What did you do during your gap year?
First, in order to pass my M1, I did an internship from May to October in Toulouse at Orange. I chose to continue it during my gap year, for six months in total instead of the four months required for the M1, to have a real experience. Then, I went to Reading – United-Kingdom – as an Erasmus student during the second semester, from January to June.
What have you learnt from those experiences?
My internship at Orange helped me getting further professional experience. Indeed, before that, I only did short-term internships of two months. It also helped me to find which M2 I wanted to apply for.
Concerning my semester in Reading, it was quite different from TSE because I had fewer modules – three modules, 30 ECTS – and therefore more free time to enjoy my experience there (discovering England and Scotland, being more familiar with the city and the campus, etc.). I did an Erasmus to improve my English to apply for the M2, but also to travel alone in a foreign country, to meet other foreign students and to discover how life is elsewhere.
Did you do your gap year after your bachelor or between your M1 and M2? Why so?
I did my gap year after my M1 because after being accepted in TSE, I wanted to see how it was to be in that school and how it was working. Moreover, the M1 was supposed to be the hardest year at TSE; therefore, I preferred to have a break after this year. I did not regret my choice because, thanks to my M1, I was already familiar with courses taught in English: it was helpful for my time in Reading. Furthermore, as I said, I wanted to do a longer internship.
Do you have recommendations / advice for TSE students about the “gap year experience”?
I recommend every student to do a gap year because it is a great opportunity, and TSE let us organise it as we want. For those who want to do an internship and an exchange in a university, I think the best way is to do first the internship and then the Erasmus, because usually the end of the second semester abroad is at most at the end of June: it gives you some time to have summer holidays and to travel from your host country to neighbouring countries if you wish to.
The TSEconomist 