L'Université de Rennes 2 has one of the best international student programs in France, with strong student support to help adjust to the new academic and cultural life. Rennes is rich in tradition and history and known for its religious art and Celtic mysticism. Its numerous cultural opportunities include an International Music and Jazz festival, a National Theatre, and annual festivals. It is a 90-minute train ride from Paris.

The old European character of the city makes it a comfortable place to live and learn about French culture. Students can easily go by public transportation or on foot from their homes to the university area, to their internship sites, and to surrounding shops. Students interested in an internship may be placed with a major French company located in Rennes or in a non-profit organizations. Internship appointments usually require a functional command of French, but companies often want to have students with good English speaking and writing skills.

Application Deadlines:

• Fall (September-February): May 15
• Spring (February-June): Nov. 15

Students may choose to attend either one semester or an entire academic year. The academic calendar for the Rennes Program roughly follows the academic semester calendar at Nazareth University: Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, and Jan. 10 to May 15.

Students usually travel together to France and spend most of the first week in Paris. All Paris accommodations, meals, and tours are included in the program cost. In Rennes, students spend the first week with professors in program orientation. Students then enter classes with other students in the International Program and take courses in language and culture. Students who can pass the language entrance exam may take additional courses in the regular university curriculum.

Students have the opportunity to travel on weekends and national holidays, to round out their cultural education. Those who wish to remain in Europe at the end of a semester may do so, provided they have made their own arrangements for accommodations and travel.

Students pay Nazareth University tuition and retain their full Nazareth financial aid packages (excluding work study). Students are responsible for paying for on campus room and board.

Nazareth students pay the on-campus cost for the Nazareth Rennes Program and continue to use their financial aid package and payment plan, except for room grants, which are only available for housing on-campus at Nazareth. Detailed information is available in the University Catalog or in the Financial Aid Office.

Students will be given a cost estimate for out-of-pocket expenses for the semester or year. Nazareth University does not include the cost of travel to and from the study site in its list of charges to the University for study abroad.

Room and board are covered in Rennes from arrival until day of return, excluding the January break for full-year students or times when students are traveling on their own. (Students may wish to remain in Rennes during the winter semester break but must first come to an agreement with the host family, which may include a daily fee paid directly to the family.)

There is no opportunity for students to receive U.S. Federal "work study" funding while studying in Rennes.

Visiting students are advised to consult with their home campus' Financial Aid Office for any other support they may receive from their institution. Students will be assessed the standard semester fees for the program in addition to a modest administrative fee.

Federally subsidized loans can be used for study abroad through Nazareth University. In addition, all students should apply for outside scholarships and grants to supplement their support resources. Annually, numerous travel and study stipends available to U.S. students go unused. Go to "Student Abroad" on the Naz Financial Aid Policies page. 

The Refund Policy is accordance with the Student Accounts Office of Nazareth University.

Juniors regularly attend a year or semester at Rennes.

Sophomores are accepted, based on their academic performance and ability to work independently abroad.

You should have at least two years of college-level French and be able to negotiate simple transactions in the language. Students with minimal French language ability may be accepted on a case-by-case basis and should expect to present evidence of promise in the language and other courses. 

Students from other colleges and universities are welcome to apply to the Nazareth Rennes Program. Such students must acquire from their home campus:

1. Formal approval to study in the program, and
2. Promise of acceptance of the study-abroad credits in transfer.

All students must show evidence of good character and must agree to conduct themselves as good representatives of Nazareth University and of their own country and to respect the dignity of others in our global environments.

Internships at the Nazareth Rennes Program are semester-long, credit-bearing courses that follow academic criteria applicable at Nazareth University.

Interns may be placed with one of several major French companies located in Rennes or at a non-profit organization. Internship appointments usually require a functional command of French, but companies often want to have students with good English speaking and writing skills. Any formal business courses or job experience will be a plus.

Students studying for the full academic year (two semesters) can be placed into an internship more tied to their professional interests. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Nazareth Coordinator of the Rennes Program to discuss their specific interests.

Nazareth University does not include the cost of travel to and from the study site in its charges for study abroad. Since the program begins in Paris, all students are advised to fly together to be met at the airport by the Program Coordinator. Students accepted to the program will receive travel information.

Each student must have a passport that should remain valid for at least six months after the estimated return to the United States. Study in France requires a student visa. Once admitted to the Nazareth Rennes Program, each student receives the appropriate visa documentation, and must complete it and return it to the appropriate French consulate.

Proof of health insurance coverage is required. Typically, it is not necessary to obtain special medical documents.

Students may wish obtain an International Student ID card, although one will be provided through the University program in Rennes. It is advisable to take you Nazareth student ID as well.

Additional information regarding Language Support classes.

PEQ courses are offered in the following fields: history, literature, and visual and performing arts. Please note, course offerings may vary depending on the semester of study.