Academic Culture in France

My university was L'universite de Caen (Basse-Normandie). Just to brag a little: it was founded in 1432 by the 1st Duke of Bedford, John of Lancaster. It started as an academy of Norman Law. In july 1944, the university was destroyed (like most the city during WWII). It was rebuilt in 1948 and reopened on June1, 1957. The university logo is the Pheonix (for that historical reason).

Let's see....academic culture.
First difference: France does not have 'colleges'. Only universities. A degree is granted after 2 years (DEUG), 3 years (License) , 5 years (Master), and 8 years (Doctorat). There are no grand ceremony. Diplomas are sent via mail upon request. Early diplomas were simple computer printouts.

There are absolutely no support for students to adapt to academic demands. There are no requirements to show up in class (amphitheater), grades are provided mainly at the end of the semester for one big final exam. Some professors ask for a 10 page paper homework in the middle of the semester, but all in all, it's all on the comprehensive final exam (a hand written essay question). However, smaller courses (30 students in a classroom) do have a headcount and usually 3 absences at the beginning of the year is an automatic expulsion from the course.

Most classes are in amphitheater. Professors do not know students. The relationship between professor and students is very formal (Dr So&So: absolutely no first name basis!), and usually nonexistent.

The French students are quite often on strikes due to their interest in current socio-political items. Depending on the location, courses continue or are postponed. The strikes are usually never violent and take the form of street walking or group gathering on the university green.

Academic standards:
when i was at my university, computers were barely showing and in my department *(English major) there were only 6 of those, to be used only to teach basic DOS for students who took that elective. There were no computer labs where students could check their emails or type adn print their homeworks. HOmeworks were handwritten. (I do not know how things are now)
Grades: don't expect As. Nobody gets As or a rare 10% of the university population. An average -and most common- grade is a D (passing) which usually translates as a grade between 10 to 12 out of 20 (we use a numerical system of grade. no letters). If you get a 15/20 grade, you can celebrate and frame it.
There are no points given for attendance nor effort. Points are taken away for bad grammar, spelling or conjugation. My profs used to warn us that after 5 typos/mispelling/grammar errors, they refuse to grade the paper.
Plagiarism: the US are a lot more strict than the French when quoting or not a source. So American students going to France actually have an advantage here.
Miscellaneous:
* help on campus: campus staff and faculty are government employees. This usually translates into extremely poor service (no correlation between countries ;-P. So do not take it personally if the library staff stays on the phone talking to her girlfriend while you wait for her to help you. yet again, you might be lucky and meet very helpful people.

The best strategy is to make friends with local students who can help you navigate the campus. Ask the international office staff on campus (usually the same office that takes care of your visit in France) if there are students who are listed as 'ambassadors' or who are listed as willing to help foreigners on campus.

IF i remember something i'll email you again,
let me know if you think of something more,
S.