This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

University of Geneva, any good?

Does anybody has anything to say about this university (University of Geneva)? My aunt is trying to convince me about going there, something about a scholarship possibility, but I'm not too convinced, I don't think I've ever heard of this university and classes are taugh in French, can anyone give me any input? Good or bad, it doesn't matter, if the university is not good then I can tell my aunt that.
Thank you in advance.

OP

Anybody?

yea it's really really good, it's on the top half of the best 100 in the world by the times. go find that thread...it's really good though

Reply 3

jrhartley

13

Depends on faculty you're going to - hasn't got a great rep for architecture. Is taught at the moment in French, they are thinking about moving towards introducing some classes in English but they've been talking about this for about 2 years now. I've emailed them about the programme, etc (in French). They didn't bother replying. Entrance tests for non francophones are in French, so your level needs to be pretty good in written and in oral.

Reply 4

MiaV

OP

1

Thanks to you both for answering my question!

jrhartley

Depends on faculty you're going to - hasn't got a great rep for architecture. Is taught at the moment in French, they are thinking about moving towards introducing some classes in English but they've been talking about this for about 2 years now. I've emailed them about the programme, etc (in French). They didn't bother replying. Entrance tests for non francophones are in French, so your level needs to be pretty good in written and in oral.

I was considering studying Economics, but haven't decided for sure yet, do you know whether it's a strong or a weak point in the university? As for the French, I'm not good enough for college courses yet, but I still have a year, and if I decide to apply I will be taking intensive French courses, I just hope it'll be enough.

Reply 5

rarely_may

thats really brave of you, ive heard a lot of good stuff about geneva in general, and if you have a whole year perhaps get a cheap flight down and see it first before you start learning french intensively?

Reply 6

JakeR

1

In some American and British universities international students can come for a year or a summer or whatever before they start and take English language classes. I always wondered why Francophone universities never do that, or do they?

I'm going to look into the Geneva though also, it looks really cool! :biggrin:

Plus, Swiss French is soooo much slower than France-French! So that should make it easier.

EDIT: oh! they do have it! http://www.unige.ch/lettres/elcf/coursete/courangl.html

Reply 7

jrhartley

13

JakeR

In some American and British universities international students can come for a year or a summer or whatever before they start and take English language classes. I always wondered why Francophone universities never do that, or do they?

I'm going to look into the Geneva though also, it looks really cool! :biggrin:

Plus, Swiss French is soooo much slower than France-French! So that should make it easier.

EDIT: oh! they do have it! http://www.unige.ch/lettres/elcf/coursete/courangl.html

It is clearer than some of the patois you get in the surrounding areas (i.e. a strong savoyard accent is very hard to decipher) but I still think a good parisien accent is clearer, plus you don't have some of the swiss funnies (octante, nonante, etc). As a place to live, I think personally I'd find Switzerland too illiberal, but if it was just for a year, then that's not too hard to put up with.

Reply 8

The Orientalist

10

Hi, I live just next to the University of Geneva. I can tell you it's a great university (like it was said, it's part of the top 50 in the world, less than than british universities belong to this range) Don't worry about the accent, Geneva is not at all like the rest of switzerland, everybody speaks french like...french lol. Since quite a few international students go there, you won't have problems adapting...so go for it!

Reply 9

Christian87

jrhartley

As a place to live, I think personally I'd find Switzerland too illiberal, but if it was just for a year, then that's not too hard to put up with.

What do you mean by 'illiberal'? In which way is it more illiberal in Switzerland than in other European countries?

Reply 10

The Orientalist

10

Forgot to say...Geneva is a great city, a bit small but quite a few pubs and bars.

Reply 11

jrhartley

13

Christian87

What do you mean by 'illiberal'? In which way is it more illiberal in Switzerland than in other European countries?

It is more illiberal than other European countries as it is, at times, more of a police state. In my experience, the police there abuse their power to fine more than anywhere else, largely because the Swiss are quite peaceful and meek and don't like to rock the boat. Plus there are loads of things they are allowed to fine you for - music after a certain hour, using your washing machine after a certain hour, putting the wrong stuff in the wrong recycling bin (they have foresnsic teams checking paperwork for offenders - genuinely - they advertise this fact), mowing your lawn between presribed hours on prescribed days... urinating whilst standing up after a certain hour in certain buildings... those are just some of the ways its quite illiberal. i know we need rules in society, but the swiss do have a way of taking it a bit too far.

Reply 12

rarely_may

thats ridiculous- you cant call switzerland a police state...!
anyway, geneva isn't typically swiss because its so very international....

Reply 13

jrhartley

13

rarely_may

thats ridiculous- you cant call switzerland a police state...!
anyway, geneva isn't typically swiss because its so very international....

that's very swiss police of you, telling me what i can't do!!! travel there much do you?

Reply 14

Christian87

Would you say that Switzerland is a clean place? Are you fined for let's say urinating or drinking alcohol in public space?

Reply 15

jrhartley

13

it's very clean (sometimes almost too clean, its a bit unworldly at times), you would definitely get fined for urinating in public, potentially even taken to the police station, not just given a fine on the spot. not so sure about the drinking on the street rules, i think it depends on the precise area. but there are quite a lot of rules you need to be aware of in order not to rack up fines (in your car, on the street, in your home, etc). plus it is an expensive place to live anyway (going out, food in supermarkets). only petrol is cheap vs. france.

Reply 16

The Orientalist

10

Economics and psychology are probably the University of Geneva's best subjects, it has an international reputation for this that helped it be placed in the top 50 universities in the world, probably near the level of lse.

Reply 17

mar3galcoe

how harsh is their admissions, is it very hard to get into?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 18

fancyrabbit

1

Are economics taught in English or French there?

Reply 19

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

22

Original post by fancyrabbit

Are economics taught in English or French there?

Both English and French according to the website: http://wadme.unige.ch:3149/pls/opprg/w_rech_forma.detail_fb?p_langue=4&p_fac=S&p_id=1738&p_mode=M

This thread is nearly 15 years old, so I'm closing it - if you have a question then please post a new thread.

University of Geneva, any good?

Related discussions

Articles for you