La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a small picturesque city with a rich history dating back to antiquity. The city was founded during the 10th century and has been a significant harbor ever since. La Rochelle is located in southwestern France, by the Bay of Biscay. La Rochelle’s primary tourist attraction is the Old Harbour, Vieux Port. The Aquarium La Rochelle is also a must-see in this charming town.

Groupe Sup de Co La Rochelle

La Rochelle Business School was established in 1988. The university has over 3000 students on campus, out of which nearly 800 are international students. La Rochelle Business School has earned AACSB accreditation, placing it on a level of quality achieved only by less than five percent of business programs in the world. Double degree Metropolia students can choose to study either marketing or international management and are expected to complete 240 ECTS in order to graduate from La Rochelle Business School.

Tips From Previous Exchange Students

Living

• Apply for CAF, which is housing money paid by the French government, as soon as you arrive
• The university can help you find an apartment, but this costs approximately 150 €
• The price level of accommodation doesn’t differ dramatically from Finland
• Getting an apartment from the old city center is highly recommended if you can afford it, as you get to live in an idyllic and typical part of a French town
• As always, if you wait until the last minute, you will not get a decent apartment so start looking for one as early as possible
• La Rochelle is a student town and there are other universities located in the town, so be prepared to fight for your apartment

University

• The quality of teaching is outstanding and has been praised by previous exchange students
• The atmosphere is truly international, as even guest lecturers come to La Rochelle from all over the world
• The environment is dynamic and ever changing, à la française, which is why schedules change all the time on short notice
• You will have to sacrifice your social life during exam weeks, which differ quite dramatically from Metropolia’s system
• The (cafeteria) coffee actually tastes good and only costs 0.50€
• It takes less than 15 minutes to walk to the beach from the campus so you can even spend your lunch break lounging on the beach if you wish
• The university has an in class registering system and if you don’t badge yourself in, you’re regarded as absent
• The university has lots of associations and clubs you can join, ranging from sports to wine tasting

Lifestyle

• Purchase the Cart Jeune when you arrive in Paris as it grants massive discounts for train tickets throughout France
• The easiest and cheapest way to get to La Rochelle is flying to Paris and taking a train to La Rochelle but this takes some time
• Buying a bike is highly recommended, as it is the easiest mode of transportation in La Rochelle
• Shopping in La Rochelle is expensive, but luckily cities such as Bordeaux and Nantes provide better shopping possibilities
• People are helpful and friendly even if you don’t speak fluent French, as long as you remain polite
• Nightlife is vibrant since La Rochelle is a student town
• The weather in general is warm, even until the end of October

Mia E. Varis