L’université Blaise Pascal
With campuses in Clermont-Ferrand
and Vichy, France
Where is it?
Vichy, France
ClermontFerrand,
France
250 miles/400km
south of Paris
125mi/200km
NW of Lyon
265mi/425km
south of Paris
130mi/205km
W of Lyon
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Language Learning in
Clermont-Ferrand
•Classes offered through the Service
Universitaire des Etudiants Etrangers
(SUEE)
•Earn up to 18 credit hours of French
language credit
•Test into one of 6 levels of French
classes, ensuring placement in a class
with students who have similar
language abilities
•Learn French from native speakers
who are experts at teaching their
language
•It is possible to take both SUEE and
“regular” university classes at the
same time.
Choosing Courses: Clermont-Ferrand
• University Courses: students may take
regular classes offered by the
university only if they can prove French
proficiency. All university classes are
taught in French.
• SUEE (studying French as a foreign
language): students test into one of six
levels; levels 1-3 focus on basic French
vocabulary, grammar, and French life
and thought, while levels 4-6 focus on
French culture, history, literature,
writing, and speaking.
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Studying Business in Vichy
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Take business classes in English while
also learning French
Earn 15 hours of K-State credit
Students take 3 of 6 offered business
courses along with one French course
per semester
Students may choose between
semester and year-long programs
Increase familiarity with international
business by learning from a
French/European perspective
Both semesters offer opportunities
for creating research reports that can
serve as the foundation for a final
thesis or dissertation
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Choosing Courses: Vichy
Students choose
3 business
courses and 1
French course
per semester for
a total of 15
credit hours.
Which French
course to enroll
in is determined
by the student’s
proficiency in
French.
UBP Grading System
Grading Scale: Grades
range from 0-20, with 10 as
the passing grade for each
class. In some cases,
grades below 10 can be
equalized by other grades (if
the student’s overall grade
average is above 10) or by
retaking the final exam.
Academic Calendar
Beginning of academic year: Late August
Fall Break (one week): Last week of October
End of first semester: Mid-December
Inter-semester vacation: Mid-December to mid-January; exam
re-takes take place the first two weeks of January
Beginning of second semester: Mid-January
Winter Break (one week): first or second week of March
Spring Break (two weeks): last week of April and first week of
May
End of academic year: end of May or beginning of June; exam retakes take place at the end of June
Check the UBP website for specific dates for each academic year
Accommodation
• Students may live in university housing, depending on
availability, in both Clermont-Ferrand and Vichy
– Lodging varies from approximately € 135-350 per month,
depending on type of housing
• Students are also free to search for their own lodging,
such as a studio apartment or shared flat.
– Host families may sometimes be available
• Most students studying for two semesters
can receive a housing benefit called the
CAF, which provides a €90-130
per month stipend
What Dorms Offer
• Meal halls, where students can purchase lowpriced meals
• Bathrooms and showers, sometimes en suite,
sometimes shared by a floor or wing
• Laundry facilities (Clermont-Ferrand only)
• Acceuil (receptionist) services 24/7
Getting Your Visa
• It can seem like a confusing process, so just take a deep breath and follow
the steps once you sit down to do it!
• Apply and be accepted to UBP
• Create an account at www.usa.campusfrance.org and fill out all your
passport, personal, and academic information. Don’t worry if you don’t
have the answer to something, you can always save and come back later
or submit it anyway and wait for them to call and explain if you did
something wrong.
– Campus France seems scarier than it is. Just accept it as your first taste of French red
tape and know that, in most cases, things will work out.
– Be sure to turn things in, including your payment, in a timely manner, because you
cannot apply for your visa until you’re approved by Campus France (usually received by
email)
• Go to the consulate’s website to get the visa application and set up an
appointment
– You must go in person to a French consulate in the United States (Chicago is the nearest
one to Manhattan) to turn in your application and all materials, including payment
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What to Bring
• As few clothes as possible – people in France are all about rewearing and mixing and matching pieces, so bringing an
American-sized wardrobe is completely unnecessary.
• Bedding and towels – while you can rent them from the
residence halls, it’s best to either bring or buy
bedding/towels. If you buy them, talk with the acceuil to see
if you can donate them when you leave if you don’t want to
bother with selling things
• An empty small duffel bag for weekend trips and for
bringing home souvenirs and other purchases
What to Bring
• Plug adapter – depending on what appliances you bring from home, you
may also need a power converter, but at the very least you’ll need
something to allow your American computer charger to fit into your
French outlets.
• DVDs – like outlets, DVDs are in different formats for Europe than North
America, so buying and playing DVDs on an American computer is
sometimes not possible. So, if you want to watch something, make sure
you bring it with you.
• A journal or some sort of device for recording your time abroad
What You should Buy There
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Ethernet cord for in-room internet
A small fan (climate control is often not a reality)
An extra pillow (no need to bring pillows with you all across the world!)
Re-useable shopping bags
School supplies (have fun digging through the European-style papers!)
Toiletries and any hair dryers or straighteners you want (consider splitting
a straightener with a friend instead of buying a nice one yourself)
What Not to Bring
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Large bottles of toiletries
– They make your suitcase heavier, which costs money, and you can always buy them in
France
• Don’t think leaving them is a waste of money; they’ll still be ready and useable when you get
back to the United States
• Instead, pack travel-sized bottles to keep you clean until you buy more
•
Contraband
– Always check the TSA website before flying to make sure you aren’t bringing anything
you shouldn’t into the country
• For example, some countries have strict restrictions about what foods you can bring
• France is usually fairly lenient, but double check the customs restrictions before leaving to be
sure
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Most American electronics
– The power levels are different in the U.S. than Europe, so most of them won’t work
without a power adapter, and even that can be iffy
• Things like phones, blow dryers, straighteners, electric toothbrushes, etc, all exist in Europe
and can be purchased there if you discover that life simply is too inconvenient without them
• Most computers have power adapters built into their power cords (it’s the box connected to
the cord) and are therefore ready to go to Europe, as long as you have a plug (not power)
adapter
Getting to Clermont-Ferrand
Airport:
Clermont-Ferrand
Airport, Auvergne
(CFE)
Train:
Clermont-Ferrand Gare
Things to consider when travelling:
-check for flights to a larger airport in France (Paris, Marseille), then take a
train to Clermont-Ferrand.
-check sites like studentuniverse.com and statravel.com for student fares for
discounted flights
Getting to Vichy
Airport:
Clermont-Ferrand
Airport, Auvergne
(CFE)
Train:
Vichy Gare
NOTE: you must take a train to get to Vichy.
Both taxi and shuttle services are available
between CFE and the Clermont-Ferrand
train station, or you may take a train from a
different airport directly to Vichy.
Things to consider when travelling:
-check for flights to a larger airport in France (Paris, Marseille), then take a
train to Clermont-Ferrand.
-check sites like studentuniverse.com and statravel.com for student fares for
discounted flights
Navigating Charles de Gaulle Airport
Terminals 1 and 3: two smaller
terminals, connected to terminal 2
through CDGVAL
RER/Bus station: second of
the two RER stations
connecting the airport to Paris;
also houses the bus station
CDGVAL: transportation system
within the airport. Basically a metro
between the terminals.
Terminal 2: largest terminal; most
trans-Atlantic flights will land and
depart from this terminal
TGV/RER station: one of two
RER stations connecting the
airport to Paris, is also where trains
arrive and depart from the airport
Charles de Gaulle is a large airport and can be confusing, so take your time,
pay attention to signs for directions, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
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Opening a Bank Account
• Opening a bank account is not strictly required, but it is highly
encouraged. American debit and credit cards work in most larger cities
and stores, but many businesses do not accept non-European payments,
partly because their technology is different and American cards do not
work
• Must present a passport and proof of residence, as well as an initial
deposit (minimum amount varies by bank and account type)
• If you are not fluent in French, bring someone who is to translate during
the session…it’s important to understand what you’re signing up for and
any fees involved
• It is a good idea to transfer funds into the new account and use
it as your primary bank account to avoid issues with
using American payment devices or fees for frequent
foreign withdrawals
• When opening the account, find out how to close it and
keep that information safe so you can close the account
at the end of your stay
Traveling in France: Trains
• 12/25 card (carte douze/vingt-cinq): gives discounts from 2550% on train travel in France and to some EU destinations.
– Costs approximately 50€
– Available for people aged 12-25; valid for one year
– Must present card on train with ticket when asked by conductor or
else pay maximum fare for the trip.
• TGV, TER, and idTGV
– TGV: high speed trains. Usually more expensive but also much faster.
Not always available for smaller towns
– TER: “regular” trains. Provide travel to most towns throughout
France.
– idTGV: “low cost” fast trains. Provides lower fares for fast-train
travelling, much like a low-budget airline.
• Make reservations at: www.sncf.com
Traveling in France: Air
• Low cost airlines: RyanAir, Wizzair, Easy Jet
– Low cost brings few to no amenities; don’t expect a free cookie on the
flight!
– Most airlines have strict luggage restrictions; be sure to follow them
and be aware of consequences for going over the limit
– Always bring passport and any other documents required for check-in
– Try to print boarding passes in advance; there is often a fee for
printing them at the airport
• Things to keep in mind…
– Be sure to arrange for transportation to and from the airport, whether
by cab, train, metro, etc. in plenty of time to check in and be on time
for the flight
– Always check restrictions as far as liquids, etc. for luggage and be sure
to pack accordingly
Eating
• France is known for its baguettes and croissants, and for good
reason. There are patisseries on almost every corner; stop in for a
quick bite on the way to class
– Many patisseries start baking early in the morning, about the time that
bars close and people are walking home. In Clermont, the one on the
corner across the street from Subway and the copy story has a “secret
door” in the back where you can order satisfying munchies at the end
of a night out.
• French cuisine is rich and varied; try new things whenever you get
the chance, and, when possible, have a friend make their favorite
dish for you to get a truly authentic experience.
– Fun fact: In France, hold your knife in your right hand and your fork in
your left throughout the entire meal, using the knife to scoop things
onto the fork instead of setting it down and switching hands.
Communication
• Check to see if your cell phone is unlocked for international use…if it is,
simply take it abroad and buy a new SIM card in France
• If you don’t bring your own phone, go to either an Orange or Bouygues
phone store and buy a phone and a pay-as-you go plan.
– For most plans, it only costs to send, and not to receive, texts and calls. So, if
someone needs to get a hold of you and you’re out of credit, they can still call
you
• Don’t overlook the benefits of programs like Skype, Gmail chat, and Yahoo
chat. All three offer video chat options, which are great for talking to
people back home
– Skype also offers a subscription service, which you can use to call cell phones
from your computer, or to receive phone calls on your computer, which is
another handy way to be able to communicate internationally
Contact Information
Stephanie Lamaison
ri@univ-bpclermont.fr
Directrice des Relations Internationales
Geoffrey Heels
geoffrey.heels@univ-bpclermont.fr
Director-IUP Commerce
International
Fluent English Speaker
Béatrice Pauty
beatrice.pauty@univ-bpclermont.fr
Directrice formation initiale SUEE –
SCLV
English speaker; French preferred
Brigitte Meilleroux
Brigitte.MEILLEROUX@univbpclermont.fr
Service des Relations Internationales
English speaker; French preferred
Laurence Gourievidis
Laurence.GOURIEVIDIS@univbpclermont.fr
Senior Lecturer in British History
Study Abroad Co-ordinator (Dept of
English Studies)
Erasmus Institutional Co-ordinator
(Humanities, Incoming Students)
Fluent English speaker
Catherine Morgan-Proux
catherine.morgan-proux@univbpclermont.fr
STAR Instructor
Member of the Department of Tourism
Native English speaker