Third Year Away

Study in a French environment

The Department of French Studies encourages students majoring and/or minoring in French to study in a French environment, usually in their third year. Students of all levels and backgrounds in French are encouraged to participate in the Explore Program, which is a bursary program funded by the Canadian Federal government.

Students can choose to study at various institutions in France through various exchange agreements including MICEFA and ORA.

Finally, students majoring in French have the option of participating in the department's exchange at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), in Chicoutimi, Québec.

UQAC Eligibility

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.

UQAC Program requirements

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.

UQAC Application

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.

Chicoutimi

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!

Watch video on YouTube

Nantes (Discontinued, effective September 2020)

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.

Global Experience Certificate

Students intending to participate in international exchanges are eligible to apply for the Global Experience Certificate (GEC).

For more information

For more information on the Chicoutimi exchange program, contact Professor Svetlana Kaminskaia.