Gopher Gateway: Physical Activity in Southern France

Explore, study, and experience the physically active lifestyle of those who live in Southern France in this intensive, week-long study course based in Montpellier, the vibrant capital of the Occitanie region. Through site visits, engaging lectures, and hands-on experiences, this program offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Mediterranean way of life. This course is structured around a blend of academic learning and physically active experiential discovery, focusing on the historical, cultural, and environmental factors that shape cultural norms around physical activity and health.

The curriculum is designed to help you develop skills for lifelong fitness walking. At the same time, you will experience and analyze the physical activities unique to both French culture and our own campus community. This blended format provides a powerful opportunity for you to observe local lifestyles, understand cultural barriers and opportunities related to physical activity, and reflect on your personal wellness goals.

French language ability is not required for this program. While having some French language ability can be helpful for your time abroad, it is not required.

This program is for incoming UMTC first-year students that will have their first semester on-campus Fall 2026.

The Learning Abroad Center provides you with housing for this program. All program housing is vetted by the LAC and on-site partners.

You will stay in small studio apartments located in a student apartment building, with modern rooms, 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 2-minute walk from the Program Center. This housing option does not include meals, but does include utilities. Some meals are included in the program cost and you will have access to local markets and grocery stores to purchase your own food.

Program activities and excursions may include:

• Montpellier Immersion—Begin your journey with a guided walking tour, cultural orientation, and visits to local markets, such as Marché Arceaux, to gain a foundational understanding of the physically active lifestyles in this dynamic French city.
• Urban Activity—Experience the many ways locals involve physical activity into daily life, including walking, bicyling, and even a "Longe Côte" in the sea. Spend your free time at the local beach as well.
• The Cévennes Excursion—Travel to the remote Cévennes region, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to learn about walking tourism. Discover the tradition and importance of the Stevenson Trail by experiencing it firsthand with a guided trail walk in the Cévennes, accompanied by a donkey.
• Sports in France— Learn about competitive and recreational sports typical to France and the Occitanie Region and have the chance to watch a match/competition or even play yourself.
• Fitness Walking—Experience a physically active lifestyle with special attention to walking for fitness through the city, countryside, museums, parks, and the Mediterranean Sea.
• Beach Bound Bicycling—Bike to the Mediterranean beach and try "Longe Côte," a unique local activity that means walking in the sea.
• Learn a little French—Learn "Survival French" to navigate the city and order from a boulangerie (bakery) like a pro.
• Eat Like a Mediterranean—Experience authentic French food, including a local cheese tasting and a picnic in a beautiful park.

To start the process or if you have questions, visit the Disability Resource Center's Get Connected page and follow registration options and choose a path. The Gold option involves meeting with an access consultant and is recommended if you plan to study abroad.

The Learning Abroad Center works with Village Travel, a local travel agency, to arrange a coordinated flight for program participants. You and your classmates will all travel together with the program leader. Group flight information is typically available by the program application deadline, if not before. Flight details will be shared with you after you confirm your place in the program.

Contact your Learning Abroad Center program contact, Jemma Lund, at [email protected] for more information.

You will have mastered a body of knowledge and a mode of inquiry upon the completion of this course. This will be demonstrated through activity etiquette, play and participation, observations of activity mechanics, class engagement, and assessment.

This course is led by Brandi Hoffman, Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Physical Activity Program in the School of Kinesiology. Brandi has previously let other learning abroad seminars.

August + Fall 2026

Application Open Date: November 1, 2025
Application Deadline: May 1, 2026

Confirmation Deadline: May 14, 2026

On-campus Fall Semester 2026 course meets: Fridays, 9:05–11:35 a.m., September 11–October 23, 2026. Exact building and room TBD.

Information Sessions

Join in-person or over Zoom. Register and learn more about this and other events on our events page.

The Learning Abroad Center facilitates pre-departure orientation sessions in collaboration with your program leader. 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.
• Online LAC Seminar Orientation Module: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory. The discussion post is due before your in-person LAC Program Orientation meeting.
• Online LAC Seminar Pre-departure Orientations: These will be scheduled over the summer and will be a way for you to connect with others in your cohort, LAC staff, and your program leader. These meetings will cover academic requirements and preparation, finances and budgeting, final travel and program logistics, cultural knowledge, and more. Watch your email for details.
• LAC Program Orientation: Final program details and important UofM information will be covered during this meeting, held the day before departure. You will also meet your cohort and program leader in person. Parents/family members are welcome to join an optional in-person session designated for parents.

The cost of participation includes group airfare, housing, multiple meals, course-related excursions, site visits, and tours, airport transfers, in-country transportation for all course related activities, international medical, security, and evacuation insurance, program administration, and one night on UMTC campus during pre-departure orientation. You must also budget for passport and passport photos, a few meals, spending money, and miscellaneous living expenses.

CFANS Gopher Gateway Scholarship

An automatic one-time scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded for the first 20 CFANS students to confirm on any one of the Gopher Gateway 2026 programs. Specific questions about processing of the funds should be directed to Holly Klinger at [email protected].

CEHD Gopher Gateway Scholarship

An automatic one-time scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded for the first 10 CEHD students to confirm on any one of the Gopher Gateway 2026 programs. Specific questions about processing of the funds should be directed to Laura Essig at [email protected].

LAC Gopher Gateway Scholarship

Gopher Gateway students who are eligible for subsidized loans will receive an additional automatic $1,000 scholarship toward the program fee. 

Additional fee reductions and or scholarships might be possible.

The program fee portion of your expenses can not be included in your financial aid package. Depending on what financial aid you accept you may be eligible for financial aid, which includes loans, to use towards your program fee. Please schedule a Gopher Gateway Financial Aid Preview Meeting to discuss funding options before you confirm in the program. 

Visit Financial Information for more information on scholarships and financing learning abroad opportunities. 

Eligibility

This program is for incoming UMTC first-year students that will have their first semester on-campus Fall 2026. You must be 18 years old by the in-person orientation date (August 22, 2026) in order to participate.

After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received.

1. After your application checklist is complete, your application is reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email.
2. You will be admitted to the program once you have a complete program application and have confirmed your enrollment with the University (UMTC).
3. Once admitted to the program, you can confirm by submitting the Confirmation & Payment Agreement form. Once confirmed, you will have additional required forms to complete before participating in the program.
4. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.