Student Report
IESÈG School of Management
Exchange semester: Spring, 2014
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Applying
After receiving information from BI and I had made the decision on where in the world to go
it was time to decide which school to choose. I used the different schools official web-pages
when doing research. For me this information was enough.
I followed the instructions I was given from the international office at BI concerning handing
in applications and learning agreements. It is important to have a good overview of different
courses since they may change names and in some cases disappear before you even arrive.
Have a back-up plan with different courses and had in extra courses for BI to approve. This
will save you time and energy in the add and drop period. After applying, my offer from
IESÈG arrived in the end of February. This was sent by e-mail.
Travel
To travel to Paris the best is to use flights that arrive to either Charles De Gaulle or Orly
airport. These are closer to actual Paris. Beauvais can also be used but then you will either
have to spend about 1200 Euros on a taxi or take the shuttle bus. From Charles De Gaulle it
costs approximately 50-60 Euros with a taxi and about 30 Euros from Orly.
Housing
IESÈG offered housing which are located a bit outside Paris. These are walking distance from
the School. I would though recommend if you are 2-3 students that you share an apartment in
actual Paris if you wasn’t to get to know the city. If you travel alone I would recommend the
housing the school offers since you will live together with fellow students.
If you live in one of the apartments/rooms the School offers this will cost between 800-1000
Euros per month. We rented a 60 M2 apartment in the 4 district (central Paris) for 2300 Euros
per month. We had two bedrooms, bathroom, separate toilet, kitchen and living room together
and a entrance. It was also very modern. Use Parisattitude.fr if you want something like this.
Costs
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
Other
700-800 Euros
Most of the materials you need are published online. Books are borrowed from
the library. The only thing you buy is notebooks.
300 Euros. It of course depends on what you eat and if you cook on your own.
48 Euros. Paris has a metro stem with zones. How much you pay depends on
how many zones you travel through. If you live close to the school you wil save
money because during the weekends you can travel through all zones for free if
you have a metro-card. 48 Euros is with a student discount that you will have to
apply for. The school helps you with this.
Many museums and tourist attractions are free for students. But if you want to
explore Paris you should have some money saved to spend during your stay.
Language
Most of the people at the School speak English but the level varies a lot. If you are
uncomfortable with dialects I would not recommend you to go to France at all because the
have a big accent when they speak. This concerns both teachers and other students. It takes
some getting used.
In Paris in general, people do not speak that much English. It is beneficial if you at least speak
some French before you arrive and that you take French at school.
Documents and forms you receive are mainly in French. This is although something the
School can help you with.
Culture and relationships
The relationship between the exchange students was very good. As foreigners you really
connect. This may also be a result of the non-existing relationship with the French students.
Exploring
Paris has a lot of things to discover and as mentioned some of the things are free for students.
Use tourist websites to find information.
There are also great possibilities to travel with train to different places when you are in Paris,
to for example London and Nice.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
IESÈG is located right outside Paris in an up-coming district called la Defénse under the third
arch of Paris, Grand Arche. You can get there with bus, train and metro. It is quite a small
school that is located under ground. Right by the school is a huge shopping mall but also skyscrapers.
Course registration
The course registration was in October. It is important that you have a good overview of the
courses before this starts. This registration is not the final one. When you arrive at the school
you will have to do the registration one more time on the first da of school. You have 24
hours to get this done.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
03.01
06.01
18.04
05.05-14.05 (I had four exams)
You have an Easter break.
You have classes every day.
Arrival
IESÈG has an introduction week with information and social activities. The social activities
are both visits to different attractions and partying. I recommend students to participate in this
to get to know other students quickly. You also have a buddy that can answer questions and
show you around.
Promoting BI and Norway
During the semester the school arranges a fair where the different exchange students promote
the schools and countries they come from. This takes place at the School and IESÈG provides
you with all the material you need. You are there to answer questions.
Social activities
IESÈG have activities like visits to attractions and clubbing for the students every week. They
use Facebook to promote these. In addition IESÈG arranges trips abroad every semester.
ACADEMICS
Teaching style
The teaching style is very different compared to BI. Firstly it is mandatory to meet up.
Secondly, active class participation is a part of the grade. Further on, the lessons contains
lecturing but also case studies and other practical activities. You also often work in groups.
Course materials
The courses are often based on PowerPoint presentations that you receive. In addition there
may be cases and articles you have to read. Books are seldom used.
Grades
Grades are often based on more than just one exam. It can be based on presentations you have
had in class, case studies you have done, MCQ:s and exams. Often class participation is 30 %
of the grade; which implies that you have to attend. Of you miss more than two classes, you
fail the course.
The level and workload is much lower than at BI. You do though have to study for exams
because these are based on the lectures and course materials.
Description of courses
Course code &
name
OPSB2
Introduction to
operations
management
Financial
management
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisite
s
None
Approve
d as
Elective
Comments
Bachelor
2 hour written
exam
None
Elective
2 hour written
exam plus group
project
2 hour written
exam and
presentation
Basic
mathematics
and finance
None
Elective
Small class with
possibilities of
discussion with
professor
Interesting course
Working capital
management
Master
International
development &
management of
NGO
Mergers and
acquisition
Organisational
Master
Elective
Fair enough. Not
very relevant
Master
1 hour exam
None
Elective
Interesting
Master
Don’t remember
None
Elective
Interesting
2-hours MCQ
2 mandatory
seminars
Very basic but
relevant.
vision and
identity
NEGB2
Sales techniques
Bachelor
Group project
1 hour MCQ
None
Elective
I do not recommend
this course. It is
very irrelevant.
OPSB3
Industrial
realities
Bachelor
None
Logistics
NEGB3
Introduction to
negotiation
MGTB3
Fundamentals of
strategy
NEGMA
Negotiating and
purchasing in an
international
environment
NEGMA
Cross cultural
relationship in
marketing nd
communication
NEGMA
Sales
management
NEGMA
The leadership
experince
Bachelor
Group project
Big case study
Seminar
2 hours MCQ
Group
assignment
Small report
3 MCQ:s during
the semester
Final exam
Individual
report
None
Elective
Both practical and
theoretical. Big
workload compared
to other courses.
Very practical and
fun.
None
Elective
Quite a lot of work
but also 4 ECTS.
None
Elective
Class where you
have to be active
and participate. I
recommend
Master
Final open book
exam and
presentation
None
Elective
Something you will
not study at BI. I
very much
recommend.
Master
Case studies
2 hours written
exam
Project
throughout the
week and
presentation
None
Elective
Very practical.
Recommend.
Elective
Only practical. The
course is a virtual
simulation where
you are a project
manager.
Recommend.
Brands and social
media
Master
Group report
and presentation
Some project
management
and logistics
are good. But
you can
manage
without.
None
Elective
MKTMA
CRM
Master
3 case studies
Group report
None
Elective
IBEMA
Business
sustainable
development
LANTR
Frecnch
Master
Group project
and presentation
None
Elective
Only lectures with
almost no practical
activities.
Big workload with
a lot of reading.
Very theoretical.
Theoretical. Not
very relevant
A2
Presentation
Listening and
written exam
Elective
MKTMA
CSR and
marketing
Master
Case studies
Group report
Presentation
You will get
in a group
that are on
your level
None
Bachelor
Master
Master
Elecive
I recommend that
you take French if
you do not speak it
on beforehand.
Practical and
theoretical. Not so
relevant.
American culture
and civilization
Bachelor
Film review,
book review,
presentation, 2
hour written
exam
2 hour written
exam
None
Elective
Much work, but
pretty easy.
An international
comparison of
health care
systems
Audit teckniques
Master
None
Elective
Interesting
Master
2 hour written
exam
None
Elective
Interesting
Business
sustainable
development
International
marketing
Master
2 hour written
exam
None
Elective
Very practical and
fun.
Master
Group work
None
Elective
Good experience
International
marketing
communication
International
sales and
commercial law
Mobile marketing
Master
Project
None
Elective
Interesting and fun
Master
2 hour written
exam
None
Elective
Basic and relevant
Master
Project
None
Elective
Social media
marketing
Master
Project, 2 hour
written exam
None
Elective
Interesting and
relevant for today’s
industry
Relevant
Social
responsibility
Master
Group project
None
Elective
Important and
practical
Understanding
India for business
Master
Project,
presentation
None
Elective
Interesting, but not
so relevant for a
business student.
Final words
Going on exchange is a fantastic experience. Though, I do want to add that it is not always
simple. You may face difficulties both at school and outside school. France is a very
bureaucratic country so you have to be organized and patient.