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Study Abroad | Grenoble
Summer 2024: Academics

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Acadmics Overview

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

Program Options

Program Name Early Start Available Credits Notes
French Language
Early Start Available: No Credits: 5 semester credits

Take a French language course for 5 credits. 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 online 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. Grading is usually more competitive than in the U.S.

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 Resident 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.

Eligibility Notes

No previous French language experience required.

French Language

Academic Credit & Transcripts

Credit Transfer

As a part of the AIFS application for semester programs, you will complete a Course Approval Form, which will be signed off by your study abroad office staff and/or faculty at your university.

For J Term/Summer programs, no such approval form is needed; however, students are still responsible for ensuring credit can be brought back from their overseas program.
In any case, we recommend getting additional courses approved in case you need to change courses while abroad.

Overseas universities do not use the credit system employed by American institutions. AIFS students must make special arrangements to transfer credits, but since AIFS courses are given at recognized universities or the AIFS Centers (which are transcripted by Fairfield University), there usually is no difficulty in arranging transfer credit toward U.S. degrees provided the proper procedure is followed.

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

Many of the European institutions that AIFS works with award credits under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). ECTS enables cooperating institutions to measure and compare a student’s performance and facilitates the transfer of credits from the European institution to the U.S institution.

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Language levels are defined according to the CEFR and will be listed on your transcript on completion of the program. CEFR organizes language proficiency into six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) which can be regrouped into three broad levels according to the needs of the local institution: Beginner: A1, A2/U.S. Level 100; Intermediate: B1, B2/U.S. Level 200-300; Advanced: C1, C2/U.S. Level 400

Transcripts

When you complete your program, an official transcript is sent to your home institution directly from AIFS Abroad or the host university. Another official transcript may be retained by AIFS Abroad in Stamford, but this is not the case for all programs. Please contact transcripts@aifs.com to find out how to request additional transcripts. 
 
Generally, your school should receive your transcript 60 days after completion of the program. (Cannes Semester programs, Perth, Sydney, Dublin, Limerick, and Wellington Programs exception: Transcripts issued and retained by the host universities. Transcripts for the Cannes Semester programs are issued by Chapman University.)
 
Transcripts may come without an English-language translation, so participants will need to organize translations with their home university.

Academic Records

Credit assessment methods in overseas universities may not be comparable to those in U.S. universities. Grading may involve exams, papers, individual projects, class discussion or some combination of these. Although academic institutions abroad may grade on a variety of scales, admissions counselors and registrars at U.S. institutions are familiar with international grading systems and can convert grades.

Course Selection

AIFS Program Advisors are available to assist you in the process. The following procedure is recommended:

Read course descriptions for the selected program and select courses. Obtain approval from your academic or study abroad advisor for the preliminary courses selected. Final approval of credit transfer for completed courses is at the discretion of the Registrar or appropriate official at the home institution. Students must ascertain that courses taken meet their individual academic program requirements. Recommended credits in this catalog are based on 15 classroom hours per semester credit.

I would absolutely recommend this program. The trip has been such a positive experience. Wonderful program!

AIFS has a lot to offer. The more I talked to American students from other programs, the more I realized that AIFS was clearly the best choice

This program opened my eyes to a culture and society I knew very little about. I made great friends and had a fabulous time during the process. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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