Living and studying in Lille: Changshi's EDHEC Alumnus insights

Changshi LIN joined EDHEC Business School’s Lille campus in September 2023 to study the MSc in Marketing Management, Luxury & Fashion specialisation. As a city in northern France with a strong student atmosphere, Lille offers international students an appealing balance of convenience, openness and connectivity, while also providing a more comfortable rhythm for both study and daily life. In this interview, Changshi shares his personal experience of living and studying in Lille, as well as his impressions of EDHEC’s Lille campus. 
 

Why did you choose Lille rather than another French city?

To be honest, I chose the school before I chose the city. EDHEC was actually the only school I applied to during my application season. Lille itself is also a true student city. In addition to EDHEC, it is home to the University of Lille, Sciences Po Lille and several other business schools. There are lots of young people in the city centre, and the student atmosphere is very strong, which makes it especially welcoming for international students.

What was your first impression of Lille when you arrived?

When I first arrived in Lille, my immediate impression was that it was much more lively than I had expected. When people think about studying in France, Paris is often the first city that comes to mind, but Lille is definitely not a quiet or boring small city. The city centre is vibrant, and Vieux-Lille is a very pleasant area to walk around.

I also found Lille to be quite a practical city. As a former industrial centre, it has a solid urban scale and everything feels accessible. Major companies such as Decathlon and Auchan have headquarters in the Lille area, which also creates certain professional opportunities for international students. Daily transport, shopping and day-to-day life are all very convenient.

What impression did EDHEC’s Lille campus leave on you?

I really liked the environment of EDHEC’s Lille campus. There is a lot of greenery, which makes the campus feel very pleasant and relaxing. I especially loved the lawn behind the cafeteria — when the weather was nice, I would often have lunch there in the sun, which was one of my favourite small moments on campus. I would also recommend the campus swimming pool to every student. It has proper competition-standard lanes and is heated in winter, so it is a great place to unwind after studying.

For international students, what are the cost of living and the general convenience of life like in Lille?

I think this is one of Lille’s main advantages. Compared with Paris, the cost of living here is much more manageable, especially when it comes to rent. Based on my own experience and that of my classmates at the time, most people were paying around €600 to €700 per month for housing. Overall, Lille offers a good balance: it is more affordable than Paris, while still providing a very comfortable and convenient daily life.

For international students arriving in France for the first time, Lille is a very suitable option if they are looking for a city where life feels manageable without compromising too much on comfort or quality of life.

Lille is close to Paris, Brussels and London. What benefits did this location bring to your student experience?

Lille is often described as a European crossroads, and I really think its location is one of its biggest strengths.

Life in Lille itself feels stable and comfortable, but whenever you want to take a short trip or spend time in a bigger city, everything is very accessible. Brussels is only about 35 minutes away, London is around 1 hour and 20 minutes away, and Paris is only about 1 hour away as well. If you are interested in designer brands, Lille is also conveniently connected to Antwerp. For me, this meant that living in Lille never felt limiting. On the contrary, it gave me the chance to enjoy a more balanced daily life while still staying connected to other major European cities.

While living in Lille, were there any neighbourhoods, restaurants, cafés or weekend spots that you particularly liked?

I really enjoyed walking around Vieux-Lille. There are some nice concept stores, multi-brand boutiques and lifestyle shops, as well as plenty of cosy cafés and bakeries. One of my favourite simple pleasures was just finding a café, sitting there for a while, watching the pigeons outside and looking at the cathedral. It’s a very relaxed moment, and feels very “Lille”.

If I had to recommend a few places, I’d suggest trying the well-known café Elizabeth’s — their desserts are also very good. For Chinese food, I often went to Tiger, and there’s also a Chinese buffet near the Croisé Laroche tram stop called Le Gourmet d’Asie, where you can have an all-you-can-eat lunch for €9.90, which I would definitely recommend.

What do you think is the most underestimated aspect of Lille?

I think what people underestimate most is that they often see Lille as simply an alternative for those who cannot make it to Paris. But once you have actually lived there as a student, you realise that Lille is a complete and well-balanced city. It has a strong student atmosphere, a manageable cost of living, a very convenient daily life, and it is also located at the heart of a major European transport network.

To me, it has never felt like a second-choice city. On the contrary, it is the kind of place whose strengths become more and more apparent the longer you stay.