The Year Abroad in France

Options and Information

1. Assistantships
2. Universities
3. Other Language Courses
4. Other Employment
5. Living in France
6. Useful contacts
7. Modern Languages Year Abroad Database
8. FAQs

1. Assistantships

Mostly administered by the British Council (www.britishcouncil.org), but also one run by the Andorran government for students of French/Spanish/Catalan, (for details, please click here) as well as a few private arrangements (contact Dr Jane Hiddleston for details of these). The following information relates to British Council Language Assistantships.

Application method: on-line application procedure opens 15 October at
http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistants-ela-how-do-i-apply.htm
You will need to obtain a reference from your tutor and have your medical certificate signed by the college doctor (for which you'll need an appointment), so allow sufficient time before the end-of-November submission deadline.

Application guidance: be meticulous in completing the forms – this is a job application; research carefully where you want to go, and what you want to do:

Where...

choose between mainland France, outre-mer (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyane Française, La Réunion), Belgium, Canada, Switzerland (age between 21 and 30), bearing in mind potential sense of isolation in more distant areas, climate (e.g. long, extreme winters in Canada), possible rurality;
choose which ‘region’ (académie), stating three areas of preference. Bear in mind that académies, though they are called after towns/cities (e.g. Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux), cover large areas, so you might find yourself in a rural location with limited public transport. Research your preferred areas thoroughly: you are asked to state reasons for your choices on the application, and these reasons are read carefully by the British Council selection panel. Competition is stiff for places in Paris, the south of France and outre-mer. The British Council state that 90% of successful applicants get one of their three preferred areas.

What..

primary school teaching: contracts of 7 or 9 months, 12 hours per week (sometimes spread across three or four schools). For a 7-month contract you will be organizing oral/aural activities on your own with small groups of pupils (up to 15), or will be working alongside the teacher with the whole class present. For a 9-month contract you will be expected to take classes of 30 on your own, follow the national curriculum with minimal supervision, and be responsible for the pupils’ progress throughout the year. Teaching hours may be spread across two or three local schools.
secondary school teaching: contracts of 7 months, 12 hours per week.
teacher training college (IUFM): contracts of 6 months. Priority given to graduate Assistants.

Timetable

Apply in November; provisional allocation to region (‘académie’) is notified in April/May; final posting (specific school(s)) comes through between June and September (if your application is held on a waiting list, your posting may not be released until September/October)

Advantages

defined place in school & local community.
regular income, and possibilities of extra private tuition within your school.
accommodation often provided (not in Paris).
only 12 hrs max, so free time (inc. school holidays) for study, sport, travel etc.
huge personal and professional development (confidence, communication, decision-making, managerial skills, intercultural awareness etc).
extremely well resourced and supported by the British Council (e.g. practical information about insurance, guidance on teaching practice, on-line forum for exchanging teaching ideas whilst you’re out there).
benefit from Erasmus status, including tuition fee waiver and placement grant. NB In order to benefit, Assistantships must be of minimum 7-month duration and Assistants must be UK residents undertaking Assistanships in an EU member state, EEA or Turkey.

A few things to consider

you have to apply for an académie, and cannot specify a particular town or city in that region - be willing to accept what you're allocated.
may be in a little town some distance from a commercial centre, though some people enjoy this sense of immersion in a smaller community.
the school atmosphere may be very different from that in the UK - be prepared to adapt to this.

2. Universities

Whatever type of course you pursue, you will find French universities very different from Oxford or, indeed, from other UK institutions. You will receive much less personal attention and will find in most places that the university environment ‘empties’ at weekends, as the majority of students return home. French universities contain very many English-speaking students, many of whom are just like you on their Year Abroad. You will therefore find yourself having to make a positive effort to break away from an English-speaking environment.

Exchange schemes

Oxford has few formal links with French universities (given the practical difficulties of integrating incoming students into the Collegiate tutorial system for a single year). There are currently three ERASMUS exchange schemes organized through the Sub-Faculty:

with Paris-IV Sorbonne: 6-9 places to study subjects across the humanities.
with Sciences Po (one of the Grandes Écoles): 2 places to study economics, politics, international relations.
École Normale Supérieure - Lettres et Sciences Humaines (one of the Grandes Écoles): 1 place to study subjects across literature, languages, and social science.

A call for applications will be issued in November. You will be required to write a statement in French of 300-350 words, explaining why it is that you wish to continue your studies in France. In assessing the statement, the panel will consider how the candidate has developed her/his motivation for spending a year studying in France, the evidence they give to support their reasons and intentions for doing so, and the way they have used their language to express this. You should also request a reference from your College tutor (allowing them sufficient time to write it before the deadline). Your statement and your reference should be submitted, together, to the Faculty Year Abroad Officer, 41 Wellington Square. The deadline for submission will be noon on Friday of Week 1 in Hilary Term.

Erasmus Exchange tutor reference form (Word)

Certain Colleges have individual formal links with universities – ask your tutor.

Individual university applications

Many students apply individually to a variety of universities, benefiting from the low tuition fee (under £200). Within France, very positive reports have been received from those studying at Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyons, Montpellier, Nice and Tours. Outre-mer, students have enjoyed their time at Brussels, Quebec and Tunis.

Sources of information: a variety of very good on-line resources are available to guide you through the options available. See especially:

www.edufrance.fr (contains descriptions of courses at all French universities, as well as practical information to help foreign students during their stay in France; it also has information on accommodation).
www.cnous.fr (centre national des oeuvres universitaires et scolaires; known as ‘le portail institutionnel de la vie étudiante’).
www.ambafrance-uk.org/Studying-in-France.html (UK French Embassy’s list of recommended websites).

You should also consult the websites of individual universities, and will need to set aside serious time to do this research and prepare your application.

Application: over the past two years the application process has changed. Formerly, there was a standard application form supplied by the French Embassy; whilst a few universities still use this (available from the Faculty Office), most have their own individual procedures. Take time to research these carefully: perseverance will be required to navigate your way through their websites and discover what documents/certificates you are required to produce: usually your A-Level (or equivalent) results and your birth certificate, of which certified French translations are requested alongside the originals. Ask the Faculty Year Abroad Officer (Ms Catherine Pillonel) about obtaining translations.

Courses of study: all university application forms will require you to select in which UFR you wish to study. UFR (‘unité de formation et de recherche’) is the French term for university department. Most students select Lettres, and may well pursue a course called Lettres modernes, which includes some classical civilisation and also the opportunity to pick up a new language. You can, of course, choose another department, such as History, Art History or another foreign language. If you have a choice, ask to be admitted into the second year rather than the first (and even then the level will be lower than you are accustomed to). Check with your tutor that you have completed the form correctly.

Timetable: this will depend upon the individual university, but a sample timetable might be: on-line application due February; acceptance and pre-registration in April, usually possible by post; full registration in September, in advance of the start of term in October. It is essential that you are present in person for this registration, as it not possible to register later on, and you have to sign up for courses at this time also (i.e. academic registration as well as administrative registration). Some universities require you to present yourself in person in July, which is a good opportunity to fix up accommodation in advance.

3. Other language courses

The main disadvantage of such courses is that they are expensive; consult your College about possible financial contribution. There are, however, several advantages:

more intensive language work.
can be organized at short notice.
can be arranged for shorter periods of time (e.g. during vacations). Potentially of interest to two-language students who have spent the majority of their year in the ‘first’ country and are looking for a short period of immersion in the ‘second’ language.

Particular courses and organizations worth noting:

University of London Institute in Paris for semester- or year-long courses in French language and a variety of specialized options, such as Commercial French, French Film, French Painting in the 19th and 20th centuries, Paris: development and representation of the town: www.bip.lon.ac.uk.
cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne: primarily a (monolingual) language course despite the name, extremely well organized, high standard, top academics, no concessions to non-native speakers, less expensive than some, though populated by many English speakers: www.ccfs-sorbonne.fr.
university language institutes, e.g. Institut de Touraine (Tours), Institut Catholique de Paris, Montpellier, Pau etc.
Grandes Écoles: elite higher education institutions, often devoted to a particular subject with access reserved for graduate students (www.cge.asso.fr). Difficult for foreign students who are not on established programmes to gain access, although Sciences Po does now accept foreign undergraduates. For EU tax residents there is a sliding scale of means tested fees, from € 0 to € 5000: www.sciences-po.fr.

4. Other employment

You might want to choose to get a job for the following reasons:

intensive activity.
provides a structured existence.
supplies a salary.
employment sector related to your future aspirations after university.

You should also bear in mind the following potential drawbacks:

possible exploitation: activity limited to simple administrative tasks, long hours allowing no time to study or socialize.
risk being stuck in an English-language environment, or being accorded only English-related tasks.
difficult to set up employment well in advance, so a risk of ending up with nothing.

You will therefore need to be confident and assertive to benefit most from such experiences.

Stages

A popular type of employment is a work placement or stage. The world of French business has an established system of stages (which forms a formal requirement of many university programmes for French students). The employer offers work experience, which can often be of a quite sophisticated kind, and the employee receives a modest remuneration: www.infostages.com

The stage is governed by a formal agreement known as a convention de stage, which is signed by the employer, the employee (i.e. you), and a representative of your home university. To download a copy of this form, please click on the link below (please note that this form is in PDF format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, freely available from the Adobe website):

Convention de stage form (pdf)

It is your responsibility (after consulting, where necessary, with your prospective employer) to fill out all the form in its entirety, including headings 1 and 4, and to sign at the bottom. You then need to take or to send the form to Ms Catherine Pillonel, Faculty Year Abroad Officer, 41 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JF. She will ensure that the form is signed and stamped on behalf of the University and return it to you. The convention de stage will be valid only once it has also been signed by the employer. When this has been done, please send a copy of the convention to the Faculty Year Abroad Office - and don’t forget to keep a copy for yourself!

Researching employment

Finding a job or internship comes down to individual initiative and careful research. The most valuable source of information throughout the year is the Faculty Weekly Round-Up e-bulletin, but you can also learn of openings by asking returning Finalists, your College tutor, or personal contacts. Other sources of information include:

University Careers Service (56 Banbury Road).
UK French Embassy.
local French chamber of commerce, by a town-twinning link (e.g. Oxford-Grenoble).

Think of approaching different organizations directly, making use of prior work experience or personal skills:

firms with international offices (banks e.g. Abbey National, investment e.g. Schroders, insurance e.g. Aviva, law e.g. Slaughter and May, accountancy/management e.g. Accenture).
department stores/fashion houses/cosmetic groups e.g. Le Printemps, L’Oréal
IT market analysis e.g. Groupe Bull.
translation agencies or translation for businesses e.g. LCI (‘Linguistique Communication Informatique’).

5. Living in France

Accommodation

Once you’ve decided on your course of study or employment, finding accommodation is probably your major concern. Recent assistants and university students have suggested the following tips:

Sources of information: accommodation details may be found on various recommended websites

www.languageassistant.co.uk (tips on where to look if your school is unable to help).
www.casaswap.com (international youth and student accommodation network; linked from main UK Erasmus website).
www.colocation.fr (shared accommodation; small subscription payable to benefit).
www.appartager.fr (from all resources; cover France, Canada, Switzerland etc.).
www.cnous.fr (has regional offshoots – CROUS – providing area by area information on cheap student restaurants, cultural activities, part-time jobs etc.).
www.fusac.fr (magazine of classified advertisements aimed at the English-speaking communities of Paris and its environs).
www.geocities.com/johanna.pfadt (website established by an Oxford ML student to help Year Abroad students find jobs with Paris-based families (au pair work, language teaching, etc.) in return for accommodation).

However, you will need to be sur place in order to secure a room/flat i.e. to look round it (NB note carefully whether or not it is furnished), to meet your landlord/landlady (if you’re renting a room in someone’s house) or flatmates (who will, of course, want to meet you). Sharing accommodation – whether with a family or flatmates – is obviously advantageous for your spoken language. Most people find they need to allow a week to secure accommodation, and that this week will involve much running around to view possible places. You may be required to pay a month’s – or even two months’ – rent as deposit, so you need to make sure you take sufficient funds out with you to tide you over during this initial period (i.e. accommodation and subsistence whilst your room/flat-hunting, deposit and subsistence for the first month until you receive your first pay cheque, if you are earning). However, once you’re set up in accommodation,you may be eligible for rent rebate (aide au logement étudiant) from the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (www.caf.fr).

Personal finance

Banking: unless you are in France for only a brief period, you will find yourself needing a French bank account. Shop around before committing yourself, and ask returning Finalists for advice and guidance on avoiding extra charges that you don’t need to incur. Find out if your own UK bank has connections with a French bank, and whether this may be advantageous for you.
Financial support: you continue to receive your loan entitlement whilst abroad, but may also wish to explore other funding opportunities, especially if you will not be earning during your Year Abroad.
your own College’s travel grants and bursaries.
Junior Heath Harrison Travelling Scholarships (typically £500 to £1000): for details and application procedure, please click here.
Faculty Year Abroad Travel Hardship Fund: for details and application procedure, please click here.
bourse schemes available from the university to which you are applying e.g. Sciences-Po.
CAF rent rebate whilst you are resident in France.

Travel

As an Assistant or as a student, you will find yourself with plenty of time for travel and exploration. Investing in a Carte 12-25 (www.12-25-sncf.com/carte), costing around 50 euros, will assure you of at least a 25% (and up to a 50%) reduction in rail fares.

Socializing

Since you are out in France in order to develop your spoken French, you’ll be looking for all possible opportunities to speak it:

staying in a French family.
getting to know colleagues at your school, if you’re an assistant.
joining clubs or classes (as advertised, for example, in Fusac) to meet people who share a common interest.
doing voluntary work or part-time employment, from private language tuition to helping out at an animal shelter.
Several websites offer opportunities for meeting French-speaking people. Those recommended by previous students include:
- www.etudier-en-france.org (site divided into major towns, with forums and the option of posting invitations to meet people).
- www.cosmolyon.com (example of a local organization aimed at promoting links between French and international students).

6. Useful contacts

for general enquiries, administrative questions, and co-ordination between sub-faculties, please contact the Faculty Year Abroad Officer, Catherine Pillonel: year-abroad@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk.
for general enquiries specifically related to French, please contact the Sub-Faculty Administrative Assistant, Catherine Pillonel: catherine.pillonel@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk.
for more precise and detailed questions related to French, please contact the Sub-Faculty Year Abroad Officers, Dr Hiddleston: jane.hiddleston@exeter.ox.ac.uk (assistantships and work placements) and Dr Yee: jennifer.yee@chch.ox.ac.uk (Erasmus exchanges and other university courses).

7. Modern Languages Year Abroad database

https://hermes2.mml.ox.ac.uk/yrabroad

Planning your Year Abroad

This searchable facility lists information about past students’ experiences of the Year Abroad, detailing destination, type of activity, accommodation, funding provision etc. As well as presenting data, it also contains students’ evaluations of their experience, and may enable you to contact them in person to learn more about a specific location/job etc.

Returning from your Year Abroad

Submit your Year Abroad report electronically, using the link above, to share your experiences with other students.

8. FAQs

Q I really don’t know where to start; there’s just so much information…

It’s helpful to start by asking yourself some questions to focus your mind on what you want to get out of your Year Abroad:

how can I best gain practical experience of the French language and culture?
how can I use this Year Abroad to contribute to my personal development i.e. which activity will suit me?
how might I gain useful skills and experience for my professional development?

More concretely, you might think, for example, whether there is any particular place you want to go. If you are really stuck, work it out backwards i.e. ‘is there anything I definitely don’t want to do?’

Q I’m reading all the information and would like to research certain possibilities further by talking with people who’ve experienced them. How do I do this?

Refer to the Modern Languages Year Abroad Database where you will be able to search by country past students’ destinations and activities, discover their evaluations of their experiences, and potentially contact them in person to talk further.

Q I’ve read all the information, but am not certain what I want to do; whom should I contact to discuss things?

Your College tutor is your first point of contact for this sort of discussion. If you have specific queries your tutor will direct you to contact the Sub-Faculty Year Abroad Officers. For general administrative queries that are not language specific, contact the Faculty Year Abroad Officer.For more general queries relating to French, contact the French Administrative Assistant.

Q I’ve been told that I’m supposed to complete some paperwork for the Faculty about my Year Abroad; what does this entail?

There are two documents you need to complete. First, before you go abroad, you should download and complete the Year Abroad Agreement Form. This must be returned to your College tutor by the end of 7th Week of the Trinity Term preceding your departure.

Second, when you return, you should complete an electronic report on your experiences in the Modern Languages Year Abroad Database. (NB This has replaced the Year Abroad Report Form.)

Q Friends who have graduated tell me that there’s just one, standard application form for French universities; is this still the case?

No. As of 2005-6 the system changed. Whilst it is true that some universities in France do still use this form (which can be obtained from the Faculty Year Abroad Officer), most now have their own, individual admissions systems for overseas students. This often requires careful navigation of each university website since you will be in a minority category of non-ERASMUS international applicants.

Q How do I go about applying for the ERASMUS exchanges?

There will be a call for applications in the second half of Michaelmas Term, and again just after Christmas. The deadline for submission is noon on Friday of 1st Week of Hilary Term).

Q I’m interested in applying for the ERASMUS Sorbonne exchange, but know there are only a few places so fear I won’t get selected; can I apply to the British Council for an assistantship as a ‘back-up’?

This is not good practice. Universities rely on the goodwill and support of the British Council to make the Assistantship scheme work. If you do, for unforeseen and genuine reasons, find yourself needing to withdraw, be courteous in your dealings with the British Council.

Q I quite like the sound of Assistantships, but I’m hoping to enter management consultancy after university, so would my professional development be better aided by trying to get a work placement?

Myth: Assistantships are only for people interested in becoming teachers. The value that is placed by possible employers on the skills developed by being an Assistant has now been recognized officially, as the British Council offer a QAA approved accreditation for the Assistantship for universities where students have a personal development profile.

Q I’d really like to be an Assistant, but have spent much of my childhood abroad; my friend is a non-UK citizen but grew up in the UK. Is either of us eligible?

The principal eligibility criterion is being a native-level English speaker who has sufficient cultural awareness of the UK in order to fulfil the role of an Assistant, who may also be seen as a sort of cultural ambassador for the UK. For example, you might be teaching students about the British system of government or British newspapers, so you need yourself to be aware of these. The British Council’s precise rules for eligibility concerning nationality are:

if you have a UK passport and have grown up/been educated abroad, you may be eligible. You are interviewed to test your cultural background knowledge.
if you have any other EU or non-EU passport, you must have grown up/been educated in the UK.
If you have any doubts about your eligibility, the British Council advise that you contact them to check before your apply.

Q What happens to my fee payment and loan entitlement during my Year Abroad?

If you are spending the full academic year on an Erasmus university placement, or are a British Council Assistant benefiting from Erasmus status (i.e. UK resident and placement of 7 months or more), you do not pay any UK tuition fees for that year. Otherwise, you pay half the normal tuition fee. You are entitled to your full student loan whatever activity you engage in during the year (i.e. whether you’re earning or not earning, Erasmus or non-Erasmus).

Q Do I need a carte de séjour?

As of 2003 EU citizens are no longer required to obtain a residence permit; an EU passport suffices. Do carry some form of identification with you at all times whilst abroad.