Background

Hello, my name is Vlad and I’m from Romania! I’m a student at Sorbonne Université from France, and currently spending my third and final year at Stockholm for an year long Erasmus project. My Degree is in Physics and this is my journey as an international student!

Extracurriculars

Studying at Sorbonne wasn’t the first time I’ve been to France - when I was about 11, I spent three years here. Afterwards, I returned to Romania and later, when it was time to choose high schools, I applied to National College ’’Scoala Centrala’’, which is known for having a French bilingual curriculum, and also involved in many international projects. Amongst them was a debate club with students from Brussels, but unfortunately, the Pandemic came and everything was shut down. I was in 9th grade and until 11th grade, I didn’t have too many extracurriculars, when the physical courses restarted and with them, the projects.

International Projects

A project that left a strong impact on me was Lycée d’Europe. This project paired a teacher with two high school students from each EU country, with the goal of creating a sense of belonging, discussing Europe’s current problems, and what could be changed. The plan was to spend a week in Strasbourg, debating face to face and visiting the European Parliament.

However, the pandemic cut everything short and moved it online. We had interviews with European parliamentarians, and I worked on the topic of migration, writing articles and having interviews. Later, they decided to bring us all to Paris, where we spent some days visiting France Éducation International, the institution that manages French exams worldwide, as well as some other important institutions such as the French Ministry of education and the Parliament.

In 12th grade, I worked a lot with Campus France. In Romania, Campus France is the official institution that promotes higher studies in France. They are the only ones authorised to manage French state scholarships in Romania. For example, anyone who wants to go for a Master’s with a scholarship must go through them. And if you’re from outside the European Union, you absolutely have to go through Campus France so your diploma is recognised, and they also help with visas and all the paperwork. Basically, they handle everything related to studying in France.

I volunteered with them, and I was involved in all the education fairs. We guided high school students who wanted to study in France, giving them advice. By then, since I was already in 12th grade and preparing my own application, I knew well how things worked. I also helped organise events at the French Institute, where I met many people, including from the embassy and even the French ambassador. It was one of those volunteer experiences that really shapes me; I didn’t work for a diploma, but for the extraordinary experience itself.

A Bilingual High School?

My teachers weren’t necessarily native French, but they were deeply tied to the French Institute. Some had written French manuals, others had taught for years, so they had strong backgrounds in the language. They were the kind of teachers who pushed us to get involved in projects, always encouraging us to try more. In a regular high school, I don’t think I would have had the same opportunities.

So, in a way, it was still a “normal high school experience,” but my teachers made it much more interesting and interactive. They brought us closer to French culture, not just through books but through real experiences such as meeting people or seeing things firsthand. I think that shaped me a lot, teaching me how to work in multicultural projects and represent certain values through them. Also, due to my high school’s intensive French programme, I also got a bilingual diploma aside from the usual graduation one after passing an exam.

Tips for Learning French!

In terms of moving past the B1 French level, what worked for me was watching cartoons in French with French subtitles. There’s even a channel, TV5Monde, where they broadcast them in the morning. The language in cartoons is clean, not rushed or mixed like everyday slang. I think it gives you solid foundations before diving into real-life French. For writing, grammar is honestly very complicated; I’ve studied French for 12 years and still make mistakes! Reading books helps a lot; if you don’t know a word, just look it up in the dictionary. I don’t memorise everything, I just read or listen in French more so I immerse myself better.

Why I Chose Studying Abroad

I decided to study Physics abroad because veritable research experiences are limited in Romania and especially in astrophysics, the field I'm leaning towards. Imagine finishing a PhD after eight years of hard work and then realising there’s no job waiting for you. Here, I have more opportunities. Whether I stay in France or leave after my Master’s or PhD, I’ll just have more open paths. I’m not saying that coming back to Romania is out of the question, but maybe not for now. You never know what the future has in store for you.

Why Sorbonne was The Best Option for Me

Sorbonne was my first option, being a public research university, also ranked 72 in the QS Ranking System and third in physics in France. For bachelor’s degrees here, there’s a centralized platform, called Parcoursup. All available programs are listed there, and you can choose up to ten. You search by keywords (for me, “physics”) and you’ll find two types of programs: non-selective ones, where you get in based only on your file (30 credits per semester, pretty standard), and selective ones. Selective programs require an interview or an exam and more courses. For example, instead of 30, I have 36 credits per semester, meaning one or two extra courses I’ll have to take.

I applied to both standard physics and selective ones. The one I chose is called CMI Physique (Cursus Master en Ingénierie Physique). Besides the extra credits, admission included an interview where I explained what I knew about the program, why I chose it, and my future plans. To give you an idea: the year I applied, there were 32 places and about 900 candidates, so it was extremely competitive.

What convinced me most is that this program includes the Master’s degree, but also knowing the opportunities I can have along the way. When talking about science especially, in France, a bachelor’s by itself isn’t worth much, you can’t really get hired, especially in research. But with this, I don’t need to reapply for a master’s after graduation, everything is instant. 

Admission Process

At the time of applying, I was working with Campus France, and I received help from them. I was guided by them, and I also had support from the International Education Office in France, which advised me on what French institutions expect, especially for the motivation letter part.

From what I remember, Parcoursup worked then the same way it does now. It opens in December or January just for browsing: you can see all the programs but can’t apply yet. From January to March, the platform opens for real: you upload your transcript, CV, recommendation letters, choose your ten programs, and, where needed, add motivation letters. Not all licenses require them. Then, until May, you can confirm your application. Around June 1st, results come out.

The motivation letter was the tricky part because it had a strict limit of 1500 characters, which means three paragraphs. I talked about why I love physics, what I want to do with it later, and a little about the multicultural projects I joined. That’s important because admitting a foreign student means they need to be sure you’ll integrate. Moreover, they want to see how you express yourself, how many ideas you can correlate and highlight, and your personality and goals for the program and beyond. I couldn’t waste characters, since it was in French, I also needed to prove my writing skills with eye-catching phrases and overall, how well you can condense maximum meaning into minimum words. 

A language certificate is also required, especially since all my studies were going to be entirely in French. In France, B2 is usually required, though for certain law programs they ask for C1. I decided to take the C1 exam six months early, just to be safe.

Financial Stats

Being located in Paris, finding housing can be challenging, so I was lucky to find something quickly. French universities don’t really have on-campus housing; instead, some have partnerships with private residences. Around Paris there are plenty of private residences, so if you start early, it’s manageable.

In France, for a public bachelor’s degree, the state covers most costs. You only pay about €175 per year plus around €100 for “student life” services like libraries. In my faculty we even get free meals every Wednesday. Altogether, a year costs about €300. In physics you don’t need to buy books—everything is uploaded online or provided by professors, and libraries have the rest. Maybe you invest in a laptop or tablet, but that’s personal. 

I’d say €1200 is the average for a month in Paris - rent is around €600-700/month and the rest depends. Scholarships can sometimes reduce this by €100–200 depending on your family income, but it’s still a monthly cost. On top of that, you’ll need a public transport pass, about €375/year. I’d say budgeting is absolutely essential for international students.

International Community

The international community in Paris is huge. In my program, most students are French, or French with other nationalities. Of course, there are cultural differences, but you have to accept them. As a foreign student, you can’t change their culture, you can explain yours, but can’t impose it. Regarding extracurriculars, the campus offers plenty, such as sports, music, clubs, and jobs. You can participate both inside and outside Sorbonne. Personally, I don’t have much time for these because my schedule is packed with classes, studying, and my paid work for the university. Weekends are mostly for catching up with friends and playing some tennis too. That said, for a normal bachelor’s program, students usually have time for activities if they manage it well.

Here’s How My Timetable Looks Like…

The courses resemble the class-like structure, meaning that it’s a reduced number of students per class. We’re in the physics department, so we attend seminars and labs together, while the large lectures are shared with all physics students. They use continuous assessment: exams and projects throughout the semester. Around 80% of the grade comes from exams: one midterm in late October and the big final exam at semester’s end. The remaining 20% comes from labs or projects, depending on the subject.

As a summary, the CMI Physics program offers six major focus areas:

• Physics and Optics

• Physics and Matter

• Physics and Complexity

• Earth Observation, Remote Sensing and Space Engineering

• Astrophysics and Space Engineering

• Biophysics

Of course, I still have courses for Mathematics and Chemistry.

Labs are the most interesting part. Depending on the subject, they last four to five hours. You receive a set of steps to carry out an experiment connected to the theory studied in lectures and seminars. You perform the experiment, gather data, interpret results, and draw conclusions. 

The goal isn’t only to reach the correct outcome, but to show you understand the process, the errors, and how to improve. Even if you make mistakes, it doesn’t ruin your grade. What matters is knowing where you went wrong and being able to explain it.

Lab Work!

Physics is a huge field with so many specialisations, so the first three years focus mainly on theory. Even though labs are included, the bachelor’s degree is general—you touch on all areas of physics. Specialisation comes at the Master’s level. For example, I want to do astrophysics. The bachelor’s is structured so you can figure out what interests you before committing to a specific path.

Unlike other fields, in physics, you usually can’t get a job with just a bachelor’s or even a master’s. For research, you need a PhD. Even firms told us clearly that a master’s alone isn’t enough as they don’t consider graduates fully prepared. That’s why physics is so unique: theory dominates early on, labs reinforce understanding, and only in advanced studies do you get real, hands-on experience that prepares you for specialised work or research.

We literally have people’s lives in our hands. For example, before launching a rocket, everything must be perfectly precise. A single mistake could be catastrophic. That’s why, during the bachelor’s degree, we work on very small-scale research. One error can ruin an experiment that might take years to complete. These aren’t tasks you finish in a day as they involve calculations and setups that can span months or years. Accuracy is crucial; one misstep can compromise the results or even the satellite connection.

Time management & Study Tips

At Sorbonne, lectures aren’t mandatory, nor are seminars, only labs are required. But if you skip too many, you fall behind. I have about 35 hours per week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., so managing time during weekdays can become challenging. You need to plan carefully and reserve weekends to review material and prepare for seminars.

It helps to study the week’s lecture in advance because seminars cover the same material with a one-week delay. That way, when you attend the seminar, you already understand the concepts and can ask meaningful questions or solve problems effectively. Memorising formulas doesn’t work for me. Instead, I focus on understanding how formulas work and what they’re used for. Once you grasp the concept, the formulas naturally stick.

I think the key is logical memorisation: understanding the principles behind the work so that recall becomes intuitive. It’s especially important in physics because the material builds on itself, and one misunderstanding can cause cascading errors. Effective time management, combined with conceptual understanding, allows you to navigate the workload and fully grasp the material without being overwhelmed.

Abroad… Again?

For my program, international mobility is mandatory, as you have to study abroad to earn your degree. Stockholm wasn’t chosen randomly. I was drawn to Sweden, the city, and the system, which is very different from France. Sorbonne has partnerships with many countries across Europe, North America, and beyond. 

We could submit three preferences, and the faculty would decide where to send us. I chose Edinburgh, Manchester, and Stockholm, and I was assigned Stockholm. I wanted Stockholm because I wanted a change; I’m somewhat accustomed to England, but I hadn’t experienced Northern Europe, and I was curious about a new culture. The Swedish system is very different, both academically and socially. It felt exciting, and the schedule at the university is more relaxed compared to France. I’ve always been drawn towards astrophysics, so my plan this year is to redirect my academic journey towards that area so I have a broader knowledge base. When I come back to France and begin my Master’s, I want to apply for an astrophysics degree.

Advice for High Schoolers

My main advice is to prepare in advance: language certifications, volunteering, and extracurricular activities matter a lot. They show that you can manage life beyond academics.

I’d also tell them not to fear change. Studying in a foreign country, learning in a different language, and adapting to a new culture is challenging at first, but you adapt quickly. Once you start connecting what you’re learning to previous knowledge, things become clearer, and you can plan for the future.

For anyone aiming at Sorbonne, the rules are stricter. Foreign students need excellent grades and a high language proficiency. A good strategy is to apply for regular programs to increase the chances of acceptance, while also applying for selective programs that are more competitive but offer unique learning opportunities. These selective programs provide new perspectives, open doors for the future, and are intellectually stimulating.

So, my advice is to embrace opportunities, prepare well in advance, and be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Studying abroad can be an extraordinary experience if you’re ready to take on the challenge and explore new academic and cultural horizons.