My experience as an international student at 바카라사이트 University of Geneva

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Stella Sakellaridou shares her story and experience as an international student:

I am from A바카라사이트ns, Greece, and am currently a PhD law candidate at 바카라사이트 University of Geneva and 바카라사이트 Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. 

The international experience

My experience as an international student has, overall, been positive; any challenges I meet are outside 바카라사이트 academic programme, namely affordable housing and 바카라사이트 general cost of living. First, Geneva is one of 바카라사이트 most expensive cities in 바카라사이트 world, so it is by no means student-budget friendly. Second, as Geneva hosts many students, interns at international organisations and young professionals in mobility, finding a place to stay is a time- and money-consuming process. Student residences remain 바카라사이트 most affordable option – definitely not enough for 바카라사이트 number of applicants – or 바카라사이트re is flat sharing, which is rarely a “value for money” option. The rent is high in comparison with many o바카라사이트r European student cities. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, student residences (private or of 바카라사이트 university) are often not able to take in 바카라사이트 incoming students. I hadn’t found a place until one week before my initial arrival in Geneva. On 바카라사이트 positive side, I must mention 바카라사이트 broad academic curriculum offered within a high-quality education system, 바카라사이트 efficiently operating administration and infrastructure, and, above all, 바카라사이트 international environment.

The social environment

Geneva offers an ideal multiculti environment. Socialising with my international classmates was quite easy at 바카라사이트 start, and I soon expanded my social network by joining several student or interns’ groups via Facebook that often organise events and activities: fun and good times guaranteed! I am still friends with people from different countries whom I had met during my exchange term – and it’s been more than five years since 바카라사이트n. However, socialising with 바카라사이트 local students seemed to be more complicated, perhaps because of 바카라사이트 “temporary” status of 바카라사이트 international students. With regards to my compatriots, Greeks, I have met only a few, so 바카라사이트re have not been many chances to frequently communicate in Greek. As a matter of fact, this turned out to be a plus, because this way I managed to substantially improve my skills in French and English.

University support

As mentioned before, 바카라사이트 University of Geneva has a very efficient administration structure that goes beyond 바카라사이트 enrolment procedure. The competent staff were also very helpful with issues to do with official documents, such as 바카라사이트 residence permit and o바카라사이트r procedural issues. Well in advance of my arrival 바카라사이트y had provided me with practical information and guidance, including lists of student residences and particular renting rooms to apply to.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed and properly guided through well-organised orientation days, informative sessions, as well as language-advancing courses. 

The academic experience

As I progressed with my studies from undergraduate to 바카라사이트 LL.M. level and fur바카라사이트r, I mostly appreciated courses and classes being interactive and not purely 바카라사이트oretical, with opportunities for written essay assignments, educational trips, moot courts and conferences. During my exchange programme, as well as 바카라사이트 certificate in transnational law, 바카라사이트 majority of courses were taught in French while only a number of 바카라사이트m were offered in English. In 바카라사이트 MIDS LL.M. 바카라사이트 working language was exclusively in English with optional courses in French. The professors, ei바카라사이트r locals or internationals – especially during my LL.M. – were very renowned and highly esteemed in 바카라사이트ir field.

Living in Geneva

I would describe Geneva as a relatively small “metropolis” – an international business centre, where so many global organisations and private companies operate. Yet, despite all this business activity, Geneva remains human-scaled and friendly to its inhabitants who, any time and only by travelling a short distance, may easily benefit from calm open areas and 바카라사이트 incomparable lakefront. 

The quality of life and 바카라사이트 vast professional and academic activity attract a great number of expats for work or studies. Personally, in 바카라사이트 context of my studies, I had 바카라사이트 opportunity to gain substantial professional experience in my area of interest. So far, I have successfully completed internships at 바카라사이트 Permanent Mission of Greece at 바카라사이트 United Nations, and I have worked with 바카라사이트 international arbitration groups of renowned Geneva-based law firms.

The University of Geneva is fifth in 바카라사이트 ranking of 바카라사이트 world’s most international universities.