Fall or Spring Abroad: Angers, France

Angers is the historic capital of the Anjou region in western France. A lively university town, Angers counts nearly 33,000 students among its 250,000 inhabitants. With its universities and textile mills, Angers has served as an important cultural and industrial center since the Middle Ages. The castles and wine cellars of the nearby Loire valley also contribute to the character of the region. Located only an hour and a half by train from Paris, Angers provides an excellent base from which to discover French culture.

Université Catholique de l’Ouest

The Université Catholique de l’Ouest is a private institution of higher education with approximately 11,000 students. The University offers degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences as well as in theology. It is also home to the Centre International d’Etudes Francaises (C.I.D.E.F.), an internationally renowned school for French as a foreign language.

The scenic campus of the Université Catholique de l’Ouest, located in town, is just a short walk from the train station or the museums, shops, and restaurants of the town center.

Academic Program

KU students take courses in French language and civilization at the C.I.D.E.F., a special language center attached to the University. Founded in 1947, the C.I.D.E.F. welcomes about 1400 foreign students from 50 countries annually.

The C.I.D.E.F. tests and places each student in language classes appropriate to the student’s level in French. Levels range from beginner to advanced. C.I.D.E.F. courses are designed to help students reach fluency in both spoken and written French. Teaching methods are up-to-date and the facilities available to students include a library, three language labs, classrooms with audio-visual equipment and a computer room.

KU students will receive approximately 18 hours of credit per semester in French. The particular courses for which the student receives credit will depend on the student’s level and previous course work in French. A typical schedule at the C.I.D.E.F. would include courses in subjects such as grammar, composition, phonetics, conversation, translation and civilization. All credit earned will be counted as KU credit.

KU course equivalencies for C.I.D.E.F

Program Handbook [PDF] (for accepted students)

Student Life

Since the C.I.D.E.F. is situated on the campus of the Université Catholique de l’Ouest, KU students will have the opportunity to be in contact with French university students. Due to the number of students in Angers there are many student activities ranging from sports to music and theatre.

Cultural Activities

There are several optional one-day cultural visits organized by the C.I.D.E.F. each semester. Some of the visits include:

• Le Mont St. Michel, Saint-Malo

• The châteaux of the Loire Valley

• D-Day landing site in Normandy

• Wine Cellars of the Anjou region

The cost of five visits is included in the program fee. Interested students will find more information about planned activities at the start of the semester.

Accommodations

The university housing services will arrange homestays for students on a semester program. Typically, the student will rent a room in a house belonging to a French family. The level of contact with the family will depend on the individuals involved.

All breakfasts and three dinners per week are included in the program fee.

Program Dates

Fall semester: September 1, 2009 - December 19, 2009

Spring semester: February 2, 2010 - June 5, 2010

Eligibility

Open to students from accredited U.S. colleges or universities who have a minimum 2.75 GPA and have attained sophomore standing by the beginning of the program. Acceptance decisions are based on academic record, essays, and references.

Cost

Program fee (2009-2010): Approximately $8,150 for one semester.

The program fee includes tuition, fees, room and half board, excursions, KU orientation, and emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services.

Additional costs: Airfare, some meals, ground transportation, books, personal expenses, passport, and visa fees and expenses.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

KU students who qualify for financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1 for Fall and October 1 for Spring.

Application Procedures

Deadline for Fall: March 1
Deadline for Spring: October 1

Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application. Applications submitted after the deadline will only be considered with prior approval of the program coordinator at the Office of Study Abroad.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)