France is known for its key role in the history and development of European culture and its rich traditions from literature and the arts through to cuisine, sport and style. Modern France, while preserving a strong link to the land, is at the forefront of many technological advances. A leading international player, its recent Republican history has enabled it to remain fiercely independent and at the same time central to the European Union. Geographically diverse, it is said France offers all the landscapes of Europe in microcosm. From the Mediterranean to the English Channel, each region has a strong identity, often retaining ties with older cultures and its many neighbours.

Students spend two consecutive semesters studying at one of the following universities or institutes:

• Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux 3, Bordeaux
• Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen
• Institut National des Télécommunications, Évry
• Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon
• Université de Poitiers, Poitiers
• Université de Reims Champagne-Ardennes, Reims
• Université Rennes 2 – Haute Bretagne, Rennes
• Université Robert Schuman, Strasbourg
• Université de Toulon et du Var, Toulon.
• Université de la Nouvelle Calédonie, Nouméa

The location and content of each student's period of In-country Study in France is determined by the level of their language competence in French. Generally speaking, students who have a sound working knowledge of French before their entrance to UTS – usually defined as HSC 3-unit or a good pass in 2-unit French – can study at any of the abovementioned universities. Such students study an appropriate two-semester program of host university subjects broadly relating to French and Francophone language, society and culture.

All other students spend a first semester engaged in the study of language and culture at the universities offering special language programs, going on to a second semester of subjects chosen more broadly from the university's curriculum. Special language provision is currently available at Bordeaux, Caen's Centre d'Enseignement Universitaire International pour Etrangers (CIEUE), Lyon's Centre Internationale d'Etudes Françaises (CIEF), Poitiers, the Centre International Rennais d'Etudes de Français pour Etrangers (CIREFE) and the Centre International d'Etudes Françaises (CIEF) in Reims.

Students are assessed on each semester separately. Assessment is based on the subjects studied at the host university, as well as project work and other tests administered by the Institute for International Studies.

Students in France are charged a non-refundable state medical insurance fee (sécurité sociale) for each semester of study. Details are liable to variation, but students should set aside a total of around A$500 for this cost, which the Institute regrets it is unable to meet on students' behalf.

Students should be aware that costs of living in France are generally slightly higher than in Australia, though the cost of student accommodation is very reasonable.

Locations

Bordeaux

Capital of Aquitaine, Bordeaux is a city known largely for its wine production and its port. Situated on the river Garonne, it is close to the Pyrenees in the south-west of France, and also within range of the Atlantic beaches. Its heritage is reflected in the 18th century architecture and impressive literary and artistic tradition.

The Université Michel de Montaigne has a strong emphasis on French art and culture, with teaching covering literature, philosophy, history, art history and archaeology, geography, and languages. The campus, nestled among vineyards, is a bus ride from the city centre. There is an excellent modern language centre, and accommodation options include privately rented flats in the city.

Caen

Caen is located in Normandy, near the north coast of France. The city is built of golden stone and is rich in historical associations, which range from abbeys and a chateau commenced by William the Conqueror, through to the D-Day beach landings of World War II.

The University is over five centuries old, but the original buildings, like much of the city, were destroyed during World War II. It is now housed in impressive structures built with international funding around 1950, and the University's emblem is the phoenix as a symbol of rebirth. It has 26,000 students, and Faculties of Political Science, Law, Economics and Management, Psychology, History, Physical Science and Sport, as well as a number of teaching institutions. It has highly respected, well-developed language and cultural programs conducted through its associated language centre. Accommodation is available in studios or residences.

Evry

Situated just south of Paris, Evry is a new town which combines a number of existing villages with more modern buildings. It is home to the Cathédrale de la Résurrection, constructed in 1995, and is close to the much debated Disneyland-Paris.

The Institut National des Télécommunications, strictly speaking part of the prestigious grande école system rather than a university, offers a range of teaching, research and consultancy activities in the fields of Management and Engineering. Particular strengths include mobile communications, information systems, multimedia and marketing. Students from UTS typically follow a combination of language classes, human sciences options with relevance to French culture and society, and intercultural communications programs, with additional options in the professional subjects where appropriate. Accommodation is available in modern studios with Internet access.

Lyon

The Lyon region is a fast-growing area of the French economy. It is well integrated with European markets as well as being well-placed for physical contacts with Germany, Italy and Switzerland, all of which are relatively easy to access by road. Lyon itself is a large provincial city, with late medieval and 19th century precincts, including the picturesque silk manufacturing area of La Croix Rousse, as well as extensive modern development.

The original Université de Lyon was established last century, with the arts and humanities elements becoming the national Université Lumière, Lyon 2 in the early 1980s. The University has a campus in the centre of the city, situated on the banks of the Rhone, and another much larger at Bron, about 30 minutes from the city centre. Subjects cover a range of disciplines from communication and sociology to education, tourism and economics. Private accommodation is readily available.

Nouméa, New Caledonia

New Caledonia offers a very different version of 'Frenchness'. Designated by the French government as a 'Pays d'Outre Mer' (Overseas Country), the group of Pacific islands retains administrative and cultural links with France, reflecting its 150-year colonial history. The current population of 200,000 comprises Kanaks, descendants of European settlers, other Pacific islanders, and people who trace their heritage back to other former French colonies. Many of the Kanak population maintain aspects of traditional cultures side-by-side with contemporary Western social and cultural infrastructures. As the capital, Nouméa serves as a relay point between the various communities on the islands, and between New Caledonia and the wider world.

Université de la Nouvelle Calédonie, founded in 1999, offers courses in Law, Economics, Management, Humanities, Languages, Social Science and Science. It has a campus on the peninsula of Nouville, and another at Magenta in the eastern suburbs of Nouméa. The Nouville campus is adjacent to a French language school, CREIPAC, with which the University has an agreement.

Poitiers

Situated not far from the Atlantic coast, Poitiers retains an old city centre boasting many of the finest Romanesque churches in France. At the other end of the spectrum, it is also home to the futuristic theme park Futuroscope. Nearby attractions include the holiday resort of La Rochelle, the island of Oléron, and Angoulême, home of France's national comic books museum.

The University, founded as long ago as 1431, has made a full contribution to European thought, with writers such as Descartes and Francis Bacon having studied there. Today it offers an up-to-date multidisciplinary education with strengths in human sciences and the arts, language and literature, sciences and law and new technologies. There is a strong interest in new technologies and language learning, and accommodation possibilities include city centre apartments.

Reims

Reims is in the heart of the world-famous Champagne region. It is not a large city, but has a key role in French history, and consequently it attracts substantial numbers of tourists because of its cathedral and its associations with Joan of Arc, the King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor. Reims is about one-and-a-half hours from Paris by train and is close to Belgium.

The Université de Reims, Champagne-Ardenne is a comprehensive national university and has Faculties of Science, Applied Science, Health Sciences and Engineering, Arts and Humanities, with special research interests in local and regional politics, literature and identity, and, of course, wine-making. The current university dates from the post-war era and at present has about 30,000 students who attend a number of different campuses spread throughout the city. Accommodation possibilities include private rental.

Rennes

Rennes is the capital of Brittany and the centre of Celtic culture and traditions in France. It has a population of about 330,000, of whom 60,000 are students. Rennes is a mixture of late medieval, timbered buildings and elegant 18th and 19th century urban planning. The Atlantic coast is less than an hour away, and Paris is a two-hour trip by TGV (high-speed train).

The present university was established in 1969 and is one of two universities in Rennes. It has 21,000 students enrolled in five Faculties – Languages, Social Sciences, Arts/Letters/Communications, Human Sciences (including linguistics, psychology, education and sociology), as well as classes in Breton language and culture, physical education and sports. Students at Rennes often take classes in the French Language and Culture Centre. Accommodation is available in residences or privately.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg calls itself 'the capital of Europe'. It is the location of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, and is a centre for economic development which is rapidly expanding and progressing. Strasbourg has great pride in its local identity, but is also very cosmopolitan. The city has extensive late medieval sections, an imposing Gothic cathedral and impressive modern buildings created for the European institutions located in Strasbourg. With three universities, Strasbourg has a student population of around 50,000.

Université Robert Schuman has a Faculty of Law, plus Institutes for Political Science, Business and Management Studies (IECS); the Institute for International Studies has exchange agreements with each of them. As expected, fields of study offered include options with a focus on Europe and the European Union. The University does not have a single campus, but most of its buildings are close to the centre of the city, in an area of strong German architectural influence, built in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Accommodation options include private studios or shared apartments.

Toulon

Toulon is a port city on the Mediterranean coast, with an impressive naval history. Toulon is part of the French Riviera, with Nice and Marseilles within easy train trips, and the Provençal hinterlands a short drive away. Université de Toulon et du Var is located at La Garde, a modern suburb that has grown from an old town approximately 10 km from the port area of Toulon and 5–15 km from some of the best beaches in Europe.

The University was established in 1968 and has approximately 10,000 students enrolled in five faculties – Law, Arts, Economics and Management, Science and Technology, and Engineering. The Université de Toulon also has an associated Technological Institute. The programs at Toulon are ideally suited to Business and Law students. Accommodation options include residences, and privately operated studios very close to the campus and the 'Grand Var' shopping complex.

Completion requirements

Select one of the following:		8cp
50140 Comparative Social Change	8cp
76600 International Legal Studies	8cp
976411 Contemporary France		8cp
977410 In-country Study 1: France		24cp
978410 In-country Study 2: France		24cp
CBK90483 French Language and Culture		32cp
Total		96cp