Rabat Chellah

Explore French-speaking worlds

Study for summer, a term, or a year in a French-speaking place & receive Yale credit

Study Abroad

Plan ahead!

As you map out your travel plans, bear in mind that deadlines for study abroad applications are usually: 

  • October for Yale Year or Term Abroad starting Spring semester
  • February for Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad
  • March for Non-Yale Summer Abroad
  • April for Yale Year or Term Abroad Starting Fall semester

Summer Programs

We offer language-intensive courses taught by Yale faculty in Paris each summer, as well as a series of options that take place beyond Paris. See below to learn more.

These courses :

  • are taught by Yale faculty and qualify for Yale College credit
  • count directly toward Yale’s language requirement
  • are eligible for International Study Award (ASA) or YSS Financial Assistance

For a current list of upcoming YSS summer courses in French, consult Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad

These programs:

  • qualify to receive general graduation credit (a limit of 2 for all summers combined)
  • may count for credit toward the French major, certificate, or language requirement at the discretion of the department
  • are eligible for the International Study Award (ISA).

French & Francophone centered courses have been offered through non-Yale programs in Senegal, Avignon, Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Switzerland, and elsewhere. 

For a current list of available summer programs, consult the Yale Summer Study Abroad website.

Semester or Year Abroad

If you want to study for a full semester or year abroad in a French-speaking place, you can choose a program for academic credit run by another university and then earn transfer credit towards your Yale degree. This option will require careful advance planning, of course!

For details about the current programs available or to learn more about applying, consult the Yale Year or Term Abroad website.

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Funding Information

This is a stipend to fund an approved study abroad experience that is available to eligible undergraduates who receive Yale financial aid during the academic year.

For more information, deadlines, and to apply, see the Yale ISA website.

Students who receive financial aid during the academic year may apply their aid to an approved study abroad program.

A range of competitive fellowships are available to Yale undergraduates, many of which can be used to support study and research abroad. 

To learn more, visit Yale Fellowships and Funding

The French Department offers two research grants to students majoring in French: 

  • The Kenneth Cornell French Major Research Grant
  • The James T. King French Major Research Grant 

Each grant provides up to $2,000 to one successful applicant per year. Undergraduates who declare a major in French or a double major that includes French (and who will graduate with this major) may apply in the fall semester for a research grant to fund a short travel period, usually undertaken during the winter break.

To learn more and to apply, visit our Grants and Prizes page.

Fulfilling Requirements Abroad

  • Study abroad courses may fulfill language requirement at the discretion of the French department
  • Introductory language courses (L1/L2) taken on non-Yale programs cannot be used to fulfill the foreign language requirement
  • It is crucial to speak with the French Director of Undergraduate Studies before going abroad to learn whether the courses that you plan to take abroad will indeed fulfill Yale’s language requirement

  • Credit toward that French Major or the Certificate of Advanced Language study is awarded at the discretion of the French Director of Undergraduate Studies
  • It is crucial to speak with the French Director of Undergraduate Studies before going abroad to understand which major/certificate requirements you may be able to fulfill and to know which courses you will need to take upon your return

  • The Director of Undergraduate Studies may  approve up to two study abroad courses taught in French to count as electives toward the certificate requirements. 
  • If the DUS approves courses taken outside of Yale to count toward certificate requirements, students must take the necessary steps to ensure that those courses appear on their transcript.

Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies

Discuss your study abroad plans with the DUS well before you travel to ensure that you will fulfill academic requirements. 

Reach out to the DUS

Contact the Study Abroad Coordinator

Discuss the logistics and content of our summer courses with the French Department’s Study Abroad Coordinator to learn more.

Reach out to the coordinator