I am currently studying at the University of Montpellier as an Irish exchange student on the Erasmus programme. So far the experience has been tough but worthwhile.
The campus is vast and spans the whole city. There are many different departments but I am studying in the Department of Economics. It is located just outside of the centre but nearly all areas of Montpellier are accessible by the tram.
A lot of Erasmus students are housed in the CROUS housing and in all honesty, there is a lot left to be desired. The rooms are small and the kitchens are shared among nearly 20 people. There is also a lack of kitchen essentials such as ovens, microwaves, etc.
The lectures can be very difficult if your native language is not French. However, the lecturers and coordinators in the University couldn’t be more helpful and really do go out of their way to help you. Economics is an area of strong interest to me and learning it in French here is extremely rewarding.
In terms of the diversity of the city, there are many international students studying at all the universities in Montpellier. There are plenty of events organised by the university to provide you with an opportunity to meet plenty of new people from all different countries.
Montpellier really is a student city. Just walking around the town for a day would leave you wondering if there are any people who arent students there. The nights are packed with students and there are plenty of bars and night clubs to choose from.
Overall, the experience so far has left me in no doubt to as to recommend the University of Montpellier to anyone who is considering to study there.