Study Abroad

William and Mary offers a very popular summer abroad program in Montpellier, France.

We are also sending students to a semester in Paris with the I.F.E. This program gives students the opportunity to do some research in Paris while completing an intership.

Currently the College does not offer a semester or junior-year program in any French-speaking country. Instead, the College awards credit for studies undertaken through study abroad programs at other universities.

Please, read our advice on how to obtain a letter of reference, as many program will require at least one. 

To obtain French credit at William and Mary for study abroad, you must choose a program affiliated with a French or Francophone university (non-university language programs such as Alliance Francaise are not acceptable.). Students are strongly advised to choose a program with an on-site director to help them with cultural adjustment, selection of courses, and any problems in daily life that may arise.  French credit will be awarded only for courses taught in French (You are free to request credit from other WM departments for English-language courses, but Modern Languages and Literatures takes no responsibility for the outcome.) Students who are beyond the level of French 210 or 212 are strongly encouraged to limit the amount of language instruction taken abroad, choosing the majority of their courses in content subjects such as French literature, culture, society, and political institutions; normally a maximum of six credit hours per semester of advanced French language courses will be accepted for William and Mary credit. We strongly recommend immersion programs in which American students take course alongside their French / Francophone counterparts.

Please keep in mind that you are responsible for obtaining pre-approval and post-approval forms (available from a kiosk in front of Washington 210) in order to have French credits transfer. Completed forms and supporting documentation must be turned in to the Modern Languages and Literatures office (Washington 210). Pre-approval forms allow you to begin to plan your study-abroad experience but are not binding. If you have questions or need advice about study abroad in a Francophone country, you should contact Professor Giulia Pacini.

While you are abroad, be sure to collect the following materials to prepare the transfer process:

• Syllabus and all course handouts

• Coursework, notebooks,and assignments

• Official documentation indicating the number of hours your classes met

• Documentation demonstrating that your program was associated with an American and/or a French/Francophone university

You will also be required to present a copy of your William and Mary transcript (from Banner) and a copy of the transcript from the American and/or French/Francophone university