Program Details
Location
Montpellier,
France
Term
Summer Session
Housing
Apartment
Languages Taught In
English
Program Eligibility
Student Type
UofM Students
Non UofM Students
Student Year
Freshmen
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
Graduate Students
GPA
2.5
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 and the "joie de vivre" as you delve into your own creative writing practice.
Study travel writing in Montpellier, France, on this program that dissolves the boundaries of traditional travel writing. Explore traditional and emerging genres—literature, art, film, reportage, podcasts, blogs, advertising, and social media—to examine how one of Europe’s most celebrated regions is represented in the popular imagination.
Program Model
Housing & Meals
You will live in shared accommodations. Welcome and farewell meals and some additional meals are included in the program fee. Additional meals can be taken at local eateries.
Excursions
Excursions may include visits such as:
- Arles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the Van Gogh Walk
- Un atelier de cuisine––local chef-led cooking workshop
- Weekend market at L'Isle sur la Sorgue
- Avignon and the Palais du Roure, Center for Provençal Culture
- Local food and artisan markets
- Weekend market at L'Isle sur la Sorgue
- La Panacée-MoCo, contemporary art museum
- Musee Fabre, Montpellier
Flight
All program participants will take the coordinated group flight to and from the program site. The cost of the group flight is included in the program fee that will be posted to your student account. Do not book your own flight; you will receive information from the Learning Abroad Center about your seat on the group flight once your participation has been confirmed.
It might be possible to deviate your return flight. Inquire with your program contact if interested.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop independence by challenging yourself in a new environment
- Function as an effective team member by utilizing your personal strengths in a group setting
- Explore a specific topic through experiential and interdisciplinary approaches
Faculty & Staff
Sarah Chandler, MFA is an Associate Faculty in Writing Studies in the College of Liberal Arts. Sarah has taught creative writing and academic writing at multiple institutions, including Amsterdam University College and Loyola University Chicago. As a journalist, Sarah's reportage and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNBC, The Star Tribune, Minnesota Monthly, as well as several literary journals.
Program Structure
Program Level
3000-level coursework
Courseload
One 3-credit course
This seminar has all instruction abroad during Summer 2025. It is a 2+ week study abroad program led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff that feature:
- Intensive learning in a location that illuminates the topic
- Small groups of 15–25 students
- No prerequisites or language requirements
- Included excursions and cultural activities
- Instruction in English
Coursework
Course Summary
This program is a travel writing program that dissolves the boundaries of traditional travel writing. Who has created the enchanting fantasy of the South of France, and how has it been packaged and marketed to the world? As our globalized age brings an unprecedented number of tourists, what are the ethical challenges for those who create stories and content about this complex region? Among these competing narratives, whose stories might be left out, and how does storytelling impact the local ecology, economy, and culture?
By keeping a daily travel journal, writing a series of blog posts, and collaborating on a multimodal place-based project, you will hone your narrative voices while gaining the skills necessary to confidently write about travel, landscape and culture.
Travel Writing: the South of France syllabus (PDF)
Course Objectives
- A focus on experiential learning, including site visits and field trips, will allow you to gain insight into France’s rich cultural and ecological heritage.
- You will practice critical thinking, research, speaking, and writing skills through analyzing, composing, and presenting multimodal texts.
- By examining how the region is portrayed through online media, you will enhance your rhetorical awareness and digital literacy.
- Through peer writing workshops and project-based work, you will experience collaboration and community building.
- Guest lectures will afford you the chance to learn how local writers and cultural and civic figures create and communicate narratives about the region.
- By connecting with professionals in the media, cultural, and tourism sectors, you will gain career awareness.
Methodology
- Interactive lectures and discussions of course texts and site visits will furnish cultural and historical context on the region.
- You will complete daily journal entries and weekly site visit reflections.
- Guest lectures, field trips, and site visits will allow you to engage with professionals working to protect the area’s rich cultural and ecological heritage.
- By writing place-based narratives in the form of blog posts and other digital stories, you will learn how a living place is represented in the digital world.
- Peer writing workshops will build collaborative skills and foster a sense of community.
- As a final project, you will collaborate on a public-facing multimodal narrative (a podcast, blog, or social media campaign) about a local business or cultural site, along with a reflection on narrative style, rhetorical strategies, and ethical considerations.
Receive credit for: WRIT 3270
Approved for elective credit in the Technical Writing and Communication BS major.
Academic Registration
If confirmed, you will be registered for your course by the Learning Abroad Center once registration opens for your term abroad. Make sure you have no holds that would prevent registration.
If you haven't already, communicate with your academic adviser(s) as applicable to review the course for your major, minor, or college requirements. University of Minnesota students should use the Academic Planning Form (PDF), located on your confirmation checklist.
Dates Details
Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:
| Program Term | Program Dates | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | May–June 2025, exact dates TBD (3–4 weeks) | March 15, 2025 |
Program dates are subject to change.
If the deadline falls on a weekend, submit your materials on the following business day.
Important Note: Enrollment on this program is limited to 25 students. Admission is granted on a rolling basis and applications are reviewed in the order they are completed. Some programs may fill to capacity prior to the application deadline, therefore applying early is recommended. Additionally, applying early will allow for more time to plan ahead and prepare for the program.
Information Sessions
Join in-person or over Zoom. Register and learn more about this and other events on our events page.
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD | TBD |
Orientation Dates & Locations
Orientation will be conducted in 2 parts: an online orientation—which is mandatory—and in-person or online program-specific session with program leader(s). All meetings are required and failure to complete the online orientation will impact your ability to go abroad. The online orientation module is found on your application checklist and is due by your first orientation session.
You will be notified of the official date and time of required orientation sessions or will be contacted to send availability in order to schedule sessions. Reach out to your program leader directly for any concerns about orientation session date and times. You will receive applicable orientation materials from your program leader either in advance or after the orientation session(s).
Fees
Summer 2025 cost of participation forthcoming
Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. The program fee generally includes tuition, group flight airfare, airport transfers, in-country program related transportation, housing, some meals, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, program administration, and international health insurance. Generally, the program fee ranges from $6,000–$8,000. You must also budget for airfare, passport and passport photos, some meals, textbooks, independent travel, and miscellaneous living expenses.
Recent increases in international airfare and accommodation costs have impacted all instructor-led program fees. The LAC strives to follow best practices to provide the lowest cost program while ensuring a quality academic experience.
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.
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.
This program is considered part of summer enrollment for the purposes of registration and financial aid.
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.
Prepare
Be aware: Learning Abroad Center programs require a $50 application fee. This fee will be charged to your student account upon submission of an online application.
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.
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
Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.
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.
Next Steps
- After you complete all required application checklist items, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application is ready to be reviewed.
- Your completed application will be reviewed by the Learning Abroad Center.
- If admitted, the Confirmation & Payment Agreement form will be added to your checklist. Complete this form to secure your spot on the program. By submitting the form, you also give your approval for the program deposit to be billed to your UofM student account.
- Complete the confirmation checklist, which include the following items in additional to program-specific forms:
- Passport Information
- Emergency Contacts
- Health Information Form
- Online Health & Safety Orientation
- Release & Waiver
- You will receive information about additional steps from the sponsoring college/department.
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.
Program Contact
For further information or questions about this program, send an email to
Lindsey Lahr at [email protected],
or call at
612.625.9370