French Immersion in Angers

Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or above
Location: Europe, France
GPA: 2.5
Program Overview

This direct enroll program is designed for you to immerse yourself in the French language (regardless of language ability) while also learning about French culture, politics and society.  The program offers classes covering many disciplines, with coursework in history, sociology, political science, business and French culture and civilization.  You will study at the international language institute (CIDEF) of the Université Catholique de l’Ouest (the Catholic University of the West), taking courses with U.S. and other international students.  

Angers is a university community of more than 30,000 students making it a lively city with a prominent youth culture.  Angers is also a city with a rich history and is home to a castle and a cathedral dating back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Check out what Clarisa and Shelby and had to say about their experience!

Dates and Deadlines
 
Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Summer I 2024 3/15 Early July Late July
Summer II 2024 3/15 Early August Late August
Summer III 2024 3/15 Early September Late September*
Fall Quarter 2024 4/15 Late September Late December
Fall Winter Semester 2024-25 4/15 Late September Late January
Academic Year 2024-25 4/15 Late September Early June
Spring Semester 2024 11/15 Late January Early June
Academic Details

All courses offered in Angers are recognized and approved for academic credit by various GEO partner institutions. Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Upon return, finalized transcripts can take 2-6 months to be updated from GEO Placeholder credits to the appropriate courses and credits received.

Please read carefully:

Placement into the language level, and therefore the French courses for which students are eligible, is based solely on performance in placement exams taken upon arrival, and may result in students testing at levels lower or higher than previous courses.

Students are placed using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language. This does not align precisely with the system generally used by UO and other American institutions, however here are self-assessment grids in French and English for reference.

Summer Programs

In the three summer programs (Summer I, Summer II, Summer III) all students at all levels take one course with modules in French Language, French Conversation, Project, and Tutorial. These courses offer a total of 80 contact hours. Two consecutive sessions (Sessions I & II, Sessions II & III) can replace a year of French at UO.

Fall and Spring Programs

During the academic year, Beginner and Elementary students will enroll in 21 hours per week of French language coursework. Intermediate and Advanced students will enroll in 9-12 hours of French language coursework per week, plus an additional 6-9 hours per week (two to three courses) of cultural content courses.

For more information on course organization, articulation, and methodology, please view CIDEF’s Language Course and Options Guide.  

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Application process
Summer Session III dates may conflict with the start of the UO Fall Quarter. Please check the CIDEF calendar for Summer Sessions, and the UO Academic Calendar.
Housing Description

Immerse yourself in the culture of France and improve the speed of language acquisition by living with a French family. Housing in Angers is designed to provide daily interactions with a host family that afford you cultural nuances that might otherwise be overlooked.  You will live in a home in Angers or its suburbs, often with another student from CIDEF.  With a host family, you will have your own room with a shared bathroom (linens and towels are provided by your host).

During the academic year, host families prepare your daily breakfast and three dinners per week, while lunch can be purchased on or near campus. In the summer programs, host families provide all breakfasts and dinners and lunch is available on or near campus.