Université Catholique de l'Ouest
- Receive approximately 18 hours of French credit per semester
- Live with a French host family to improve French language skills
- The program includes several one-day excursions and cultural visits around France
- Scholarships available from the Department of French & Italian
The Université Catholique de l'Ouest is a private institution of higher education with approximately 11,000 students. The University offers degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences as well as in theology. It is also home to the Centre International d'Etudes Francaises (C.I.D.E.F.), an internationally renowned school for French as a foreign language.
The scenic campus of the Université Catholique de l'Ouest, located in town, is just a short walk from the train station or the museums, shops, and restaurants of the town center.
Angers is the historic capital of the Anjou region in western France. A lively university town, Angers counts nearly 33,000 students among its 250,000 inhabitants. With its universities and textile mills, Angers has served as an important cultural and industrial center since the Middle Ages. The castles and wine cellars of the nearby Loire valley also contribute to the character of the region. Located only an hour and a half by train from Paris, Angers provides an excellent base from which to discover French culture.
KU students take courses in French language and civilization at the Centre International d'Etudes Francaises (C.I.D.E.F.), a special language center attached to the University. Founded in 1947, C.I.D.E.F. welcomes about 1400 foreign students from 50 countries annually.
C.I.D.E.F. tests and places each student in language classes appropriate to the student's level in French. Levels range from beginner to advanced. C.I.D.E.F. courses are designed to help students reach fluency in both spoken and written French. Teaching methods are up-to-date and the facilities available to students include a library, three language labs, classrooms with audio-visual equipment and a computer room.
KU students will receive approximately 18 hours of credit per semester in French. The particular courses for which the student receives credit will depend on the student's level and previous course work in French. A typical schedule at the C.I.D.E.F. would include courses in subjects such as grammar, composition, phonetics, conversation, translation and civilization. All credit earned will be counted as KU credit.
The university housing services will arrange homestays for students on a semester program. Typically, the student will rent a room in a house belonging to a French family. The cost of the homestay is included in the student's program fees. The level of contact with the family will depend on the individuals involved.
Fall semester: During the September portion of your stay, the host family provides all breakfasts and dinners. During the rest of the semester (October to December), the host family provides all breakfasts and 3 dinners per week.
Spring semester: All breakfasts and three dinners per week will be provided by the host family.
Student Life
Since C.I.D.E.F. is situated on the campus of the Université Catholique de l'Ouest, KU students will have the opportunity to be in contact with French university students. Due to the number of students in Angers there are many student activities ranging from sports to music and theatre.
Cultural Activities
CIDEF organizes several visits for students each term. In past years, CIDEF has organized visits to places such as:
- Le Mont St. Michel
- Saint-Malo
- The châteaux of the Loire Valley
- D-Day landing site in Normandy
Students will find more information about these activities at the start of the semester.
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
Open to KU undergraduates who have had at least one semester of college-level French and who have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.