Alternative Ways of Studying in France
The most commonsensical approach to studying in France would be, of course, to enroll in a French college or university. However, there are also non-traditional ways of acquiring a French education. You do not necessarily have to take a long-term course.
One option is for you to enter a student exchange program, which will enable you to study for a semester or an academic year in the country. You will need to take about two years of college French, and then go through a fluency test.
Student exchange programs may be a little more expensive than actually enrolling in a French college or university, but they do have their own advantages. For example, you are credited for those courses under the degree you are currently taking in your mother university. The requirements for admission are also less strict. You don’t have to go through the long process of application, and you will receive a great deal of help for details like travel arrangements, work study permits, visas, and accommodations. If you are under scholarship, you may not be able to use them for the courses you take in France, but it is possible to apply for other forms of financial aid.
To find out more about student exchange programs, you should go to the student affairs office of your school. You can find a list of the 1,200 accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, as defined by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Aside from student exchange programs, you can also take language programs that were specifically designed for foreign students. They are normally given by private language schools or French universities. You can start the program at any given term, though private schools also offer short courses that last for just a few weeks or months and can be taken at any time of the year. You can choose from beginners to advanced levels. The registration is simple and admission is easy, though you will need to take a placement test. Depending on your course, you will get a certificate or a diploma of French as a foreign language upon completion.