UniLaSalle - Science Only
Founded in 1854, UniLaSalle is one of "les Grandes Écoles" of France, located only 1 hour North of Paris, in the city of Beauvais.
The city boasts a gorgeous Gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais, and also has a small airport, Beauvais Tillé, which is used by several low-cost airlines as a terminal for nearby Paris, to which frequent shuttle buses run. UniLaSalle has a population of over 2500 students, and specializes in studies and research in the fields of agriculture, food science, and geosciences.
Key information
Application information
Program details
New for Winter 2025, UniLaSalle is offering an exchange program called "Veterinary Medicine, Animal Productions, and Zootechnics". This program is designed to give exchange students a deep dive into veterinary medicine & animal welfare as practiced in France and its intersection with French culture: cuisine, sport, politics, etc. Learn more on the UniLaSalle factsheet.
Dates: 5 month exchange in the winter semester, January to June 2025
Location: UniLaSalle Rouen campus in Normandy, France (approx. 1.5 hours train from Paris). Learn about Rouen campus here.
Courses: Students must take 30 ECTS. Topics include cheese production, animal welfare, snail farming, duck breeding, EU veterinary regulations, and more! View the courselist from UniLaSalle here.
The UCalgary Faculty of Science has pre-assessed this program to receive credit for SCIE 507 (3 units) and ZOOL 9xx (12 units). The ZOOL 9XX credit is acceptable for use as 400-level courses in the field of Zoology; it can be used by Zoology majors as well as other Biological Sciences disciplines. Students majoring in CMMB and BCEM (or in other Faculty of Science majors not mentioned here) should consult with their program advisors for additional planning assistance.
Eligibility: Students must meet the basic eligibility requirements for exchange at UniLaSalle (must be in the UCalgary Faculty of Science with cumulative 2.7 GPA) otherwise, there are no academic prerequisites. This program is open to students in all disciplines, but may be of particular interest to students in natural sciences and biological sciences, or who are interested in animal & agricultural production, zoology, and veterinary medicine.
Costs: Students will pay regular UCalgary tuition, plus a 60 euro Campus Fee to UniLaSalle. Other costs include flights, housing, visa, etc. Refer to the Costs and Funding and Accommodation sections below. More info will become available from UniLaSalle as the program start approaches.
To apply: Log into the RAISA application system and search for the program name UniLaSalle. Please note that applications must be submitted by September 4, 11:59 PM MT to be considered.
Areas of Study: 3rd/4th year students can apply for 4th year (Masters) study in the fields of:
Note: See available courses by scrolling down to the bottom section of each page linked above to "le cursus" section and download course packs by year ("voir le programme de X année"). Semester 7 corresponds with Fall studies, and Semester 8 corresponds with Winter studies.
If you want to take studies in English, Fall or full-year studies are not recommended. Geology offers English-taught courses in the Winter semester (syllabus here) and there are also some programs in taught in English offered, such as Nutritional Science, Water and Environmental Management and Environmental Engineering. Otherwise the spring field school is recommended.
For an overview of course offer, please consult the 2021-22 course catalogue.
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.
The first semester starts in early September and ends in late December; the second semester starts early January and ends in late June. For a detailed academic calendar, go to UniLaSalle's exchange website and scroll down to view the "Program catalog" PDF.
For the spring field school, please visit this page.
Please Note: French visa applications for Canadians may require travel to the Vancouver consulate 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 will be covered by the national social security system which is free and covers some costs of medical care, but comprehensive travel medical coverage will still be required.
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.
The Beauvais campus offers over 1100 furnished rooms, some of which are accessibility-friendly. They also provide internet access, a common area, laundry, and other amenities. There is also a restaurant on campus run by CROUS that offers affordable meals for around €3, and an eatery, Le cube rouge, that offers sandwiches and fast food.
On campus, there is also a sports facility that offers a squash court, fitness room, gym, 2 tennis courts, and a rugby field.
There is also another residence in town, the Jean-Baptiste de La Salle residence, which offers an additional 132 rooms.
Additionally, for more off-campus options, La Com’ Logement can also provide support.
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in the Faculty of Science, who will have completed at least 3 full years (30 courses) at the post-secondary level prior to starting the exchange, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
For English courses, while advanced French is not required, all students should have some basic knowledge of French and be able to independently navigate websites and forms written in French.
For courses where the primary language of instruction is French, 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.
What supports or services are available at UniLaSalle?
UniLaSalle offers supports and adaptive equipment for a variety of accessibility needs, including those with visual, auditorial, physical, and cognitive impairments or have service animals.
For information on accessibility and support services at campuses across Europe, please check out Inclusive Mobility. 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.
The university also runs a number of interesting events each year, including the largest European university rugby tournament, a costumed transportation-of-choice rally, an incredible flower show, a mineral and fossil fair, and a fancy gala.
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.