France is one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world, and for French students it’s an obvious choice. There are also strong programs in Belgium, Canada, and French-speaking African countries like Morocco. Many students benefit significantly from studying abroad, and most schools will accept credit from these programs even if they run their own study abroad offerings.
One advantage of arranging your own program independently is that you’ll often get more immersion. Summer programs tend to be longer than university-arranged trips, which are sometimes only two or three weeks. Independent programs also tend to focus on a single country and language rather than multi-country itineraries that may only spend a week in France.
Being the only person you know on an independent program can feel daunting, but it’s often a genuine advantage: you’re more likely to be forced to speak French, and it becomes a real opportunity for personal growth.
What to Look for in a French Study Abroad Program
Make sure credit will transfer to your school. This is the biggest hurdle for any program not directly affiliated with your institution. Talk to your study abroad department and have them sign off on the program and class descriptions before you apply. You don’t necessarily need a transcript from the host school — what matters is whether your own school will incorporate the credit into your degree plan.
Check the French proficiency requirement. Some programs have none; others require two, four, or six semesters of prior French study. Make sure you qualify before getting invested in a program.
Look at the specific courses offered. Are they lower or upper level? Can they satisfy core requirements at your home institution even if they don’t appear in your school’s catalog? (For example, will an 18th Century French Poetry course count toward a required literature credit? The answer is often yes, but worth confirming.)
Find out whether classes are taught in English or French. Some programs place students directly in standard French university courses, with no accommodations for non-native speakers. Others teach in French but only to international students, with professors who adjust their pace and vocabulary accordingly. Both can be valuable, but they’re different experiences.
Top French Study Abroad Programs
Below we cover programs offered through three of the most well-known study abroad providers: IES, CIEE, and AIFS.
Arles, France
IES offers a summer program in Arles in southern France. Students choose two courses from four available, covering humanities, French language, and fine arts, all taught in French by IES instructors. Includes weekly excursions and lunches with teachers. Four semesters of college-level French required.
Brussels, Belgium
CIEE has semester and yearlong options in Brussels. All-French liberal arts courses are taught at Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Six semesters of French required. Note that ULB courses follow the European model of a final oral exam comprising most or all of the grade. CIEE also offers an English-language business and international relations program through Vesalius College, with French courses available for proficient students.
Cannes, France
Summer, semester, and yearlong options are available through AIFS. English-taught classes are available, but French classes are required, and multiple upper-level courses are taught in French. Most courses relate to art, history, and theater — fitting given that the Provence region produced Van Gogh, Picasso, Cézanne, and Matisse, among others.
Grenoble, France
AIFS offers summer, semester, yearlong, and January intensive options in Grenoble. Programs include a French intensive track, a French culture track (political science, theater, art history, culture, international relations), and a business track for juniors and seniors taught in English. No minimum proficiency required — all students take a placement exam and are placed in appropriate French language classes.
Nantes, France
IES offers an intensive semester and yearlong program designed for high French language immersion. Four semesters of college French required. All students take a required French language course alongside a broad array of humanities and social sciences courses taught in French. Advanced students may also take classes at the Université de Nantes, and internships teaching English to French students are available.
Nice, France
The IES program in Nice provides access to IPAG Business School’s courses across a range of business disciplines, all taught in English. No minimum French proficiency required, but all students are enrolled in French language courses. Humanities and social sciences programs taught in French are also available.
Paris, France
AIFS has two Paris programs: one through the University of Paris and one through the Catholic University of Paris. Both offer semester, summer, and yearlong options, with courses in each language and a placement exam for French classes. The University of Paris program covers literature, art history, political science, and history; the Catholic University adds fashion, culture, and additional art history courses.
CIEE offers multiple programs in Paris covering liberal arts, humanities, music composition, religious culture, cinema studies, and art studies. Requirements range from none to several years of French, and many programs have additional eligibility criteria.
IES offers several Paris programs including upper-level business courses in English at Novancia Business School, beginner through advanced summer language programs, French-taught courses for students with at least four semesters of French, and an internship placement program in many career fields.
Rabat, Morocco
The IES program in Rabat focuses on Arabic, North African, Middle Eastern, and Islamic studies. French is a national and business language in Morocco, with French courses available at the Université Mohammed V for advanced students. A francophone summer program is also available for students with at least two years of college French.
Rennes, France
CIEE offers semester and yearlong programs in Rennes designed for intermediate and higher-level French students (four semesters or equivalent minimum). Students with six or more semesters may take classes at the Université de Haute Bretagne. A unique feature is the opportunity to earn course credit for teaching English to French students. A summer language program is also available.
Toulouse, France
CIEE offers a French culture and liberal arts program, a business program with internship opportunities, and a summer engineering and technology program in Toulouse. Business and humanities classes are taught in English at the Toulouse Business School; French language classes at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse are required alongside. The summer engineering program includes an aerospace engineering course — appropriate given that Toulouse is home to Airbus. An introductory French class is optional for engineering students.
Preparing your French before departure makes a significant difference in how much you absorb once you arrive. If you want to build speaking and listening skills from home first, italki connects you with native French tutors for one-on-one online sessions from around $10 to $15 per hour.
