Study Abroad in Grenoble, France

Program Information

Grenoble is a beautiful, vibrant medieval city nestled at the foot of the French Alps. It is a major winter sports destination and was host of the 1968 Winter Olympics. The city has several museums, numerous parks and plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, biking). For the avid traveler, Grenoble is also an excellent starting point for exploration, located only one hour away from the historic city of Lyon, three hours from Paris by high speed train, and a short distance from Switzerland and Italy. With a student population of 60,000, and as a hub of commerce and high-tech research, Grenoble is also a dynamic city abounding with opportunities for students focused both on French-language and business studies. 

Students can study abroad in Grenoble at the Centre Universitaire d’Études Françaises (CUEF) at Université Stendhal Grenoble III. The Université Stendhal – Grenoble III was established in 1339 and is one of the oldest in Europe. The university is well-known for its programs for foreigners learning French, and has welcomed foreign students from all over the world for over a century.  

Curriculum

The French Intensive Program, offered through the CUEF, is open to students at all language levels (although Pacific students of course will need at least one year of college-level preparation, or the equivalent of FREN 202 if they are French majors). In the Intensive Program students complete a comprehensive French language course that focuses on writing, oral expression and pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Students spend three hours a day in class and one hour a day in the language lab.

The French Language and Culture Studies Program is designed to help students who want to improve their written and spoken French (via grammar, vocabulary and language activities), as well as increase their knowledge of various areas of French culture and civilization including literature, history, cinema, arts, politics and economics, and business. The program is open to students with a minimum of 4 semesters of college-level French, or completion of the equivalent of FREN 202 and provides three levels based on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages): intermediate, advanced and superior. Students are able to earn 16-18 credits per semester depending on their language level.

Housing and Meals

Participants in the Grenoble program have two housing options: a homestay, in which they will be have their own room and be provided with two meals (breakfast and dinner) per day as well as laundry service; or a student residence, in which they live with other international, American, and French students. With this latter option, students have a single room, with either a kitchenette in their room or access to a shared kitchen on their floor, and are responsible for their own meals.

Excursions

The Grenoble program offers a wide range of excursions to students. In fall: Annecy, Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, Chartreuse; in spring: Burgundy, the Cote D’Azur, Grottes de Choranche (caves), Lyon and Paris; Strasbourg and Colmar, and Paris. Overnight lodging, breakfast, entrance fees and transportation to and from the excursion locations are included.

Requirements

Minimum GPA : 2.75

Language : Must have completed level 102* of college French.

*For students fulfilling the requirements of a language major or minor, or the International Studies major, the completion of 201 or equivalent in the appropriate language is required prior to beginning the program. 

Must have attended Pacific University full-time for at least one semester.

Important Dates

  • Advising Appointment : During Fall Semester
  • Application Deadline : February 10

Program Dates :

  • Late August until late May

More Information

Grenoble Program

API information for Pacific students