Overview
Angers, located in the western portion of the Loire Valley, has been described by many as a “bright and radiant city.” There are almost 30,000 university students in Angers, which makes it a wonderful place to study, socialize and experience different cultures. The Loire Valley is noted for the quality of its language, it is said that the purest form of French is spoken there. Students attend classes on the campus of the Université Catholique de l’Ouest (UCO).
Academics
Willamette sends qualified students with strong French language skills to take regular university courses alongside French students in a wide range of fields in the arts, social sciences, humanities and sciences. Students receive support services from across the university as local students do. Additional support is provided by the International Office at UCO. Exchange placements will be determined based on availability and individual students' qualifications. Students at all language levels should take a French course the semester prior to studying abroad. Talk with an OIE advisor about this possibility.
Housing
Students may choose to live with host families or in a residence hall.
Dates
The Angers program is available as a fall or spring semester. In general, the fall semester begins in early September and ends in mid-December. The spring semester begins in early February and ends in early June.
Cost
Please see the Willamette Sponsored Programs Cost Matrix for detailed explanation of the cost of each program. If considering the program in Angers talk to an OIE advisor about the French Visa application process in your advising session.
Pre-Departure Resources
- Université Catholique de l’Ouest
- Angers program application process (EXCHANGE) (do not begin until instructed by OIE)
- Starting your Campus France Application
- Understand France website - really interesting!
- News
- Local Weather
- Embassy of France: historical and government information
- CIA World Factbook
- Lonely Planet Guide