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Study Abroad | Grenoble

France | Université Grenoble Alpes | Summer 2024
Two students on top of a mountain overlooking Grenoble, France.

Overview

Spend a summer in the scenic city of Grenoble, France with AIFS! Choose from a variety of course options offered by Université Grenoble Alpes, an innovative university with more than 60,000 students. Located on the outskirts of Grenoble at Saint-Martin-d’Hères, the campus offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, a climbing wall and stunning views of the French Alps. 

What’s Included

The AIFS inclusive program fee includes all of the great features below in addition to many pre-departure, on-site and upon-return services to help students make the most of their time abroad.

Review Our Policies
  • Tuition

    5 semester credits

  • Courses

    Courses offered in French language

  • Housing

    Homestay with a French family. Additional housing options are available, see Optional Components for more details

  • Meals

    Breakfast and dinner with host family

  • Excursions & Day Trips

    to places of local interest such as: Annecy or Lyon, Chartreuse and Vercors

  • Cultural & Social Activities

    Walking tours, excursions, visits to museums, wine and cheese tastings, hiking in the mountains, visits to local markets, trip to Château de Vizille

  • On-Site Program Director

    to help with any questions or advice you may need throughout the program

  • Health & Safety

    24/7 emergency support and comprehensive insurance
  • Personal/Professional Development

    Access to the renowned Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment and alumni network
  • Green Initiative

Additional Options & Opportunities

Program Details: Study Abroad | Grenoble French Language

Dates

May 30, 2024June 29, 2024

Term

Summer

Institution

Université Grenoble Alpes

Application Deadline

April 1, 2024

Inclusive Fees

$5,890

Eligibility

Open to High School Graduate, First Year, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Non-Student

Minimum of 2.5 GPA

Additional requirements may vary by course selection. See Academic section below.

Visa Requirements

A visa may be required for this program. Please contact your advisor or log into your portal for more information.

Areas of Interest

  • Foreign Language
  • French Language

Global Themes

  • Language, History and Culture
Learn More About Global Themes

Academics

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

Grenoble is one of the most sought-after universities in France and has an international reputation for excellence. It is dedicated to maintaining, developing and increasing its reputation for research, innovation and diversity. The university has been voted the 8th most attractive campus by Times Higher Education. 

  • Foreign Language
  • French Language

All students take a French language course for 5 credits. The aim of this intensive course, at all levels, is to develop both written and oral expression and comprehension by working on grammar and vocabulary while simultaneously learning about French life and culture. Professors provide a wide range of authentic and varied language activities based on newspapers, advertisements, texts from well-known authors, local and national media and films. 

Classes meet 5 days a week for 4 hours a day (3 classroom hours and one hour of language laboratory) for a total of 20 hours per week. Classes are small (maximum 16) to encourage active student participation. An on-line placement test is sent directly from the CUEF to all students prior to arrival in Grenoble in order to determine the appropriate language level. Levels are confirmed after arrival in Grenoble. Students are advised to gain pre-approval for several different levels of French in order to ensure that they receive credit for the level they test into.

Attendance is required. In accordance with Université Grenoble Alpes regulations, students absent from classes without prior authorization may not be eligible to take exams or may be awarded lower or failing grades. Total hours attended in language classes are recorded on the université transcript in addition to continual assessment grades awarded during the program. 

Grades The system used at all levels of education in France is based on a scale of 20. Exceptional students usually earn between 14 and 16, which is equivalent to a U.S. B+ or A, while grades of 17 and above are rare. A grade of 12 or 13 is good, and equivalent to a B; an average of 10 represents work that merits promotion or the conferral of a diploma and is a U.S. C grade. Grading is usually more competitive than in the U.S. No AIFS student is permitted to take a course without receiving a grade. Pass/Fail options are not available. 

Student support The Program Director provides advice on academic, cultural and local life. She also serves as a liaison between students, the university and host families. 

Transcripts are issued by the Université Grenoble Alpes. An official transcript will be sent directly to the student’s home university on completion of the program. 

View All Courses For French Language
AIFS Abroad students in Grenoble, France.

Living Abroad

Homestay Family

A rewarding way to learn French, gain a unique and personal insight into French culture and integrate into the local community.

  • Daily breakfast and dinner
  • Single room with study area and a shared bathroom
  • Access to laundry facilities

Optional Student Residence ($395)

Live independently in a centrally located residence with French and international students.

  • Studio-style single room with private kitchen and bathroom
  • Laundry facilities, work out space and communal lounge available
  • The residence has no cafeteria service. Students need to prepare all their own meals.

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Grenoble.

Geography

Grenoble lies at the crossroads between the valleys and the mountains which comprise the Dauphiné region. The “Capital of the Alps”, dominated by majestic mountains such as Chartreuse, Belledonne and Vercors, provides the ideal location for those who enjoy the outdoors. 

Tourism

From Roman times to the 1968 Winter Olympics and on to today, Grenoble has attracted visitors from all over the world. 

Attractions

With its 200,000 inhabitants, Grenoble is small enough to feel like a town, but large enough to offer all the amenities of a busy city (cultural festivals, theaters, museums).

AIFS in Grenoble Director, Summer Program

Miranda Rea headshot.

Miranda Rea

Bonjour! After obtaining my degree in England I joined AIFS in the London office in 1989. I moved to France in 1990 and have been the Program Director here in Grenoble since the fall of 1994. I’m here to provide support, encouragement and a friendly face to you during your stay in Grenoble. I know a great deal about the culture, language and lifestyle of France and am looking forward to sharing it with you! I choose the families with whom AIFS students stay with great care.

When I am not working, I love swimming, participating in local activities, walking my dog and enjoying French cuisine. I am also a bit of a traveler myself; I spent a year as a volunteer and teacher in Zambia, Africa.

You’ll find Grenoble to be a wonderful city and I’m here to help you out with any questions you may have.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of French culture, a wealth of cultural activities and excursions are included in your program fee. The climate in Grenoble is usually ideal in June for outdoor activities. The Program Director organizes a variety of activities which may include:

  • Walking tours of Grenoble
  • Discovering Grenoble by cable car
  • Visits to local museums such as:
    • Musée de Grenoble
    • Musée Archéologique Saint Laurent
    • Musée Dauphinois
    • Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation
  • Cuisine class
  • Wine and cheese tasting class
  • Visit to Chartreuse museum
  • Hiking in the local mountains
  • Group picnics/visits to local markets
  • French movie
  • Trip to Château de Vizille (birthplace of the French Revolution)
  • Day excursions to local places of interest such as:
    • Annecy
    • Lyon
    • Chartreuse
    • Vercors
  • Farewell dinner

Please note that students may pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.

Excursions

This program offers a range of day trips and excursions that will take you outside Grenoble and deepen your social, historical and cultural understanding of France. Previous excursions have included:

A street in Provence, France.

Provence

Sightseeing visits to Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence, Avignon, the Palace of the Popes and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Includes round-trip transportation, hotel accommodations and one group dinner. 

  • France
  • 2 Days
  • $595
Barcelona,Spain
A group of happy students at a carnival.
A view of Prague.

Social identity & access

One of the best things you can do before departure is enter into the journey knowing that your time abroad will be unique to this experience. The resources, community, and support available to you when abroad will likely be different as well. In order to help you prepare for your experience, we have compiled many resources about social identity and access in specific locations abroad. Your program staff will also provide you with more details pre-departure and during orientation.

Learn more

Important Dates & Deadlines

Request Info

Open

Dates & Deadlines

Details

  • Early Application Deadline*
  • Application Deadline
    April 1, 2024
  • Deposit Deadline
    March 20, 2024
  • Scholarship Deadline
    March 1, 2024
  • Visa Deadline****
  • Optional Departure Flight from US***
    May 29, 2024
  • Program Begins
    May 30, 2024
  • Program Ends
    June 29, 2024
  • Optional Return Flight to US***
    June 29, 2024
  • *** Included for students on AIFS flight package.
  • **** AIFS Abroad offers visa processing services to applicants who enroll into the program by this date. All other applicants who enroll after this date will be responsible for securing their own visa with guidance from AIFS Abroad.

Optional Flight Package

Students can select an optional transportation package for all AIFS programs. Students who choose to book their own flights should meet up with group at the program location and will need to make their own ground transportation arrangements.

Below are fees by departure city based on average historical costs and subject to change. If you select this option on your application, the total flight package price will be confirmed in your account 6 months prior to departure. (Program fee is guaranteed.)

Depature City

Fee

  • Atlanta
    $2,180
  • Boston
    $2,100
  • Buffalo
    $2,120
  • Charlotte
    $2,320
  • Chicago
    $2,280
  • Cincinnati
    $2,360
  • Columbus
    $2,160
  • Dallas
    $2,380
  • Denver
    $2,560
  • Des Moines
    $2,300
  • Detroit
    $2,300
  • Houston
    $2,320
  • Los Angeles
    $2,160
  • Miami
    $2,280
  • Minneapolis
    $2,220
  • New York
    $1,960
  • Newark
    $1,460
  • Orlando
    $2,220
  • Philadelphia
    $2,220
  • Phoenix
    $2,420
  • Pittsburgh
    $2,100
  • Raleigh/Durham
    $2,260
  • San Francisco
    $2,200
  • Seattle
    $2,460
  • St. Louis
    $1,800
  • Washington/Dulles
    $1,760
  • View more View less

See what others are saying

Two students walking in a field.

Ready to Study Abroad in Grenoble?

For more dates or questions, contact your program consultant:
(203) 399-5163 or email: aifsabroad@aifs.com