University of Lille 

About: 

Situated on the French/Belgian border, the University of Lille can trace its origins back to 1559.   The current University of Lille was formed from the merger in 2018 of Lille 1 (Science and Technology), Lille 2 (Health and Law) and Lille 3 Charles de Gaulle (Humanities). Now, it is the third largest French university with around 100,000 students, of which 7,300 are international, and it is one of the biggest French speaking universities in the world. The university is spread across several campuses each with different research focuses. 

Highlights: 

With such a high student population, the city of Lille is young and dynamic but also seeped in history.  It boasts a beautiful historic centre of 17th century buildings and a UNESCO world heritage site. Connected to the UK via the Eurostar and to other parts of France via the TGV, it is easily accessible and well connected for travel.  Students can expect to enjoy excellent study conditions across the large campuses that offer numerous associative and cultural facilities. You will have access to modern international-standard university residences, up-to-date, modern libraries, as well as a rich and varied cultural calendar.

Location: 

Lille, Northern France

Courses / Modules: 

Courses in the humanities, languages and arts, including modern and ancient languages and classical and contemporary literature are offered at the Pont de Bois campus, located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq.  Science and Technology subjects are  offered at the Cité Scientifique campus, also in Villeneuve-d'Ascq.  For more information on available courses, consult the module information page.

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

You must take a full credit load while on exchange.  The University of Lille uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values.  30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.  

Teaching Periods: 

The academic year is split into two semesters, the first from September-January and the second from January-June. 

There is a two week Christmas and Easter break, and two one-week breaks in the middle of each semester (like a Half Term holiday). The exam season for the first semester falls mid-December and ends early January. For the second semester, the exam season will be in June. 

Language: 

B2 French is required for Language & Linguistic Science students.  Physics students require B1 French.  There may be opportunities to take some courses taught in English, and you should check if you would be eligible to study those on your course programme with your academic supervisor.    There may be opportunities for exchange students to take part in French  language classes - check with your department if you are able to take such courses for credit. 

Accommodation: 

The university offers student halls for international students through the company CROUS. If you wish to request a room, you can indicate this on your application form. Please note that as many students apply for halls, it is not guaranteed that you will be assured a room. However, the university has links with other accommodation partners in the city. 

Students can browse city accommodation using the university-approved Studapart website for Lille.

To find out more, please consult the university's international accommodation page.

Orientation / Welcome week:  

At the beginning of each semester, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) puts on a welcome week for all international students. Students will be able to talk to local students about life in Lille and find out more about the campus and their studies, as well as meet fellow international students.  You can also sign up for their buddy system.

Each year, the university also hosts a week-long celebration of international students, the International Student Week. This is an opportunity for French and international students to participate in many festivities and events on the theme of international exchange.

Support Services: 

The University of Lille has a Welcome E-desk that provides practical advice and guidance to international students coming to study there.

Every year, the University of Lille organizes student orientation sessions (Journées d’immersion dans la vie étudiante - Jivé),  that  provides an opportunity for newcomers to discover the campuses and services of the university. Numerous athletic and cultural events are organized during this period.

Visas: 

You may need a visa to study in France.  If you are a UK National you must refer to the Travel Advice page for France and its Living in France guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate.   If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.  UK passport holders planning studies in France can also refer to France-Visas for more information .

Travel insurance:  

If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

Health insurance: 

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

Information about health insurance for international students is also provided by the University of Lille in their Guide for Incoming Students.

Ellen, Study Abroad at University of Lille

"I overcame a lot of personal difficulties and believe that I have become even more independent, for example dealing with maintenance problems in my accommodation and applying for a transport pass. It's changed me for the better because I now understand how people from another country think because I now better understand their culture."

Poppi, Study Abroad at University of Lille 

"I have had a great experience at the University of Lille. It has been amazing to meet so many people from all over the world and also have the opportunity to explore so many different places. As a result of this semester abroad I think I have become a more confident and independent student and don't stress over small things as much."

Jacob, Study Abroad at University of Lille 

"The past 5ish months have been great. I personally cannot see how one can progress as much in both their language and subtle cultural understanding without embarking on such an experience. It certainly hasn't all been easy, at the start of the placement I had many problems with understanding what was being said, whilst this may have been in-part due to my lack of familiarity with the regional accent which is native to Lille. However, irrelevant of the reason, by the end of my time there I could understand almost everything that was said to me at the very least after the person had repeated themselves."

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website! 

• University of Lille international students website

• Lille Erasmus Student Network Facebook

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

• 2025/2026 Fact sheet

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

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