Tours, France

Summer Abroad - Tours, France

This six-week-long immersive program in the exquisite Loire Valley offers the opportunity to live with a French family and take classes at the prestigious Institut de Touraine while discovering the rich historical and cultural past of the region. Dive into France's rich history and modern society while being surrounded by some of Europe's most breathtaking locations. All courses are taught in French and offer University of Pennsylvania course credits.

The Penn Summer Abroad Tours program is exclusively for Penn undergraduate students.

Summer 2023 applications are now closed.

Application Open

October 31, 2022

Early Application Deadline

January 15, 2023

Final Application Deadline

March 10, 2023

Friday, May 19, 2023 Recommended arrival in Paris
Saturday, May 20, 2023 Program housing first available
Monday, May 22, 2023 On-site orientation
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Classes start
Friday, June 23, 2023 Classes end
Saturday, June 24, 2023 Program housing last checkout date

All students register for a total of two course units (c.u.)*. Course offerings are subject to change. Course registration is completed by the Penn Summer Abroad office for students who confirm their intent to enroll and submit the required pre-departure documents.

Intensive Intermediate French

FREN 0340 (2 c.u.)

  • Fulfills the language requirement in French
  • Prerequisite: French 0200 or FREN 0210

French 0340 covers the equivalent of FREN 0300 and FREN 0400 at Penn. Students who have completed FREN 0300 receive credit for FREN 1000. The course stresses the development of functional proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, combined with a systematic review of grammar.

French History and Culture until 1789

FREN 1226 (1 c.u.)

  • Prerequisite: French 0400

A survey of French history and culture from the Gauls to the Enlightenment. This iteration of the course is enriched by weekly excursions to historical sites connected to the various periods covered.

Advanced French Composition and Conversation (Topic 1 TBA)

FREN 2240/FREN 1214 (1 c.u.)

  • Prerequisite: FREN 0400

This language course is complemented by various workshops to consolidate and deepen written and oral skills, do more targeted phonetic correction work (on expressive intonation, fluency, and fluency) in a language lab or in class, discover different aspects of life in France, and to be open to the plurality of cultures. At the end of the program, students will be able to take the Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française (DELF).

Advanced French Composition and Conversation (Topic 2 TBA)

FREN 2240/FREN 1214 (1 c.u.)

  • Prerequisite: FREN 0400

This language course is complemented by various workshops to consolidate and deepen written and oral skills, do more targeted phonetic correction work (on expressive intonation, fluency and fluency) in a language lab or in class, discover different aspects of life in France, and to be open to the plurality of cultures. At the end of the program, students will be able to take the Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française (DELF).

Students live with French families to experience full linguistic and cultural immersion. Housing is prearranged through a local coordinator, and all students are asked to complete a host family accommodation form to list any special dietary needs or allergies. Breakfast and dinner are provided by the family.

Tuition and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and may change without notice. Tuition and fees for 2023 will be posted in spring 2023.

  • Tuition for summer courses: 2022 tuition was $4,830 per c.u.
    2023 tuition will be updated once available.
  • Program fee for summer 2023: $2,300
    Includes home stay with breakfast and dinner, transportation from Paris to Tours (arrival only), cultural activities, program excursions, and administrative costs.

Contact Information

For details about the program, courses, or location including academic advising, travel dates, housing, and orientation:

Program Director
Mélanie Péron
University of Pennsylvania
Tel: (215) 898-7428
mperon@sas.upenn.edu
@pas_surlesmurs

For assistance with application, financial questions, pre-departure, or other general information:

Penn Summer Abroad Office

Penn Summer Abroad Office
College of Liberal and Professional Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Fisher-Bennett Hall, Room 101
3340 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19104-3335
Tel: (215) 898-7326
summerabroad@sas.upenn.edu


*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). A course unit (c.u.) is a general measure of academic work over a period of time, typically a term (semester or summer). A c.u. (or a fraction of a c.u.) represents different types of academic work across different types of academic programs and is the basic unit of progress toward a degree. One c.u. is usually converted to a four-semester-hour course.