Bence Szombati is studying the Joint Master’s Programme in English and American Studies. However, he also wants to brush up on his French and has chosen Paris for his time abroad.
Why did you decide to spend time abroad in this country?
Bence Szombati: The main reason I chose this university in Paris is that I wanted to improve my French language skills. Thankfully, Université Paris Cité offers 2 language courses per semester for free, so everything is given here to reach my goal.
What cultural differences did you notice straight away? What is simply different there compared to Austria?
Bence Szombati: The first thing that I needed to get used to were the distances. Paris is a huge city so if you want to go somewhere, you either walk a lot (frequent hikers have an advantage really), or take public transport. Nevertheless, the public transport is cheap for students under 26 years-old (45EUR/month) and you can take any type of public transport with your monthly ticket. The only major cultural difference I experienced is also related to the size of the city; Paris is more fast-paced than Graz. However, Paris has great parks as well. They are at least as much well groomed as the ones in Austria and they offer a perfect opportunity if you want to go away from the crowd and relax in sunny weather.
How does the university differ from the one in Graz?
Bence Szombati: The faculties and university buildings are more spread out in the city which gives you a perfect opportunity to discover Paris even more.
International Days
The International Days on 14 and 15 October 2026, from 10 am to 3 pm on both days, will take place in the foyer of the University Library. The Office for International Relations will provide information and inspiration: how to find your dream destination; what exchange programmes and scholarships are available; what the perfect application documents look like; and much more. ⇒ learn more
