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MICEFA, France “MICEFA is a consortium of most of the Universities of Paris and its region. It was created in 1985 to promote cultural and scientific cooperation between France and North America. Our North American partners include over 80 universities in the United States and Canada. MICEFA serves as a tool for enhancing North American/French academic cooperation. Unlike traditional "island" study abroad programs, MICEFA provides students access to a genuine experience in a French university with French and European students. Exchanges last for one semester or an academic year.” (Quoted from micefa.org) Please contact Kristin Kutella in the Office of International Affairs at kkutella@uic.edu with any questions. College Restrictions: Open to graduate and undergraduate students campus-wide. Students must complete five semesters of university-level French before participating. School year: Fall Semester: August – January Spring Semester: January - June Students may apply as full-year exchange students, spring semester exchange students, or fall semester exchange students for their final semesters. Courses: Students are given a French placement test during the first few days after their arrival in Paris. The placement test is used to determine the level of French courses each student should take while in Paris. All students participate in a 3-week orientation upon arrival. The orientation consists of four hours daily Intensive French language classes, worth 3 academic credits. During this time students must meet with Dr. Nancy Merritt to discuss intended academic programs, to consult course listings, and to make known any specific course requirements that must be fulfilled. MICEFA staff will enroll students at one of the Paris Universities in the MICEFA consortium, depending upon the students’ fields of study and consultation by the student and the French teachers. The following is a breakdown of courses offered: I. Micefa French Classes: The MICEFA offers 3-5 courses per semester including: Advanced Composition (depending on the semester), the History of France and the French, the Architectural History of Paris, the Literary History of Paris and/or the History of Franco-American Relations.
II. Elementary and Intermediate French: Courses are offered at the University of Paris VIII-Saint Denis and the University of Paris XII-Creteil (intensive) on a semester basis.
III. Higher Intermediate: University of Paris X-Nanterre offers higher intermediate and advanced courses in French language, civilization and literature.
IV. Advanced: Advanced students can take courses with French students at any of the French universities.
Students usually take 4 courses per semester.
Location: Since MICEFA is a consortium of universities in Paris, the location for each student will be dependent upon his/her university of enrollment. The 15 universities are located throughout the Paris metropolitan area. For more information regarding each university, please click here: http://micefa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=8 Housing: Temporary Housing: The MICEFA program offers all incoming students the option of staying in short-term housing for the first 10 days in Paris for a cost of 315 € per student. Housing will be students’ first priority upon arriving in France. MICEFA staff highly recommends the short term housing option, which enables students to get a sense of Paris before they jump into a living arrangement.
Permanent Housing: The MICEFA office has a list of student housing which they make available on a first-come, first-served basis. They do their best to arrange stays with families, apartment shares, or rentals, but sometimes run short and also refer students to the American Church housing listings, where many of our students have found good shares and rentals. They also refer students to the FUSAC (France USA Contact) newspaper, online at www.fusac.com or fusac@fusac.fr This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . They do NOT recommend that students rent apartments from abroad sight unseen. But since MICEFA students are among the first study abroad students to arrive in Paris, they usually have a large selection of options.
“The housing search should not be seen as an ordeal, but rather as part of the process of exploring and getting to know Paris and its excellent transportation system. If you come determined to live in the Latin quarter, you should expect to spend more money, but if you are flexible, you can find housing in many parts of Paris which are safe and attractive. Given the transportation system, it doesn't take more than a half an hour to get to most places in Paris. Unfortunately there are very few possibilities for dorm rooms or student foyers in the center of Paris and many of them have constraints which American students do not like, such as restrictions on having guests, specific closing hours and limited phone access. Graduate students can try applying directly to the Fondation des Etats Unis. Normally students count on spending a few days to two weeks in temporary housing while they look for permanent housing. This will allow you enough time to get to know your way around Paris and eventually choose something you can be happy with for the rest of the semester or academic year. Our office staff will be available to help you.” (Quoted from micefa.org) Deadlines: MICEFA has a slightly earlier deadline than most UIC exchange partners. Students must submit all application materials to Kristin Kutella by the following deadlines: Fall Semester: March 25 Spring Semester: September 25 Requirements: At least a 2.8 GPA Must be a currently-enrolled, degree-seeking student at UIC Must have spent at least two semesters at UIC before participating in program Must have completed 5 semesters of university-level French before departing for program MICEFA Website: Micefa.org
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