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Studies abroad

All students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Language Study Abroad Program in France or the francophone world.

The range of French Studies Study Abroad units allows students to undertake various forms of study abroad ranging from a 6 point summer semester unit to a semester of full-time study in France. In planning to study abroad, students should bear in mind the Arts Faculty rules governing the structure of the BA degree, major and minor sequences within the degree and the study abroad component within the degree and the major sequence. Those rules fix the maximum number of points of study abroad in the BA at 48 and the maximum number of points of study abroad within a major at 24.

Students who want to undertake French studies overseas must also seek approval from the Monash Abroad office, which assesses and provides assistance to all Monash students undertaking overseas study. This office will arrange your enrolment overseas and provides travel grants and other financial assistance, as well as support while you are away.

Full details can be found at http://www.monash.edu.au/international/studyabroad/ .

Semester/year-long study abroad in France

The French Studies Program currently has exchange agreements with Université de Paris III and Université Jean-Moulin (Lyon III) .  University exchanges are being established with the Institut des Sciences Politiques, Toulouse and the Institut des Sciences Politiques, Paris (often referred to as Sciences Po).  Please contact the study abroad coordinator for further details.

All students are required to have completed at least one full time year at Monash and to have achieved an average of 60% in their results so far to participate in the semester length exchange program. They should also have completed a minimum of a first year sequence in French Studies. These requirements must be met at the time your exchange commences, not necessarily the time you apply.

At second year level French Study Abroad exchange units can be taken for:
6 points (FRN2802 , French Studies Abroad 2/2)
12 points (FRN2801 , French Studies Abroad 2/1)
18 points (FRN2802 + FRN2801 )

At third year level French Study Abroad exchange units can be taken for:
6 points (FRN3903 , French Studies Abroad 3/3)
12 points (FRN3901 , French Studies Abroad 3/1 or FRN3902 French Studies Abroad 3/2)
18 points (FRN3901 + FRN3903 )
24 points (FRN3901 + FRN3902 )

Students should consider carefully the timing of study abroad in their degree program in order to obtain maximum benefit from the experience. The French Studies program recommends the following minimum levels of French Studies as a prerequisite for study at these universities:

Universit Paris 3 language level 9 or 10 [or level 8 (HD)]
Universit Jean-Moulin (Lyon 3) language level 8

These minimum levels are provided as general guidelines only. Students should contact the Study Abroad coordinator in order to select the most suitable exchange university for them and to choose units of study.

Units in English are available at Lyon 3 through the Self Program and may incur a fee.

Students completing a French language course at Lyon 3 for credit within the Self Program should ensure that they are placed in and complete their study at a level at or above the language level they have reached at Monash.  If they are placed at a level below that indicated in the table below they should request to be moved or should seek a written explanation for their placement at that level.  In order to receive credit, this document should then be submitted to the Study Abroad coordinator along with the course certificate which must indicate contact hours and the CECR/CEFR level at which the course was taught.   Students should note that courses in France or Francophone countries based on the CECR levels do not cover exactly the same syllabus as the French Studies core units.  The CECR levels are much broader than the Monash French Studies levels.

Monash French Studies
language level		 Indicative equivalent
CECR level
2 A2
4 A2 / B1
6 B1 / B2
8 B2
10 C1 / C2

Credit will only be awarded where the coordinator is satisfied that the student has completed a language course at an appropriate level as indicated above.

Students should note that, with the exception of students beginning their French Studies at level 1 who may complete 8 core units, all students completing a major ARE REQUIRED to complete 2 option units. Although Study Abroad units may be counted as option units, students considering Honours should bear in mind the limitations this might impose on their choice of Honours project.Assessment

Students will be required to satisfy the assessment requirements of the host institution for the unit(s) in which they are enrolled there. Assessment results from the host institution will be returned by the student together with copies of all non-examination assessed work to the Study Abroad coordinator. The French Studies Study Abroad Committee will then determine a final mark.

Assessment

Students will be required to satisfy the assessment requirements of the host institution for the unit(s) in which they are enrolled there. Assessment results from the host institution will be returned by the student together with copies of all non-examination assessed work to the Study Abroad coordinator. The French Studies Study Abroad Committee will then determine a final mark.

Grants

Grants helping students to take the French Studies Study Abroad units are available through Monash Abroad.

How to Apply

Students should obtain a Monash Abroad application form from the Monash Abroad office in the Campus Centre at Clayton or online . Complete this form, including a detailed overseas study plan, and take it to the Study Abroad coordinator. He or she can also give you advice about your choice of overseas units. You then need to take it to the Faculty of Arts Exchange Adviser for a final sign-off by the Faculty before lodging it with the Monash Abroad office.

Semester study abroad in France for Honours students

Students can take two12-point study abroad units, FRN4913 and FRN4914 , concurrently in the first semester of their fourth year French Studies Honours program. Students cannot enroll in these units for the second semester of their Honours program, as they are required to be at Monash in order work under supervision on their Honours thesis.

Honours students are also eligible for Monash Abroad travel grants.

Summer Semester Abroad French Studies - FRN2803/3804 (6 points) or FRN2807/3807 (12 points)

These units are aimed specifically at students who have begun their studies at Monash University at language levels 1 - 4.  Students who began their French Studies at language level 5 or above, are advised to enroll in a semester-length exchange program.  Students should note that from 2009 (i.e. for Summer 2009/2010) students who began at language level 5 or above will not be permitted to take Summer Semester Abroad French Studies units

FRN2803 and FRN2807 are available to students who have completed a minimum of a first year sequence in French Studies. FRN3804 and FRN3807 are available to students who have completed a minor sequence in French Studies. These codes are only available for (Australian) summer study abroad. At other times of the year ASA codes must be used (see below).

Please note that no more than 24 points of study abroad or exchange units may be counted towards a major in French Studies.

Students enrolling in these units from 2008 onwards need to complete at least 70 hours of approved French language tuition in France or another Francophone country to earn 6 points of Summer Semester Abroad French Studies and for 12 pts at least 140 hours. According to the language school chosen and courses available, 70 hours may be completed in 3-4 weeks and 140 hours in 6-8 weeks.

It is the responsibility of students enrolled in Summer Semester French Studies units to ensure that they are placed in and complete their study in a language course at a level at or above the language level they have reached at Monash.  If they are placed at a level below that indicated in the table below they should request to be moved or should seek a written explanation for their placement at that level.  In order to receive credit, this document should then be submitted to the Summer Semester coordinator along with the course certificate which must indicate contact hours and the CECR/CEFR level at which the course was taught.   Students should note that courses in France or Francophone countries based on the CECR levels do not cover exactly the same syllabus as the French Studies core units. The CECR levels are much broader than the Monash French Studies levels.

Monash French Studies
language level		 Indicative equivalent
CECR level
2 A2
4 A2 / B1
6 B1 / B2
8 B2
10 C1 / C2

Summer semester credit will only be awarded where the Summer Semester coordinator is satisfied that the student has completed a language course at an appropriate level as indicated above.

Enrolling in summer semester French Studies units (FRN codes)

To enroll in one of these units students need to complete the following steps:

  1. Read the information below, look at the web sites of recommended language schools and develop a provisional study plan including where they want to study, when and for how long

  2. Discuss their provisional study plan with the French Studies Summer Semester coordinator (Sally Staddon)

  3. Once the study plan has been approved, complete a Monash Abroad application form (only available from the French Studies Summer Semester coordinator).  These forms must be returned to the coordinator for approval and submission to Monash Abroad.  Further details of travel grants can be found on the Monash Abroad website.

  4. Complete an Arts Enrolment Amendment form (available from the Arts Coursework Office on the first floor of the Menzies building), get it approved by the French Studies Summer Semester coordinator and then hand it in to the Arts Coursework Office

Studying French in France at other times of the year (ASA codes)

For study at other times of year, students need to complete steps 1-3 above.  The French Studies Summer Semester coordinator will then liaise with the Faculty to arrange enrolment in ASA codes to the value of 6 or 12 points.

Fees and results

Because students pay fees to the language school overseas, students who enroll in Summer Semester Abroad French Studies (FRN) codes or Arts Study Abroad (ASA) codes do not pay fees to Monash.  It is important to note that, according to unit code, the final grade that appears on the academic record is PGO (pass grade only), SFR (Satisfactory) or 0NN i.e. pass or fail.   This does not compromise the undergraduate degree as these units may be counted towards a French Studies major. However it may be a problem for any student who needs high grades in order to subsequently enroll in Honours, enroll in other higher degree study or transfer to Law.

Deciding where to study

There are many different language schools (students should use the links below* to view schools listed by region) and courses in France (to date only one student has attended a course in another Francophone country - Sénégal). However, based on past student experiences and our knowledge of their courses, the French Studies Program recommends the following schools:

Students intending to complete a major in French Studies or to take Honours in French Studies are advised to attend the CAVILAM or the Institut de Touraine which, based on past student experiences, offer the most thorough all-round language courses.

Students who wish to study elsewhere must submit details of the school they have selected to the French Studies Summer Semester coordinator.  Approval of such schools rests with the coordinator and will be based on the following criteria:

Please remember that the suitability of the course chosen must be checked and approved by the French Studies Summer Semester coordinator before application forms can be submitted.

Back at Monash

On their return, to obtain SFR, students must provide the Summer Semester coordinator with proof of attendance, course duration, the CECR level at which the course was taught,  and a pass result on the language school's official letterhead (a certificat d'assiduité). Students continuing with French Studies after Summer Semester must sit a placement test and will be placed at the appropriate language level. According to the number of hours studied in France and the result obtained, it may be possible for a student to jump one or two language levels.  However, this happens only rarely and can only be determined by the French Studies Program once the student has returned and their language level has been assessed.

Students wishing to take a French Summer Semester Abroad unit should contact the French Summer Semester Abroad coordinator as soon as they have a clear idea of where and when they wish to take the unit. Please note that the French Studies Program does not take any responsibility for contacting language schools, reserving places on courses or making travel and accommodation arrangements.

*Lists of language schools in France (inclusion in these lists does not imply that their courses will necessarily be suitable, but it is a starting point):

French Government Assistantships

Third and fourth year students may also apply for a French Government Assistantship. This paid position enables students to spend an academic year in France or in New Caledonia giving conversation classes in a school. An assistantship may be combined with Study Abroad. Students who are interested in this combination should first decide at which French exchange university they wish to complete Study Abroad and should document this on the Assistantship application form.

Further information can be obtained from the French Embassy's web site where applications forms can also be downloaded.

Students who want to undertake an Assistantship separately and not as part of an exchange program must also apply to Monash Abroad, using the application form available from the Summer Semester Coordinator. Travel grants are available for eligible students. More details can be found on the Monash Abroad website.

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