Rhône-Alpes, France
- Français -
Spend a year in the Rhône-Alpes region of France while getting university credits.
The Rhône-Alpes region is in the south-east of France, bordering Italy and Switzerland. The Ontario/Rhône-Alpes exchange coordinates exchanges between 15 Ontario universities and 15 Rhône-Alpes universities. Each year up to 50 Ontario students attend various universities in the area.
For more information about the program and for a description of the area, visit the ORA web site.
Program
Curriculum and credits
The goal of the program is for the exchange student to have an experience which reflects the culture and daily life of the university where the student is studying. French is the language of instruction. Participants must, therefore, be satisfactorily competent in French.
Participants are free to choose between the various French universities in order to take courses which they are interested in and which correspond best to their program at the University of Guelph. It is important to note that all courses taken abroad must first be approved by the University of Guelph in order to be recognized as counting towards a degree at the University of Guelph.
Participants must enroll as full-time students at the University of Guelph as well as at the host university in France.
The Centre for International Programs at the University of Guelph facilitates ORA exchanges for University of Guelph students. Please see CIP (UC, 3rd floor or online) for all program registration information.
Duration and housing
Most Rhône-Alpes institutions offer residence accommodation for Ontario students. Living is residence is usually less expensive than living in a private home and it also provides the opportunity to meet other students from the area.
Registration Information
Criteria of eligibility
The exchange is available to all students in all programs except medicine and dentistry. Participants must:
- Be enrolled in second year or higher of an undergraduate or graduate program at a participating Ontario university.
- Have a B average or equivalent.
- Have some knowledge of French.
- Have a valid passport.
- Obtain a visa.
- Attend a weekend orientation session in Toronto during the month of May.
- Attend an orientation session organized by the French university.
The participants will be selected not only on the basis of their academic record but also on the basis of their potential to benefit academically and personally from the exchange.
We encourage part time students to apply, but keep in mind that you must pay full time tuition at the University of Guelph during the exchange.
Registration
Students must complete and submit the registration forms.
See the Centre for International Programs (UC, 3rd floor) or download the forms from the CIP web site.
For all additional registration information, visit the ORA web site.
Due date
The due date for form submission to CIP is in January.
The ORA main office usually requires that records be submitted before February and decisions are generally announced at the end of May.
Financial Information
Fees
Participants enroll as full-time students at the University of Guelph and pay University of Guelph tuition before leaving.
While the French universities do not ask for tuition, participants must cover all other costs. In general, the residence and cafeteria are subsidized.
Participants must also cover all costs associated with transportation and travel documentation.
Financial assistance
Students eligible for OSAP, OGS and SSHRC will still be eligible during the exchange.