Off-Campus Study & Exchanges

Overview

The Skidmore in France program is designed for students at all levels of French language skills (beginner to advanced) to study in Paris, taking courses taught in French or English. The program is available in the fall semester, spring semester, or for the full-year, and strives to integrate them as fully as possible into the academic, cultural, and social life of Montpellier.


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 an ideal place to experience French culture and strengthen your French language skills. (text taken from University of Minnesota)

Skidmore in France is run in partnership with the University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center. In Montpellier, students will have access to the UMN center staffed with a center Director and additional support staff. In addition, students will have access to many different partner institutions where they will take courses alongside local students and other international students.

Unique Characteristics of Skidmore in France:
Study options available at all French language levels – beginning to advanced
Classes taught in English and French
Wide range of class subjects available in the arts, business, humanities and social sciences
Classes offered at the at the UMN Program Center and partner institutions such as University of Montpellier and the University of Paul Valèry.
Internship opportunities and community engagement are offered
Housing with French families
Superior on-site support
Skidmore stipend for transportation and additional meals.

Housing
The housing option for the Skidmore in France program is a home-stay with a French family. Living with a French family allows students to fully participate in French culture on a daily basis. Each applicant completes an extensive Housing Questionnaire, which the staff in Montpellier use to match students and families to the best of our ability. The student's preferences concerning personal comforts, eating habits, health requirements (smoking, allergies, etc.), and family composition are all taken into consideration during family selection. Students with no prior French language will be placed with bilingual families but are still expected to use French as much as possible. Each student has a single room with a family home or apartment. Two meals a day during the week plus all meals during the weekend are provided by your homestay family.