Office of Study Abroad and Study Away Programs

FRANCE, The University of Bourgogne and the Centre International d'Etudes Francaises (CIEF), Dijon

map of France

Program Location: Dijon, France
Duration: Spring, or Year
Program Dates:
Year: August 31– May 30
Spring: TBD

Flights should be not be booked based on the dates above. It is recommended to wait until the program has issued specific arrival information.

Map courtesy of CIA World Factbook


Program Overview

The University of Bourgogne and the CIEF offer full-year or spring-semester programs. The University of Bourgogne is located in the southeastern section of Dijon, and is located less than two hours southeast of Paris by train. Dijon is the capital of the Burgundy province, world-renowned for its wines and picturesque countryside. It is also home to a well-preserved medieval town and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Students may enroll at the CIEF, which offers courses in French language and civilization for international students, or, if you have a high degree of proficiency in French, you may choose to combine courses at the CIEF with regular courses (beyond the Theme and Version course) for French students at the University of Bourgogne. Courses for Clark credit at the University are available in a number of academic areas. The language of instruction for all courses is French. In general, students should have completed a minimum of two years of university-level French or the equivalent.

Students have the option to live with a French family or in residential housing

The University is divided into three Facultes (Colleges) and two 15-week semesters. The Fall semester begins in October and ends in January, while the Spring semester runs from mid-February to early June. After careful academic planning before departure, all students begin the Dijon program with an orientation. Full-year students will participate in a one-month orientation program at the CIEF before the academic year begins in October. Spring students take a two-week intensive orientation in January.

Clark Credit

Participating students receive four units per semester, provided all coursework is completed, all required exams are taken, and final papers are submitted. Full-year students taking courses at the University of Bourgogne will enroll in Thème and Version courses for the entire academic year. Along with these courses, students can choose two or three others each semester; courses are available in law, political science, economics, communications, languages, history, philosophy, art history, music, geography, psychology, sociology, and education.

Eligibility

Clark requires that prior to departure for your study abroad program, you must have been in residence at Clark for at least one year. You must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of a 3.0 and good standing in the Clark community (not on academic or social probation at the time of application or thereafter). Before participating in study abroad, you must have declared a major, and as a rule, must have junior-class standing. In order to be considered, you must complete the full application by the appropriate deadline. Your application will be reviewed by that Study Abroad committee, and if approved, final admission by CIEF and The University of Bourgogne is required. Applications may be rejected for any number of reasons by the overseas program.

Program Costs

Your student account will be billed for Clark tuition each semester that you are abroad, and Clark will pay your tuition/academic fees to the CIEF. You will be billed by the CIEF directly for your housing. Books, non-academic fees, visa, and travel expenses are your responsibility. If you are a financial aid recipient, you should continue to receive financial aid. However, be sure to check with the Office of Financial Assistance to see if there will be any changes in your financial aid package. You will not be able to receive Work-Study money while you are abroad.

You will receive an invoice from Clark's Student Accounts Department, indicating that the tuition payment will be due by mid-December for the spring. The exact due date will appear on your bill. Failure to satisfy your financial obligation to Clark University by the due date may result in your withdrawal from the program. Failure to satisfy your financial obligations to your host institution may result in no transcript being issued for your participation in their program. Once Clark University has informed CIEF that a student has confirmed their place in the program, Clark is liable for the student's deposit and program fee. If a student then withdraws from the program, the student will be subject to CIEF’s refund policy.

You are responsible for all of your personal expenses and for your pocket money while abroad. Studying abroad always generates additional and unexpected expenses. There might be a whole array of expenses for studying in Dijon, including the gym, clubs, computers, laundry, transportation, books, cell phones, etc. These fees vary from year to year and we recommend that you check the website of your host institution to see if further information is available. Any additional expenses related to individual courses are also your responsibility.

Under NO circumstances will Clark University be responsible for independent travel you choose to participate in which is not part of the Clark program. Clark will not assist in any personal travel arrangements.

Approximate additional costs per semester for 2011-12

  • Personal Expenses - $3,000
  • Transportation - $900 (based on an East Coast departure)
  • Liability Insurance - $100
  • Visa Fees - $200
  • Books and Supplies - $100

TOTAL: $4,300

NOTE: These costs are estimates based on exchange rates at time of publication, and are subject to change.

*Personal expenses are based on student feedback, and vary dramatically based on individual spending habits. Estimated personal expenses include items such as food, personal travel, clothing, etc.

Application Deadlines

Application forms for CIEF – University of Bourgogne, Dijon are available, by appointment (extension 7363), in the Study Abroad Office. It is essential to submit completed applications by the appropriate deadlines. Late applications will not be accepted, and retrospective credit will not be granted.

  • For the fall semester - February 15
  • For the spring semester - September 15

Additional Resources

For more information about this program, please contact the Study Abroad Office at 508.793.7363.

Any information on this page is subject to change.