Third Year Away

Since the number of students from Waterloo participating in these programs is limited each year, the Department has established the following priorities for eligibility:

• First priority will be given to students who are in the French Teaching Specialization program and have achieved a final overall average of 75% or better in their university French courses to date.
• Second priority will be given to students who are in an Honours French program and have achieved a final overall average of 75% or better in their university French courses to date.
• Third priority will be given to students who are in an Honours program and have achieved a final overall average of 70% or better in their university French courses to date.

Only students registered in a four-year program may participate. Students must be in good health and have the kind of flexibility and sensitivity to others that will allow for successful adjustment to an unfamiliar cultural setting. A statement of financial status is required by the French consulate for visa purposes if accepted to go to Nantes, and once there an examination by a French doctor will be required.

• Successful completion of a minimum of two second year French courses:
  • 1 French grammar course (FR 251, 252)
  • 1 French literature course (FR 276, 297)
• FR 250 is highly recommended, but not mandatory.

• Information sessions to be held in mid-to-late-October.
• Application deadline: third Monday of November.
• Applications must include:
  1. Application Form (PDF) 
  2. Updated CV (resume)
  3. Headshot
• Applications must be submitted to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in ML 333.
• Interviews are held during the Pre-Examination Study Days in December.
• Acceptances will be sent to applicants in February.

The Department has a working agreement with the Université du Québèc à Chicoutimi (UQAC) to allow Waterloo students to study in Chicoutimi. Students go to Chicoutimi on a Letter of Permission.

Costs: Students pay tuition fees directly to UQAC. The fees are usually less expensive than UW tuition fees.

Housing: 
Residence housing is available.

We asked several of our students to tell us about their exchange to Chicoutimi. Here is what they had to say in both official languages!

The Nantes exchange program will no longer be available after the 2019-2020 academic year.

Effective September 2020, the French Teaching Specialization program will no longer have an exchange requirement.