Global Education

Program Dates

Term	Start Date	End Date
Spring 2026	January 5th, 2026	May 2nd, 2026
Fall 2026	September 2nd, 2026	December 19th, 2026

These dates are tentative. Confirm program dates before booking travel.

Where: Toulouse, France

In the South of France between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, Toulouse is consistently rated as one of the best places to live and study in France. Home to French aerospace giant Airbus and other top technology companies, Toulouse has become a European aerospace and technology hub. Toulouse offers program participants the opportunity to experience life in a dynamic French city with top-rated universities, quaint neighborhoods, and wonderful café-lined squares.

Academics

The Language + Culture program in Toulouse invites beginner – intermediate French students to immerse themselves in the language, culture, and history of France. Students are expected to invest time in French language study and use their language skills in everyday life with French students, homestay families, and members of the Toulouse community. Although most of the direct enrollment and specialized CIEE courses are taught in English, students are expected to use French as much as possible outside of class.

Students will take the following courses:
One French language course (4 credits)
At least one CIEE culture course (3 credits each)
A combination of CIEE and elective courses at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse (ICT) for a total of 8-11 semester credits

Academic Structure

Classes in which CIEE students enroll normally meet Monday through Friday, with excursions typically taking place on weekends. Language classes typically meet twice a week (2 sessions of 2 hours each). Student course schedules may change during the semester. The Center Director will work closely with each student to make sure that students are clear about their weekly and semester schedules. Students are expected to complete all the work assigned and take exams when scheduled.

Course Credit

CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
CIEE French language courses: 4 U.S. semester/6 quarter credits, 60 contact hours
CIEE Internship course: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 seminar hours, 100-120 internship placement hours
Institut Catholique de Toulouse (ICT) courses: typically 1-3 U.S. semester/1.5-4.5 quarter credits; 50-150 notional hours

Courses

Students who earn an Allegheny equated grade of C or higher will receive transfer credit on their transcript. Grades earned away will not be calculated into the cumulative GPA. Please note that transcript processing times may vary.

Students may view pre-equated Allegheny courses here. Those planning to enroll in courses not pre-equated are responsible for following the steps outlined here. Please allow sufficient time for course equivalency evaluations, as departmental chair approval is required.

For a full list of course offerings, visit CIEE’s website here.

Eligibility

2.75 G.P.A. There are no specific language requirements for this program.

Housing & Student Life

Students live in with French homestay families in various Toulouse communities. Two meals on weekdays and three meals on weekends are included in the program. You typically eat weekday breakfasts and dinners with your homestay family. You may purchase lunches at local cafes, restaurants and markets throughout the city.

Visa & Immigration information

Students are responsible for all expenses related to obtaining a passport.

Students are responsible for all costs associated with securing a student visa or residence permit, including travel and logistical expenses to the consulate or embassy, if required. Students are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa or residence permit within the appropriate timeframe. To determine whether a visa or residence permit is required along with application fee, consult the embassy or consulate of your program’s destination country. Visa fees vary, and students are responsible for understanding all associated costs and budgeting accordingly. The Global Education Office cannot be held liable for the outcome of any visa or residence permit application.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will apply for a visa before departing the United States. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please contact the French consulate in your home country for visa requirements.

Application Process

Allegheny students must apply for approval to study off-campus from the Global Education office AND apply directly to their chosen program.For this program, students should work on the Allegheny approval application at the same time as the host program application. The Allegheny approval application deadline is February 20 for fall programs and September 20 for spring programs. Study away approval applications will be reviewed immediately following the appropriate semester deadline. The separate application deadline to apply directly to this program will vary and could be before or after Allegheny’s approval application due date. Check directly on their website (linked at the top of this page) for deadline information. For more information about the study away application process, please visit the application steps page.

Fees & Costs

Below find information on estimated costs for a semester abroad. You will receive a bill from Allegheny College, as you normally would, for the amount shown under “Costs Paid to Allegheny College.” All other study away program costs will be paid directly to a non-Allegheny entity and are listed in part two below. These amounts are estimates and will vary depending on individual choices.

All financial aid awards can be applied to study abroad costs with the exception of federal work-study awards and certain tuition exchange scholarships. For more information, visit our page about Financing Study Away.

Part One: Costs Paid to Allegheny College

Part Two: Costs Paid to non-Allegheny Entity

COMPARE COST OF ATTENDANCE

NOTES:

Study Away Fee includes: administrative support, transcript translation and processing, pre-departure orientation, and emergency travel insurance.