At just 23 years old, Shirley is a seasoned international student! After 3 years in France, the international ambassador from China is well on her way to becoming a full-fledged Parisian in her own right: an invaluable guide and mentor to all new international students arriving at Paris School of Business!
Hello Shirley! Could you please introduce yourself in a few words?
Hi! My name is Shirley Chen, I'm 23 years old and I'm from Shenzhen, China. I have been living in Paris for 3 years and I am enrolled in Paris School of Business’ Luxury & Fashion Management BBA (3rd year of the Bachelor of Business Administration).
STUDYING AT PARIS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Could you describe in your word what a BBA programme is? What are your classes like?
A BBA is a 3-year bachelor’s programme in business administration and it is entirely taught in English. The BBA programme welcomes numerous international students which means that we get to meet people from all over the world.
During the first year, we study the fundamentals of business administration such as Marketing, Accounting, Business Law or Data Analytics. During the second year we go deeper in those knowledges, and students are given the opportunity to study abroad. I have some friends who went to Korea, Germany, or the United States on an exchange programme.
In the final year, we can choose between 5 majors including Luxury & Fashion, Finance & Accounting, International Management, International Marketing or E-Commerce & Ditigal Marketing. Personnaly, I chose the first one: Luxury & Fashion Management. The classes are quite small so we can easily interact with our professors!
Why did you choose to enrol in the Luxury & Fashion Management BBA at Paris School of Business?
I actually didn't know much about luxury and fashion before starting my BBA, but I was always drawn to that line of business, which is why I decided to pick Luxury & Fashion Management as my major.
Looking back on it, I am certain that I made the right call! I learned a lot during the past year, and realised the importance of know-how, craftsmanship, time and heritage in the luxury industry. I would definitely recommend this BBA to anyone looking to study luxury management and learn how to rejuvenate the luxury and fashion industry.
What are the benefits of studying at Paris School of Business?
First of all, Paris School of Business offers a Bachelor programme in English so that English-speaking students are given the opportunity to study in Paris and experience the French way of life.
Secondly, the school is located in the centre of Paris which makes it very easy to explore the city after class.
And since Paris School of Business welcomes numerous international students, we get to interact with people from all over the world and discover different cultures, perspectives and ideas.
What does being an international ambassador for Paris School of Business consist in? What do you like most about it?
As an international ambassador, my role is to promote and represent my programme, guide new students during the school orientation day and answer any questions that future students or people interested in enrolling at Paris School of Business may have.
I love meeting new students and making new friends, and I'm always happy to answer questions and share my experiences.
DAILY LIFE IN PARIS
What about the living in Paris? Could you give some tips to students looking for accommodation in Paris?
Well, I live with my family, so I didn’t have to look for an apartment in Paris but I heard that finding a place to live can be challenging. I highly suggest looking on classified ad websites such as SeLoger, Bien’Ici… Also, you can simply try your social networks; you never know, you may have a contact that can help you. You can also contact the school directly that will provide you with a list of partner institution that can help you to find a place to live.
What was your biggest challenge when settling in Paris? How did you overcome it?
I would say that the first months in Paris can be challenging: you need to open a bank account, take a telephone subscription, subscribe to health insurance, etc.
Therefore, when I first arrived, I subscribed to the package offered by Feel Parisien, a partner of Paris School of Business which offers assistance to international students, so they don’t have to deal with everything on their own.
Did you speak French before moving to Paris? What is it like living in Paris without being fluent in French?
I spoke zero French when I first moved to France! I followed a 3-month intensive French course at La Sorbonne during my first year in Paris.
But since Paris is an international capital, it is not difficult to live here without being fluent in French, because people do speak some English. That being said, I still recommend taking French lessons because it is otherwise much harder to interact with locals. As a matter of facts, you can choose French classes at Paris School of Business as electives to learn the language.
Have you been able to travel around France? What was your favourite place?
Yes, I travelled to many cities in France, such as Bordeaux, Rennes, Toulouse, Marseille, Chamonix, Aix-en-Provence… My favourite places are Bordeaux and Aix-en-Provence.
It is very easy to travel around France from Paris since it is quite a small country (comapred to China); you can take a train, rent a car with friends, or fly to different cities. There are a lot of places to visit just around Paris and further!
