The Program

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has partnered with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) to offer students the opportunity to study French language and culture in Pau, France.

USAC classes and offices are located on the attractive campus of the University of Pau, situated in the northern part of the city about a mile and a half from the center of town. It features libraries, two large dining halls, a café, several residence halls, and a variety of sports facilities including rugby and soccer fields, tennis courts and a track. The university buildings all are relatively new and are much like those at U.S. colleges. More than 10,000 students are enrolled at this campus in the areas of humanities, sciences, polytechnic and business. The campus is well connected to the the city by three bus lines.

USAC organizes three field trips in southern France each semester. These bus trips generally take place on weekends and are included in the program fees. In spring 2007, the local excursions/field trips went to Bordeaux, the French Basque Country (St. Jean-Pied-de-Port), and Toulouse and Carcassonne. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a field trip to Paris for an additional $500. For year-long students, the optional Paris trip occurs at the beginning of fall semester. For spring students, the optional Paris trip occurs at the end of spring semester.


Location

Located in the Béarn region of the Atlantic Pyrénées in southwestern France, Pau is a picturesque city of 100,000 inhabitants. Pau offers spectacular scenery and a temperate climate all year long with a fantastic location near both the Pyrénées mountains and the Atlantic coast-- and is only an hour away from Spain.



Courses

You will enroll in three sequential language courses plus a 1- or 3-credit(s) French conversation course for a total of 12 credit hours. Course enrollments is determined by a placement test at the beginning of the program to ascertain appropriate level. For example if you have completed French 201 at UWEC, you would take: Second Year French II , Third Year French I and II, plus French Conversation (12 credits). The language courses are taught at the Institute of French Studies at the University of Pau; your classmates will be other international students.

In addition, one or two elective courses taught specifically for USAC-Pau students. The elective courses are designed to familiarize you with the region and help complete requirements for other disciplines. Courses taught in French are appropriate for third year students and above, and courses taught in English are appropriate for all students.

For a more detailed list of French language and elective courses, please access the USAC website: http://usac.unr.edu/usac/program.aspx?pid=2905&cid=3&wid=3780&index=1&term=Semester/Year#

You are required to take a minimum of 15 credits for the semester and may take a maximum of 18 credits.

The UW-Eau Claire French faculty members are in the process of evaluating these courses and establishing equivalencies. More information on courses equivalencies will be available in summer 2007.

Where Will I Live?

You have two housing options in Pau: home stays with a family/French host or university residence halls. Most USAC students opt to stay with families/French hosts. You will be provided with an individual room, breakfast daily and two dinners each week. You may have your other meals at the university restaurant at a modest cost or make arrangements with the family/host to eat more often with them.

The residence halls are located on campus. If you choose to live in a residence hall, you can eat at the university restaurant. For all students, the university restaurant provides a wide range of food options for a modest cost (3 euros/meal).

Academic Calendar

You may participate in the program for the full academic year, or for the spring semester. (Fall semester alone is not an option.) The academic year runs from September through April; spring semester is January-April. Exact dates will be available the semester prior to departure.

Expenses

The estimated Wisconsin resident fee for Spring 2009 is $6,690. This includes tuition, CISI insurance, 3 regional field trips, and administrative fees. Minnesota residents may apply for reciprocity; non-residents add $900.

Additional Costs: passport, visa, housing, food, books, personal expenses, local transportation, and international airfare. Estimate another $5,219-7,788 for these items.

Total Wisconsin resident cost estimate: $11,909-14,478. Cost estimates may change at any time.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

If you qualify for financial aid, you can apply your aid to program costs. Your financial aid package will be based on actual costs in France, including the cost of round-trip airfare. You can learn about additional options, including a study abroad grant through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation; may apply for a travel grant through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation; a Wisconsin Grant for Study Abroad and scholarships for specific majors and national study abroad scholarships at http:/www.uwec.edu/CIE/sac/finaid.htm. Students with a 3.00 GPA are eligible to apply for the Vernon Gingerich Scholarship, which supports study abroad in a native French-language environment. More information is available at http://www.uwec.edu/oakdev/fou800/criteria/4645.htm.

Eligibility

To apply, you must be a currently enrolled, degree-seeking, undergraduate UW-Eau Claire student. You need to be in good academic standing and have a cumulative resident GPA of 2.8. You must have completed French 201 prior to the beginning of the program. You may apply as a freshman, but must have at least sophomore standing by the time the program begins.

Application Deadline

Applications for Academic Year 2008-2009 are accepted beginning September 4, 2007. The priority application deadline for Fall 2008 is November 15, 2007

Applications for Spring 2009 are accepted beginning January 15, 2008. The priority application deadline for Spring 2009 is April 1, 2008.

Complete applications will be reviewed after these dates. Late applications will be considered if space is still available. Please contact the CIE to find out if space is still available before submitting a late application. No applications will be accepted after January 15, 2008 for Academic Year 2008-2009 or after May 1, 2008 for Spring 2009.

You can download an application at online applications, or stop by to pick up an application in the Center for International Education.

Additional Information

For more information or a program application, contact:

Center for International Education
Schofield 111
UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI   54702-4004

Phone: (715) 836-4411
Fax: (715) 836-4948
Email: studyabroad@uwec.edu