Study Abroad in France Program

The Program

The CEFAM Study Abroad program provides students with an opportunity to live in France for a year, a semester, or a month while pursuing their college education.

At CEFAM, all courses are taught in English by professors with advanced educational degrees and considerable experience in their particular professional area. CEFAM students benefit from a close working environment and high professor-student contact ratio to ensure optimal conditions for a business education in an international setting.

Upon students’ arrival in Lyon, CEFAM organizes an orientation session that covers various topics including CEFAM’s academic rules, health insurance, accommodation, the semester’s calendar, and cultural adjustment. The orientation session is followed by a welcome dinner with CEFAM staff members and students.

Each semester, CEFAM students volunteer to become a study abroad liaison for the new study abroad students. Their role is to help the students settle into their new lives at CEFAM and in France by assisting them in their daily routines and answering their questions.

Academic Information

The CEFAM Program follows the American Liberal Arts tradition in education and offers both business and non-business courses. Credits earned at CEFAM are transferable to its partner universities in the United States.

The CEFAM study abroad program includes French language classes focused on pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and oral expression in accordance with the students’ level. All our study abroad students also enjoy a French Culture and Civilization course designed to provide some insight into France, its people, and its culture.

Full-time study abroad students at CEFAM must take at least four classes per semester (the normal load is five) including:

• 3 credit French language class
• 1 credit French culture class

CEFAM will register students for classes based on the information communicated to our administration by the students’ home universities. Any changes after that point must be communicated to CEFAM by the universities’ academic advisors or study abroad departments.

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Activities and Visits

Activities and visits are organized throughout the semester, giving students a chance to feel at home in Lyon and become acquainted with other parts of France during their stay.

Visits typically include a day trip to Annecy known for its beautiful lake or to Beaune, a pretty town in the well-known wine-making region of Burgundy. Also part of the program is wine and cheese tasting events, a tour of Lyon and a welcome dinner gathering all-new study abroad students.

Each year, CEFAM organizes a Halloween party and a Thanksgiving dinner, bringing CEFAM staff, faculty, and students together for these traditional American celebrations.

Accommodations

Students may choose from 2 types of accommodations: single apartments and homestay.

Single apartments are located in a modern residence which is ideally situated 10 minutes from downtown Lyon and 20 minutes from CEFAM by subway.

Students may also choose to experience life in a French family if they really want to become immersed in the French lifestyle. They will live with an approved French family in Lyon and share the family’s life, meals, and language. The packages are flexible, offering accommodations plus up to 7 breakfasts and dinners per week.

Home University Academic Advisor

While at CEFAM, students will take courses that have been pre-approved by their academic advisors at their home universities. It is the students’ responsibilities to meet with their academic advisor when applying to CEFAM and discuss their semester abroad course registration in detail; they should also confirm in advance and in writing which courses are electives and which are degree requirements.

Students are also advised to remember that a minimum of 12 academic credits is required to maintain a student visa in France.

Course Offering

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Session

Program Dates and Deadlines

Costs

• Semester program: 8,835€ (up to 16 US credits)
• Summer program: 4,000€ (up to 10 US credits)

Costs include tuition fees, housing, health insurance, university and orientation fees, and cultural activities.

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