Université de Bourgogne
The region of Bourgogne in the East of France is not just famous for its many castles and historic monuments, but also for its wine culture. Visit the restored medieval Châteauneuf-en-Auxois or the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune with its beautiful Renaissance architecture.
Discover the City of Dijon which has a lot more to offer than mustard! The historical city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and every year in fall the city holds an international gastronomic fair. Officially founded in 1722, the origins of Université de Bourgogne go back to the medieval time. The main campus is located close to the city centre and is well integrated in Dijon’s transit network.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Check out this video of our UCalgary student Paola Velasquez
Dijon & France through my eyes Université de Bourgogne 2019-20
Valentina Fajardo
Program details
Areas of Study: Bourgogne offers courses in Art History, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Classics, Economics, Earth and Environmental Science, Geography, History, Law, Literature, Management, Math, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sport Science, Sociology and more. Course information can be found online.
Course requirements:
In Europe, full-time course load is typically 30 ECTS (European credits), and exchange students are typically expected to take 24-30 credits per semester. 6 ECTS = 3 UCalgary units (1 half-course).
The amount of credits each course is worth corresponds to the workload/contact hours, and can vary from 1-30 ECTS per course, so please be mindful of this in your selection.
Please contact your academic advisor to discuss the courses with them.
The academic year is divided into two semesters. Term One is from early October to mid-January, while Term Two runs from early February to late June. The terms may vary, depending on the program of study! For some programs the first term runs from early September till mid-December and the second term runs from mid-January to late May. For details see the academic calendar of your program.
Please Note: French visa applications for Canadians may require travel to the Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto VFS visa center to submit the documentation and take biometrics as needed within 3 months before departure to France, so students may not have access to their passports during that time.
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
Also, don't forget to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning. All students on exchange in France will have to pay roughly €215 for French social security on arrival, which covers some costs of medical care, but comprehensive travel medical coverage will still be required.
Dijon cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here
Please Note: French visa applications may require travel to the Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto VFS visa center to finalize your student visa and take biometrics as needed - please speak with the exchange advisor as soon as possible about whether this will be required for you.
Students considering significant rail travel in France may want to purchase a Carte Jeune via French National Rail (SNCF), which allows for reduced travel for every journey over a year.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange?
Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.Our office administers the International Study Travel Grant for students travelling on approved UCalgary study programs that are credit bearing. The amount changes year to year as the money is split evenly between qualified applicants. Students may only receive the study travel grant once. Please see the exchange funding page for more information.
France - Housing Aid
All students in France who rent housing with a contract, regardless of national origin, are eligible for a National Housing Aid from the ‘CAF’, Caisse d’Allocations Familiales. For the subsidy application, please make sure to bring a copy of your birth certificate.E. Catherine Barclay Scholarship
The E. Catherine Barclay Scholarship is a generous award of $7500 granted to one outstanding full-time student, registered in any faculty at UCalgary, who has been accepted by us to study for a full academic year (French-taught courses only) on one of our official exchange programs. For details, deadline and application forms, please visit the link above or our Funding page for more details.
Housing in university residences is organized by CROUS (Centre Régional des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires). Information on the various housing options is available online.
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B).
Courses at Bourgogne are taught in French. As such, applicants must have a command of French at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) at a minimum, or have completed at least two 300-level or above courses in French. Certification of language proficiency may be required. Students do have the opportunity to take French language courses during their stay
What supports or services are available at Bourgogne?
UB has a disability support team. More information and support options for students with disabilities can be found on page 31 of the International Student Guide. For information on accessibility of campuses across Europe, ESN has created "Inclusive Mobility EU" which allows you to check the accessibility of universities and cities across Europe. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.
What options are available for improving my French at Bourgogne?
Language courses designed for international students are offered by the Centre International d'Etudes Françaises (CIEF) located on campus.
What's so special about Dijon?
Dijon is an excellent city for biking, there is a medium to long-term bike rental service called DivaVélo and a public bike system called Vélodi.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.