPOL is a multicultural college that welcomes students and teachers from all over the world to its multilingual courses. Located in the heart of Europe, between Paris, London and Brussels, Lille is a dynamic metropolis where almost 40% of the population is under 25. There are more than 110,000 students in Lille, many of them in the Vauban district, at the heart of the Université Catholique de Lille campus.

ESPOL is a great way to study political science or international relations in a strong European context.

Joining ESPOL on exchange means joining a community of committed students who engage with college life through a rich and varied community life.  

How much does it cost to live in France?

The cost of living in Lille will depend on your activities and tastes. You can eat in good Italian trattorias at affordable prices, or go to the latest trendy Italian and spend a lot more money. Lille is still a very affordable city if you can be even a little economical. Be careful not to spend too much time in Lille’s bars, as they are often a major source of outlay! 

Before arriving

Nomination and application

Please contact your university’s mobility coordinator or international office to find out whether you can take part in an exchange at ESPOL. You must apply through your home university. Procedures and deadlines vary from one establishment to another.

Nomination: 

Nominations must be sent by the home establishment by: 

• Mid-May for the autumn semester (September – December).
• Mid-October for the spring semester (January – April).

Registration: 

Students must finalise their application before: 

• Mid-June for the autumn semester (September – December)
• Mid-November for the spring semester (January – April)

Language certificate:

We strongly recommend that students have a good command of English (Level B2) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – in order to be able to follow courses taught in English. 

To prove your level, a letter from your teacher or university is accepted, as is a certificate (TOEFL, IELTS, DELF, etc.) proving a minimum B2 level.

Applying for a visa:

• For a study period of more than three months, you will be issued a temporary long-stay visa, which requires no further administrative procedures on your arrival in France;
• For training or work placements lasting more than six months, you will be issued with a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit, which will require additional administrative procedures when you arrive in France.

Visa fee for countries or territories subject to the FEE procedure: €50 *.

Visa price for other countries: €99 *.

*This amount is given as an indication; certain specific cases may give rise to different rates. For more information, please visit the France Visa website.

Arriving in Lille

When should you arrive?

Students must arrive in Lille the week before the start of the course in order to be present for the orientation of new students. ESPOL and the international mobility team look forward to welcoming you at the beginning of September for the autumn semester and at the beginning of January for the spring semester. For the exact dates, please consult the [link to Academic Calendar].

Finding your way around the campus

Once in Lille, the campus is accessible on foot, by metro, bus or bicycle. For guidance, we recommend downloading the Yochi app, available from Google Play Store and the App Store. As well as a campus map, it will give you access to your timetable, documents and much more.

During your stay in Lille

Completion of administrative procedures

Once you’ve arrived, you’ll need to complete a number of administrative procedures to ensure that your stay goes smoothly, including registering for social security to be covered in the event of an accident during your stay, registering with the CAF to obtain benefits to help you pay for your accommodation and opening a bank account to manage your expenses on the ground.

Choice of courses:

As an incoming student, you can choose the courses you take at ESPOL. You can consult the courses on offer on the [link to Course Catalogue] in French or English.

On this catalogue, you can find all the information about the course content and the number of credits that each course will award you. This list is updated for the following semester at the end of November and the end of July.

Grading system

Examination results in the French system are based on a scale of 0 to 20, with 10 being the lowest mark. For an overview of the rating system, please see the following section.

The Europass Certificate Supplement

The Diploma Supplement is a document which provides information that makes it easier for employers and education institutions to understand your qualifications. You can get more information here. If you require a Europass Certificate, please contact our academic officer.

If you have any questions, please consult our FAQ for incoming students or contact our mobility coordinators at incoming@univ-catholille.fr.