Liberal Arts in Rennes, France (CIEE)

  • Location: France - Rennes
  • GPA Requirements: 2.75 overall, 3.0 in French Language GPA
  • Other Requirements: 4 semester of college level French or equivalent
  • Program Structure: Hybrid
  • Application Deadline: Fall: February 20 | Spring: September 20
  • Program Term(s): Fall, Spring
  • Official Website: Liberal Arts in Rennes, France (CIEE)
Program Dates
Term Start Date End Date
Fall 2024 August 28th, 2024 December 21st, 2024
Spring 2025 January 15th, 2025 May 24th, 2025
Fall 2025 August 27th, 2025 December 20th, 2025

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

Where: Rennes

With its population of 60,000 students, Rennes is a perfect setting for study in France. Just an hour and a half west of Paris by train, and 55 minutes from the sea, Rennes is the capital of Brittany. Economically very dynamic, the city is known as a center for technology and is consistently rated as one of the best places to live in France. The city offers an excellent variety of cultural events and provides study-abroad students the opportunity to learn the distinct Celtic traditions particular to this region of France.

Academics

This French language immersion program is designed for intermediate to advanced-level French students who want to take their language skills to the next level while learning about French culture and society. Prior to coming to France, students take an online placement test. Once on-site, they take an intensive two-week language and culture course that includes 30 hours of language and civilization coursework, and 10 hours of cross-cultural analysis and cultural adaptation meetings. Upon completion of the preliminary language and culture course, students are placed in one of six language learning levels, each with a prescribed set of courses at the Centre International Rennais d’Etude du Francais pour Etrangers (CIREFE) at Université Rennes II. All students are encouraged, regardless of their language level, to consider auditing a regular course at the Université Rennes II; however, students in the advanced language levels (C1/C2) may opt to take one or two regular university courses for credit alongside French students. Students agree to speak only French during the program to encourage language and cultural acquisition.

Academic Structure

Students take most of their classes at CIREFE with other international students. Our students often describe their experience at CIREFE as studying at an international school and enjoy this mutually enriching diverse environment and intercultural experience. The average class duration is 2 hours. The average class size is 14-18 students depending on class subjects and levels. All CIREFE courses are taught in French. Université Rennes II classes are open to French students. Advanced CIEE students may enroll in one or two courses at Université Rennes II and must attend lectures, complete assigned work, and take exams as scheduled. Classes meet Monday through Friday. Students usually take 2 two-hour classes per day.

Course Credit

CIEE courses: 2-3 U.S. semester/3-4.5 quarter credits; 30-45 contact hours
Université Rennes II courses: 2-6 U.S. semester/3-9 quarter credits; 26-78 contact hours

Courses

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

Eligibility

GPA of 3.0 in French language, 4 semesters of college-level French (or equivalent)

Housing & Student Life

Homestays: Students live in carefully chosen French homes in Rennes or nearby suburbs. Host families provide breakfast and dinner, all weekend meals. On weekdays, students purchase lunch at restaurants on campus or at local cafés or restaurants in downtown Rennes.

Apartment: Students may opt to live in a single studio apartment in a residence. Students are responsible for purchasing and preparing their own meals. The studio apartment has a kitchenette equipped with a microwave, cooking plates, mini-fridge, dishes & kitchenware.

Visa & Immigration information

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. A total estimated cost of attendance for this program is shown at the bottom.

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

Tuition (12 to 20 credits)
Students do not pay tuition directly to CIEE. Instead, students continue to pay tuition to Allegheny College. This fee includes academic related expenses, CIEE iNext travel insurance, CIEE deposit.
$27,930
Housing – Double Room Rate
– Includes Standard CIEE Housing with a homestay family
$3,675
Meals – Gator Blue Plan
– Homestay includes two meals a day on weekdays and three meals a day on weekends. You may purchase lunches at local cafés, boulangeries, crêperies, or mini-markets downtown Rennes. If student is in a residence hall, this cost is not billed and students pay for their own meals on-site.
$3,375
Study Away Fee $800
SUBTOTAL Paid to Allegheny College $35,780

Part Two: Costs Paid to non-Allegheny Entity

Estimated Costs for Additional Meals $900
Estimated Airfare $1,200
Estimated Visa and Immigration Expenses (French visa fee and Campus France fees total about $165. Additional cost included here for possible travel to consulate for visa application $465
Estimated Books and Academic Materials $40
Estimated Local Transportation $150
Estimated Personal Expenses
Personal expenses include: the basic expenses for laundry, toiletries and other incidental expenses. It does not include an estimate for personal travel, entertainment or social outings.
$250
SUBTOTAL Paid to NON-Allegheny entity $3,005

TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE

Subtotal Part One: Fees paid to Allegheny College (in section 1. above) PLUS $35,780
Subtotal Part Two: Fees paid to non-Allegheny entity (in section 2. above) $ 3,005
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $38,785 ***
***Compare this to a semester at Allegheny in Meadville.

NOTES:

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