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French Education Abroad Guide

French Flag, Eiffel Tower and landscape in Paris, France
CU Boulder Education Abroad offers over 400 programs in over 70 countries! You can go abroad for a semester, year, 2-12 weeks in the summer, or even winter break. Going abroad is strongly encouraged by the French department. Use the following information as a general guideline to plan your time abroad, and connect with your academic advisor as well. Work with Education Abroad advisors to get more details on how to get started, discuss your program options, and next steps. 

Quick Facts

  • Junior year is the most common year to study abroad as a French major.
  • The most common degree requirements taken abroad are upper-division FREN electives, certain Gen Ed courses, and general elective hours
  • Use the Course Approvals List to find programs that offer courses approved for the credit you need

Planning and When to Go

  • First-year: Start planning for study abroad! Start progression with the language sequence courses as soon as you can.
  • Sophomore: Continue with your language progression and reach the 3000-level as soon as possible. Study abroad during sophomore year is less common, but possible. If you plan to take any required language, writing or literature courses abroad, make sure that the courses are pre-approved. Also, be aware of the language placement test that is usually required upon arrival abroad (if you place lower than anticipated, you course plans might be impacted). Save your upper-division electives for study abroad if possible.
  • Junior: Go abroad! This is a good year for study abroad as you will likely be finished with the 3000-level sequence and better able to communicate in the language abroad.
  • Senior: Study abroad as a senior is only recommended if you have already complete all required language courses and 4100-level courses (or have a realistic plan to finish them upon return in your final semester).Work closely with your advisor to ensure that you can get all of your requirements completed.
    Be sure that you know when the credits may be transcripted, as this can delay your official graduation date.

What Kind of Credit Can You Earn Abroad?

Usually Doable Tricky Probably Not
General Electives  A&S Gen Ed FREN A&S Gen Ed FREN A&S Gen Ed FREN
Overall credit hours  Arts and Humanities, Natural Science (Non-Lab), Social Sciences Upper-division FREN electives
 		 Global Diversity FREN 3050, 3060, 3100 Natural Science (Lab), Written Communication 4000 level-course FREN courses
 

Suggested Programs

Use these links to find programs that may be a good match for you and your course needs.
   

Additional Resources

Last Updated March 2023