Université de la Méditerranée Aix-Marseille II

Clubs are open late in France meaning you don't need to go out too early like you do in the UK. Meeting at around midnight before hitting the nightlife was common. This way it's possible to have a decent meal, relax (even have a little snooze in preparation!) and not be in a rush. There were also plenty of other events with a student cinema on campus and so many things to go and see in the region I really feel as if I made the most of it.

The best thing with an opportunity like this is that you really can get involved as much as you want to. For my part I decided that the more I put in the more I would get out. I joined the rugby side, played tennis and football and went out a lot. My improvement in French was marked and rapid but I really did make an effort of putting myself forward which is not always easy.

Pub Solferino for televised sport and partying, O'Shannons, the Manoir are both good bars, IPN and anywhere on the rue de la verrerie for clubbing. Orienté lovely chilled out oriental tea salon, must see any cafés on Cours Mirabeau, market in Place Richelme, Sainte-Victoire mountaine, Les Agapes provencal restaurant... the whole place really.

After the first few weeks when lectures were daunting we all adapted fine and we perfectly capable of doing the exams in French at the end of the year. Socially my language skills and knowledge of slang and colloquial French improved no end.