Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 2.50 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application
- Second semester sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
- 2 semesters of college-level French language or equivalent for intermediate track
- 4 semesters of college-level French language or equivalent for advanced track
- Participants must have had French courses within 1 year of participation, or be able to demonstrate required language skills
Program Description
This program is administered by the University of Minnesota and is open to all Penn State undergraduate students. Based at the University of Minnesota's Program Center in Montpellier, this program provides a strong foundation of French language (composition, grammar, conversation, etc.) and culture electives. In addition, longstanding partnerships with the University Paul Valéry (UPV) and the University of Montpellier (UM) allow you to take electives in the arts, humanities, engineering, sciences, and business. To meet your individual needs and take full advantage of Montpellier's many opportunities, the course selection process is individualized and the academic program is tailored. Choose from a mix of elective courses taught exclusively for French language learners and direct enrollment options with French students.
There are two different academic tracks available:
- Intermediate Track - This track is designed for students with 2 or 3 semesters of previous college-level French study. This semester program is designed to help students advance quickly in their French language skills.
- Advanced Track - This track is designed for students with 4 or more semesters of previous college-level French study. This semester program allows students to continue to strengthen their French language and grammar skills while also enrolling in one or more direct enroll courses at University Paul Valéry (UPV) or University of Montpellier (UM).
Dates
Fall: early September - late December
Spring: mid January - mid May
Refer to the program website for the specific dates, if available.
Location
Live and study in Montpellier, one of France’s fastest growing cities and an emerging cultural and educational center. Within easy reach of both mountains and the Mediterranean, and home to 100,000 university students, Montpellier is a young, vibrant city with a centuries-old history of intellectual advances and social tolerance. It is the ideal place to experience French language and culture.
Education Abroad in Countries with a Penn State Restricted Travel Designation
In order to comply with Penn State’s International Travel Policy, students interested in studying abroad in countries that Penn State has designated as “restricted” for travel, a petition for a waiver must be submitted. Once a petition is complete, and if the student is approved for study on the program in question, the student may be asked to meet with the Director of Education Abroad and the petition will be reviewed by the Penn State International Restricted Travel Committee (IRTC). The necessary petition will be included in the online application process for this program. To see if your program is taking place in a restricted travel country, please visit the Penn State Global website.