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 Department of French Studies at the University of Waterloo, in cooperation with the French Studies Section at Trent University, participates in a program of study at the Université de Nantes.

Students from both universities (ten from Waterloo) take 8 courses created specifically for this exchange. Students will have the option of taking one regular course offered at the Université de Nantes per term. The academic year spans from September to June.

Costs
The overall cost for the year abroad, including accommodation in a residence, food in a University restaurant, and return airfare has, in the past, been comparable to the cost incurred by a full-time student on the University of Waterloo campus paying for a single residence room and full board. However, this depends very much on the rate of the exchange of the Canadian dollar against the Euro.

• If eligible for OSAP grants and loans, or for UW scholarships on the Waterloo campus, students remain eligible for these.
• $1,000 administrative fee (non-refundable).
• Tuition is paid to Waterloo.

Housing
Residence housing is available. Students will be required to sign a 9 month lease, ending May 31. Students should apply for a rebate on their residence costs at La Caisse Nationale des Allocations Familiales (CAF) as of the first month of their exchange.

We have compiled a list of links to help students integrate into French society.

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