Learning Abroad Center
This program page is for non-UofM students. If you are a UofM student, visit Education in France (UofM Students)
teacher standing in front of students in classroom

Education in France

Europe
LAC Program

Earn credit towards your Teaching license in Early Childhood or Elementary Education while studying in this vibrant city with a centuries-old history of intellectual advances and social tolerance. Examine French education practices and complete required teaching field experience hours through teaching English in a French school.

Program Details

Location
Location
Montpellier, France
Term
Term
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Housing
Housing
Apartment
Dormitory
Homestay
Languages Taught In
Languages Taught In
English

Program Eligibility

Student Type
Student Type
Non UofM Students
Student Year
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
GPA
2.5

Photos

Videos

Education in France (formerly Teaching Practicum in France)

Program Locations

UofM in Montpellier Program Center

Program center—houses program staff member offices, classroom space, and space for you to hang out. There are also computers for student use, wireless internet access, a full kitchen, and a lounge.

Latitude
43.612800
Longitude
3.867300
Place de la Comédie

Main square in town, common meeting place.

Latitude
43.608500
Longitude
3.879300
Polygone

Located in the heart of Montpellier, this shopping center offers stores such as André, Galeries Lafayette, L'Occitane, Fnac, Camaïeu, Etam, Naf Naf, and Monoprix. There are also several pâtisseries and cafés in the shopping center.

Latitude
43.608500
Longitude
3.884600
Aéroport Montpellier–Méditerranée

Coordinated flight arrives and departs from this airport. Airport also houses budget airlines EasyJet and Ryan Air, and serves many locations such as Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Fez, London, Paris, and Rome.

Latitude
43.577100
Longitude
3.959200
Gare Montpellier-Saint-Roch (Train Station)

Located just off the Place de la Comédie, the train station is within walking distance of the arrival hotel.

Latitude
43.603400
Longitude
3.880700
Odysseum

Easily accessible by tram, the Odysseum complex contains an aquarium, a planetarium, a shopping center, restaurants, and a skating rink.

Latitude
43.603500
Longitude
3.920600
Palavas-les-Flots

Closest beach to Montpellier, easily accessible by tram or bicycle

Latitude
43.529200
Longitude
3.931800
Nîmes

About 30 minutes by train from Montpellier, Nîmes makes a great day trip. It is home to several remnants of the Roman Empire, such as the amphitheatre, where bull fights are still held, the Tour Magne, and the Maison Carrée.

Latitude
43.836000
Longitude
4.356100
Sète

About 20 minutes from Montpellier by train, Sète makes a great day trip. It is a port town with a strong maritime and fishing culture, and home to les joutes nautiques (water jousting) during the Saint-Louis Festival in August.

Latitude
43.407500
Longitude
3.699700
Carcassonne

A short train ride from Montpellier, Carcassonne is famous for the Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Latitude
43.407500
Longitude
3.699700
Pont du Gard

Typical program excursion

Latitude
43.947600
Longitude
4.535000
Avignon

Typical program excursion

Latitude
43.948800
Longitude
4.804200
Les Baux de Provence

Typical program excursion

Latitude
43.743800
Longitude
4.794900
St-Guilhem-le-Désert

Typical program excursion

Latitude
43.734000
Longitude
3.548500
Aigues Mortes

Typical program excursion

Latitude
43.567100
Longitude
4.192000
Camargue

Typical program excursion

Latitude
43.499700
Longitude
4.499900

About

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, it is a young, vibrant city with a centuries-old history of intellectual advances and social tolerance. Montpellier is the ideal place to experience French culture during your studies.

This program was designed in collaboration with the College of Education at the University of Montpellier and the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development. It was developed to meet the requirements if you are majoring in elementary education foundations, early childhood education, and special education. You will leave this program with first-hand experience in teaching in a second-language context. By design, you will practice cross-cultural skills, develop empathy for being immersed in a new, challenging language and culture, and get a head start on classroom management skills and interpersonal interactions with students.

Program Model

Experiential Learning
Study Abroad Center
University Study

Housing & Meals

Homestays (Semester, Summer)

Homestays provide a vital connection to the local culture, as well as the opportunity to experience French daily life. Host families provide breakfast and dinner during the week and all meals on the weekend. Most families live in the suburbs of Montpellier, approximately 30–45 minutes by bus or tram from the Program Center and from campus.

If you wish to maximize your language practice and cultural development through regular family contact and are willing to adapt to a French family's lifestyle and schedule, this is a good housing option for you. The level of integration you experience with your host family may vary—some families go to great lengths to make you part of the family while others take a more independent approach. Host families are an option even if you do not have prior French language study.

Traditional French Apartment (Semester, Summer)

Live with other program participants in typical French apartments. These are usually located in the center of town or close to the universities and are easily accessible to the Program Center and the university. You will share the apartment with 1–2 other students from the program, often with two people of the same gender sharing a room. The program fee for this option does not include meals, utilities, or the $500 security deposit. See the Fees page for additional costs. If you have special dietary needs or intend to have an active social life with frequent evenings out, this is a good option.

Student Studio Apartments (Semester, Summer)

Small studio apartments located in a student apartment building offer modern rooms with a small private bathroom and kitchenette. The rooms are furnished with a single bed and desk. The residence building is located in downtown Montpellier, about a 20-minute walk from the Program Center and a 25-minute tram ride from the university. This housing option does not include meals, but does include utilities. A $500 security deposit will be billed with your program fee. If you are independent, like your own space, and want to meet other students (French and international), this is a good option.

French Dormitory (Semester)

French dormitory rooms are different from US dormitory rooms. The rooms are generally small, and social interaction with other residents can be minimal compared to a US dormitory setting. Dormitory rooms consist of a single bed, a small desk, a lamp, and a closet. In addition, each room is equipped with a small shower and a toilet. Shared kitchen facilities are available on each floor. The dormitory buildings are located on campus, about a 15-minute commute from the Program Center and a 30-minute commute from downtown. This housing option does not include meals, but does include utilities. A $500 security deposit will be billed with your program fee. If you are independent, minimalist, have a high level of French, and want to live on campus, this is a good option.

Excursions

Two or three day-long excursions are planned each semester to introduce you to the unique character of southern France. These day excursions are included in your program fees. In addition, the program’s social assistants organize activities in Montpellier to help you get to know the city and to provide you with opportunities to meet French students. Optional longer excursions are also organized by the Program Center staff during the semester and are offered (at an extra cost) if there is sufficient interest.

Typical Fall Semester Excursions

Day excursions sites may include: 

  • Aigues-Mortes and the Mediterranean Sea
  • Arles and the Carrières de Lumière
  • Avignon and Fontaine de Vaucluse

Medieval Weekend Excursion (included in Program Fee)

  • Carcassonne, Lagrasse, medieval dining, and the Cathars' castles

Optional longer excursions (at an extra cost) include:

  • Wars, Wine, and Wonders: Exploring Western France (One week touring Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, D-Day beaches, Loire Valley castles, Bordeaux and St. Emilion)

Typical Spring Semester Excursions

Day excursions sites may include: 

  • Nimes and Pont-du-Gard
  • Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
  • Anduze and the bamboo forest

Optional longer excursions (at an extra cost) include:

  • Wars, Wine, and Wonders: Exploring Western France (One week touring Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, D-Day beaches, Loire Valley castles, Bordeaux and St. Emilion)

Flight

The Learning Abroad Center works with Village Travel, a local travel agency, to arrange a coordinated flight for program participants. The flight is optional, and is arranged for those who want to fly with other program participants. Group flight information is typically available by the program application deadline, if not before.

Learning Outcomes

  • Develop or strengthen French linguistic skills
  • Deepen cross-cultural understanding through interaction with faculty, students, host families and community members
  • Gain French, European, and international perspectives on education and teaching
  • Increase independence and self-reliance by learning to navigate French society
  • Develop teaching skills such as classroom management, creating lesson plans, teaching English as a Second Language, and working with students of different cultural backgrounds and educational needs

Faculty & Staff

Corrine Dumas

Corinne Gorrier Dumas, Academic Director

Corinne Gorrier Dumas is the Academic Director of the University of Minnesota Program in Montpellier. She was born and raised in the Loire Valley of the Center of France. She received an MA in English from the University of Orléans in France and a MA in French and ESL from West Virginia University. Before moving back to France, she studied for 5 years at the University of North Carolina where she was also a teaching assistant in the French department. She completed her course work and passed her PhD exams in Comparative Literature. Her research focuses on Women Writers in the Literature of the Maghreb in the late XXth Century as well as Women Writers of minorities in the United States. She currently teaches the Internship/Community Engagement classes for the program and teaches English for the DU Access at the IUT, Université de Montpellier.

Peggy Retka

Peggy Retka, Student Life & Administrative Director

Peggy Retka is the Student Life & Administrative Director at the University of Minnesota’s Program Center in Montpellier. She joined the Montpellier based team after 4 years in Minnesota at the Learning Abroad Center (LAC) where she was the Program Director for the study abroad programs in both Montpellier, France and Dakar, Senegal. With almost 20 years of experience in the field of international education—including 5 years in France—at a wide variety of institutions, she understands international programming from both sides of the Atlantic.

Paul Roger

Paul Rogers, Academic Advisor

Paul Rogers is the Academic Advisor for the Montpellier programs in Montpellier. He was born and raised in southern Rhode Island. He holds a PhD in medieval French literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been teaching university courses for over twenty years. Currently he teaches in his specialty for the University of Minnesota program and at the Université Paul-Valéry in the Lettres Modernes department. His research focuses on the romans d’antiquité and courtly literature of the 12th -13th centuries. He is a published scholar and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for his subject with the students on the study abroad program.

Rachele Ceccarelli

Rachele Ceccarelli, Student Life & Administrative Coordinator

Rachele Ceccarelli is the Student Life & Administrative Coordinator at the University of Minnesota's Program in Montpellier. Born in Italy, she studied Visual Arts in Italy and Scotland and holds a PhD in Aesthetics from the University of Aberdeen, where she worked as a Teaching Assistant. She joined the Montpellier team after ten years of living and working in France, with professional experiences in the fields of tourism, administration, and management of cultural projects.

Margherita Orlando

Margherita Orlando, Internship Coordinator

Margherita Orlando is the Internship Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Program Center in Montpellier. She was born and raised in Italy. She received a MA in Anglo-Saxon Literature and Culture from the University of Montpellier. After a decade as an assistant to the director in an architecture agency, she founded a web-based company. Through this experience, she has built a large network in Montpellier’s entrepreneurial community.

Program Structure

Program Level
1000–3000 level courses
Courseload

5 courses (15–17 credits)

Coursework

This cohort-based model combines theoretical learning and practical teaching experience in a supportive and balanced learning environment. All courses are taught at the University of Minnesota Program Center and are taught in English, with the exception of the French language course. If you are completing a Youth Development or Psychology major/minor, you may also want to refer to Youth Development & Psychology program, also offered in Montpellier.

Full Course List

You will enroll in the Introduction to Elementary Teaching, the Teaching Field Experience, and a French language course at the appropriate level. 2–3 additional electives will be selected from the list below.

Introduction to Elementary Teaching

Course ID
MONT 3211
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

This course focuses on the principles and pedagogical considerations for effective classroom teaching. Best practices from both the French and US models of teaching will be discussed. French Education students may also join this class.

Syllabus for Introduction to Elementary Teaching

Language Taught In
  • English
UofM Equivalent
CI 3211

Teaching Field Experience

Course ID
MONT 3212
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

You will spend time each week assisting in the English language classroom in a local school setting under the supervision of the French classroom teacher and the course faculty member. You are placed in classrooms corresponding to your interest and academic program needs.

Syllabus for Teaching Field Experience

Language Taught In
  • English
UofM Equivalent
EPSY 5705 in the Special Education degree and CI 3212

French Language (Core)

Course ID
MONT 1001–3016
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3-4 Credits

All students enroll in a French language course according to their previous French language study.


Language Taught In
  • French
UofM Equivalent
FREN 1001 - 3016

Intermediate Conversation

Course ID
MONT 1309
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

Conversation practice through discussions on current topics, films and articles with the class and with an assigned conversation topic.

Syllabus for Intermediate Conversation

Language Taught In
  • French
Prerequisite
FREN 1002 or equivalent
UofM Equivalent
Intermediate Grammar & Methodology + Writing in French: Tools & Techniques + Intermediate Conversation = FREN 1003+1004 or 1004+3015

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Course ID
MONT 3006
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

This course will examine how cultural factors influence human behavior and development. Additionally, the interaction between different cultures and how to solve the difficulties that may arise during the acculturation process may be discussed. The course also studies the vision and treatment of mental disorders in different cultures, especially the differences and similarities between French and North American cultures. Mental Health systems of both countries will be also analyzed and compared.

Syllabus for Cross-Cultural Psychology

Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Global Perspectives
UofM Equivalent
PSY 3301

Medieval French Literature: Mysteries, Marvels and Monsters

Course ID
MONT 3021W
Terms
  • Fall
3
Credits

This course examines the origins of French literature and its development during Western Europe’s first true Renaissance of the 12th and 13th centuries.

Syllabus for Medieval French Literature: Mysteries, Marvels and Monsters

Language Taught In
  • French
Prerequisite
4+ semesters of college-level French
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Literature
  • Writing Intensive
UofM Equivalent
May be approved for FRIT 3101W for students who have completed FREN 3016. Email the FRIT Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval.

Medieval French Literature: The Once & Future King

Course ID
MONT 3024W
Terms
  • Spring
3
Credits

This course gives you a thorough understanding of the Arthurian tradition as it has been depicted in French in the medieval period and the present day. You will also acquire critical thinking and analytical skills with respect to works of literature and television drama/cinema, and learn how these artistic creations function from a sociological/socio-cultural perspective.

Syllabus for Medieval French Literature: The Once & Future King

Language Taught In
  • French
Prerequisite
4+ semesters of college-level French
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Literature
  • Writing Intensive
UofM Equivalent
May be approved for FRIT 3101W for students who have completed FREN 3016. Email the FRIT Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval.

French [R]evolutions through Film: Transformations in French Society from 1945 to the Present

Course ID
MONT 3025W
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

Through the lens of cinema and documentary film, this course explores the changes in French society from the period of the Second World War to the present day. Key moments in France’s history will be examined in a range of prominent films that reflect cultural, social and political evolutions that have taken place. By examining these works from a variety of perspectives, you will develop a deeper understanding of French culture and the community in which they are immersed. Taught at the UofM Program Center. 

Syllabus for French [R]evolutions through Film: Transformations in French Society from 1945 to the Present

Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Arts/Humanities
  • Writing Intensive

French Writers: Transformations in Society from 1945–Now through the Eyes of Novelists

Course ID
MONT 3026W
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

Through the lens of literature, this course explores the changes in French society from the period of the Second World War to the present day. Beginning with the trauma of the Nazi occupation, you will look at how French literature over the years has served as a mirror on society, reflecting cultural, social, and political evolutions. You will examine key moments in France’s history that have left a mark: the period of Nazi occupation and the conflict between collaborators and resistance fighters (as portrayed in Tatiana de Rosnay’s Sarah’s Key), France in Indochina and the underpinnings of its postcolonial legacy (Marguerite Duras’s Sea Wall), the cultural revolution of May 1968 (Annie Ernaux’s The Years), evolving family models and changing visions of the world in the 1980s (Tahar Ben Jelloun’s The Sand Child), social upheaval and exclusion from the 1990s to the present day (Edouard Louis’s Ending Eddy, Michel Houellebecq’s Platform, Mounia Meddour’s Papicha). Recent texts and film will engage with an exploration of contemporary France around issues such as francophone multiculturalism, societal unrest (the yellow-jacket movement), and the terror attacks (Marie N’Diaye’s Ladivine, Jacques’s Audiard’s Un Prophète, Ladj Ly’s Les Misérables, Emmanuel Leconte’s Humour à mort—the Charlie Hebdo attacks), but also France’s continuing mission to promote literature through the Prix Goncourt. The course aims to provide you with tools for understanding a culture through an exploration of its creative artifacts.

Syllabus for French Writers: Transformations in Society from 1945–Now through the Eyes of Novelists

Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Literature
  • Writing Intensive

Sustainable Development & Food Production in the Mediterranean Landscape

Course ID
MONT 3027
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

The course is designed to provide you with an understanding of the ecological and cultural components of the Mediterranean landscape and the sustainable development policies that shape and aim to preserve this unique environment. By focusing on key food production activities closely tied to the environmental dynamics of the region, you will be able to immerse themselves in the environmental, technical, and economic pressures the local population face. The course aims to address the main issues surrounding the intensive human use of the environment to be able to provide a growing population with healthy food in a sustainable way. We’ll be paying special attention to water use, soil management, loss of biological diversity, and the challenges posed by global climate change.

Syllabus for Sustainable Development & Food Production in the Mediterranean Landscape

Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • The Environment

Language Development from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Course ID
MONT 3121
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

This course exams the process of language learning in children and the different philosophical approaches in the US and France regarding second language development.

Note: This course doesn't meet requirements within the Developmental Psychology program. 

Syllabus for Language Development from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Language Taught In
  • English
UofM Equivalent
CI 5645 in the Special Education degree or CI 3610

French Conversation

Course ID
MONT 3309
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

Advanced conversation practice through discussions on current topics, films, and articles with the class and with an assigned conversation topic.

Note: UofM students who have taken 3018 on the UofM campus cannot enroll in the Advanced Conversation course in Montpellier.

Syllabus for French Conversation

Language Taught In
  • French
Prerequisite
4+ semesters of college-level French
UofM Equivalent
FREN 3018

La France Mosaïque/French Multiculturalism (in English)

Course ID
MONT 3311W
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

This course examines the cultural identity of France’s inhabitants in detail. After all, why do we call it la France plurielle? What does it mean to be French? Is that even a valid question? What are the origins of the French, and specifically how might a work of literature or a film reveal the various dimensions of their cultural identity?

Syllabus for La France Mosaïque/French Multiculturalism (in English)

Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Civic Life and Ethics
  • Social Sciences
  • Writing Intensive
UofM Equivalent
Civ. course requirement or elective for major/minor.

Introduction to Child Psychology

Course ID
MONT 3321
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

This course will examine normative physical, social, and cognitive development from the prenatal period through adolescence, bringing in the French context. The major goals include fostering an understanding of the usefulness of a developmental approach to psychological issues, familiarizing you with current research and methodology in child psychology, and engaging you in the experiences of developmental psychology through observation and analysis of child behavior.

Syllabus for Introduction to Child Psychology

Language Taught In
  • English
UofM Equivalent
CPSY 2301/3301

Global Business and Industry: France at the Crossroads

Course ID
MONT 3802
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

This course examines the development and current state of the European business environment from a French perspective. Topics will include the background/aftermath of the establishment of the European Union (EU) as well as institutional, political, legal and socio-cultural factors at work in the contemporary business and industry landscape. Taught in English at the Program Center.

Syllabus for Global Business and Industry: France at the Crossroads

Language Taught In
  • English
UofM Equivalent
Approved for International Business co-majors: IB Depth course. Approved for International Business minors: IB Breadth course substitute.

Adolescent Psychology

Course ID
MONT 4303
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

Gain a foundational understanding of what is currently known about the transformational processes that shape human development as children mature into adults. This course will review what has been learned about the biological, cognitive, and social development of adolescents in the context of their multiple worlds and the issues and challenges that adolescents confront along the way. This course will provide an overview of development in the teenage years/second decade of life looking at both the US and French perspectives.

Syllabus for Adolescent Psychology

Language Taught In
  • English
Prerequisite
None
UofM Equivalent
CPSY 4303

Resilience in Children and Youth: Global Perspectives

Course ID
MONT 4312
Terms
  • Fall
  • Spring
3
Credits

How do children overcome hazardous experiences to succeed in life? What can be done to protect young people at risk from trauma, war, disasters, and other adversities? This course examines the global literature on resilience in children and youth. Focus on the origins, methods, findings, controversies, and future of research on how young people overcome adversity, as well as the implications of this body of knowledge for fostering resilience in children and societies.

Syllabus for Resilience in Children and Youth: Global Perspectives

Language Taught In
  • English
Prerequisite
None
UofM Equivalent
CPSY 4310

Global Identity

Course ID
FOST 3332/FOST 3331H
Terms
  • Online (all terms)
1
Credit

Global Identity: Connecting Your International Experience with Your Future is an optional 1-credit online course that helps you process your international experience and apply what you've learned upon your return. Global Identity gives you the opportunity to work individually with a trained cultural mentor, helping you articulate your newly acquired skills for future professional opportunities, and differentiating you from your peers.

This course is offered at no additional cost on programs 6 weeks or longer. There are several sections offered including: Honors, College of Liberal Arts, and Leadership Minor focused versions of the course. Additional details on how to request registration, deadlines, and a grade basis can be found on the Global Identity Course Information page.

Syllabus for Global Identity (FOST 3332)
Syllabus for Global Identity Honors (FOST 3331H)


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Global Perspectives

Program Dates

Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:

This program runs annually during the terms listed on the Snapshot page. Program dates are typically posted within a month of when each application cycle opens.

Orientation Dates & Locations

The Learning Abroad Center provides a pre-departure orientation(s) in addition to any orientation(s) offered by your home institution. It is your responsibility to know the information shared at these orientations.

Orientation consists of several sessions, all of which are created to support your preparation to go abroad:

  • Online Health & Safety Orientation: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory. 
  • LAC Program Orientation: Program-specific and important UofMN registration information will be covered (academic registration, finances, arrival, housing etc.). Details will be sent to you via email.
  • Home Institution Orientation: Your home institution may have a separate orientation to cover any information about studying abroad as a student on your home campus (finances, home school registration, etc). Your home institution will invite you to a pre-departure orientation leading up to your departure if this is a requirement.

The Learning Abroad Center also offers 2 optional orientations:

Spring 2025

Application Open Date: May 1, 2024
Application Deadline: October 1, 2024

ScheduleDate
Depart U.S.January 18
Arrive Montpellier (program start date)January 19
OrientationJan 20–26
First day of classJanuary 27
Winter BreakFebruary 22–March 2
Spring BreakApril 19–27
National HolidaysMay 1, May 8
Final day of exams and last day of housingMay 23
Depart Montpellier (program end date)May 24

Fall 2024

Application Open Date: Dec 1, 2023
Application Deadline: April 15, 2024

ScheduleDate
Depart U.S.Sept 1
Arrive Montpellier (program start date)Sept 2
OrientationSept 3–8
First day of classSept 9
Fall BreakOct 26–Nov 3
National HolidayNov 11
Last day of classDec 20
Depart Montpellier (program end date)Dec 21

Fees

If you do not see a budget estimate for the term you intend to go abroad, the fee has not yet been finalized. We strive to post fees for this program at least 30 days prior to the application deadline. The Learning Abroad Center will delay the posting of some fees until enrollments, inflation, and exchange rates are determined. Note the average increase in fees will be 3–10%. Program fees are based on estimates and may change depending on international economic factors.

Fees or tuition from home institutions may be added to or differ from the University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center fees listed on this page.

Billing & Payments

Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

Cancellation Policy

Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.

Spring 2025

Education in France

Apartment 1—Traditional French Shared Apartments

Spring Semester 2025

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $10,822
International health insurance $258
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Apartment utilities. No meal costs are included in the Program Fee. Please see below. $5,405
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $16,885
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $15,885

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,805
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee$120/week for food $2,160
Essential daily living expenses$100/week spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $2,050
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $4,310

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $23,000
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Education in France

Apartment 2—Student Studio

Spring Semester 2025

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $10,822
International health insurance $258
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Apartment utilities. No meal costs are included in the Program Fee. Please see below $5,405
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $16,885
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $15,885

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,805
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee$120/week for food $2,160
Essential daily living expenses$100/week spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $2,050
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $4,310

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $23,000
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Education in France

Dormitory 1—Dormitory

Spring Semester 2025

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $10,822
International health insurance $258
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Utilities. No meal costs are included in the Program Fee. Please see below $3,365
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $14,845
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $13,845

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,805
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee$120/week for food $2,160
Essential daily living expenses$100/week spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $2,050
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $4,310

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $20,960
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Education in France

Homestay 1—Homestay

Spring Semester 2025

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $10,822
International health insurance $258
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Breakfast and dinner on weekdays; B.L.D. on the weekends. $5,150
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $16,630
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $15,630

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,305
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program feeWeekday lunches $40/week $2,160
Essential daily living expenses$100/week spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $720
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $2,980

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $20,915
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Fall 2024

Education in France

Apartment 1—Traditional French Shared Apartments

Fall Semester 2024

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $11,499
International health insurance $226
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Apartment utilities. No meal costs are included in the Program Fee. Please see below. $4,630
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $16,755
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $15,755

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,805
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee$120/week for food $2,160
Essential daily living expenses$100/week spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $2,050
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $4,310

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $22,870
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Education in France

Apartment 2—Student Studio

Fall Semester 2024

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $11,499
International health insurance $226
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Apartment utilities. No meal costs are included in the Program Fee. Please see below $4,630
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $16,755
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $15,755

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,805
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee$120/week for food $2,160
Essential daily living expenses$100/week for spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $2,050
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $4,310

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $22,870
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Education in France

Dormitory 1—Dormitory

Fall Semester 2024

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $11,499
International health insurance $226
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Utilities. No meal costs are included in the Program Fee. Please see below $3,365
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $15,490
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $14,490

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,805
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee$120/week for food $2,160
Essential daily living expenses$100/week for spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $2,050
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $4,310

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $21,605
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Education in France

Homestay 1—Homestay

Fall Semester 2024

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costsIncludes multiple day-long excursions, program center services, and support $11,499
International health insurance $226
Housing and/or mealsIncluded: Breakfast and dinner on weekdays; B.L.D. on the weekends. $4,755
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $16,880
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-1,000
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $15,880

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteEstimated round-trip airfare: Minneapolis/St.Paul - Montpellier $1,700
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documentsFees for Campus France, France-Visas, VFS appt, post-arrival validation; doesn't include travel costs to VFS appointment. $455
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,305
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsThis is an estimate and will vary depending on your courses. $100
Housing and/or meals not included in program feeWeekday lunches $40/week $540
Essential daily living expenses$100/week for spending, $30/month tram pass, $20/month local phone $2,050
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $2,690

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $20,875
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $1,400
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Apply

The COVID-19 vaccine series is strongly recommended, pursuant to CDC guidelines, but not required for participation in this program.

You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

Apply Now

Complete

After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:

  • Application Essay
  • Transcript
  • Home Institution Nomination

Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on your application checklist.

If you do not meet the GPA requirement for this program you will be required to submit an additional essay. It will be added to your checklist after you start your application, and you will be notified when it has been added.

Application Review Process

After your application checklist is complete, your application is reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned an acceptance checklist, which you will complete to confirm your participation in the program. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.

After You Apply

Before your program begins, review these resources.

Health & Safety

Learn more about staying healthy and safe abroad, including mental health and wellness, international travel insurance, and safety precautions.

Power of Attorney

Consider designating someone as your power of attorney to act as your legal representative while you’re abroad.

Student Identity

Consult our resources on student identities as you prepare for your abroad experience.

Travel Resources

Ready to go abroad? Our travel resources will help you pack and learn what to expect.

Visa

Student Visa in France (Long-stay)

Semester and Academic Year students need a “long-stay” student visa in order to study in France (programs longer than 90 days). Prior to departure, you must apply for and receive your visa before you can arrive in France. The visa process has multiple steps, so plan on getting your passport in order as soon as you have been accepted to the program.

Our role at the Learning Abroad Center is to guide you through the process, provide you with the documents you need, and trouble shoot any questions that come up. You are responsible for your passport, paying for all associated fees and travel, completing all steps in a timely manner and informing the Montpellier team if any issues arise.

After you have confirmed your spot in the program through the Learning Abroad Center online system, additional step-by-step visa instructions will be provided to you. Each step must be completed sequentially so it’s important to wait for the instructions before getting started with the visa application process.

Visa Process for US passport holders

The French student visa process has 4 steps:

  1. Obtain a passport or verify that your passport is valid for 6 months after your program end date.
  2. Register with Campus France online.
  3. Apply for your French student visa online.
  4. Book and attend an in-person appointment at one of the VFS Global visa application centers. The Learning Abroad Center does not offer batch processing of visa applications for the French visa because of the requirement for biometric data to be collected in person at a VFS Global visa application center.

Your student visa is a document attached to a page in your passport, so you must have your passport prior to applying for your visa.

If you are applying for a passport for the first time, visit the US Department of State website for information on the steps you will need to take. It can take up to 10 weeks to receive a new passport during busy processing times, so apply as soon as possible. Consider expedited service if necessary.

If you already have a passport, make sure that it is valid for 6 months after your program end date and has at least 2 blank pages available.

Carefully consider how any international travel plans may affect your ability to get your student visa. At your in-person appointment, you will give your passport to a VFS Global official. It will then be sent to the Embassy in Washington, D.C. for processing. You will pick up or request to receive your passport via mail approximately 3-8 weeks after your in-person appointment.

If you are a dual citizen: holding a US passport and a passport from another country; determine which passport you will use for your travel to and from France. Complete the “Do you need a visa?” questionnaire on the France-Visas website.

Visa Process for students who do not hold a US passport

If you do not hold a US passport, permission from US authorities to exit and re-enter the US may be required. Consult with the international student office on your campus for assistance with this documentation.

In order to determine what the entry regulations are for France, a good starting point is to complete the “Do you need a visa?” questionnaire on the France-Visas website. Depending on the type of visa required of you for studying in France, you may need additional documentation for entry. Contact the Montpellier team at the Learning Abroad Center to consult.

If you are an international student, note that processing times for international passports can take up to 2 months. During the processing period, you cannot leave the US, because you will not have a valid passport in your possession.

Program Contact

For further information or questions about this program, send an email to

Cassidy Nelson at [email protected],

Contact Program Alum

Below is a list of additional students who participated in past program sessions. They are ready and willing to answer your questions about this program. Feel free to contact them during your decision-making process or anytime during your pre-departure preparation to get a student perspective.

Valentina B.—Spring 2022, Elementary Education Major, Racial Justice in Urban Schooling Minor, internship, university dormitory