West Virginia University in Vendée, France

Program Costs and Financial Aid

("Une gache vendéenne,"  a traditional delicacy and symbol of Vendée)

PROGRAM COSTS

    The fees for the 2007 program will be $4000, plus $300 Extended Learning tuition.  Since this is a regular academic program of WVU, scholarships and financial aid are generally applicable to the trip.  In the past all WVU students have qualified for at least one of the special scholarships that support this program.  The program fees are projected to cover:

• Lodging in Paris, with breakfast (typically a two or three-star hotel). 
• Professionally guided excursions in Paris. (12-14 excursions in all, in Paris, Vendée, the Loire Valley)
• Round trip TGV train from Paris to Les Sables d'Olonne. 
• Host family accommodations in and around Les Sables d'Olonne, including lodging and two meals per day with the family.
• Field trips in coastal and inland Vendée and into the Loire Valley (two days).
• Formal luncheons in fine restaurants specializing in local and regional French cuisine (designed to accompany the regional field trips).
• Classroom accommodations in Les Atlantes convention center on the beach of Les Sables d'Olonne.
• All museum and tour fees, guides, speakers, chauffeurs.
• Basic insurance coverage for travel and study abroad.
• Six hours of university credit through WVU Extended Learning.

    In addition to this cost, students will have to purchase their airplane ticket, incidental personal expenses, and some meals.  Some participants may wish to arrive in France early or to stay beyond the dates of the program for further travel in France or in Europe.  See our Application Form for the payment schedule.

FINANCIAL AID

•  In all previous years every WVU participant received some form of financial assistance.

•  The Department of Foreign Languages and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences have special scholarship funds available for qualified students of French majoring in languages or other fields of Arts and Sciences.

•  Because students are registered at WVU, they are generally eligible for most financial aid they receive for any other semester.  See the WVU WVU Financial Aid Homepage, especially their Study Abroad page.

• Other funds supporting language study and study abroad may also be available.  Check with the Office of International Programs, the Department of Foreign Languages, or with your own institution's financial aid offices.