Complete Program Name Duration & Year s3

Rennes, France – Fall/Academic Year 2009-10

IAP Program Handbook

Congratulations on being selected to participate in the study abroad program in Rennes, France!

This program is offered by International Academic Programs (IAP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in partnership with the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Throughout the course of your study abroad experience you will be communicating with both IAP and CIEE staff. It is essential that you pay close attention to all information provided to you from both organizations. This IAP Program Handbook supplements handbook(s) or materials you receive from CIEE as well as the IAP Study Abroad Handbook and provides you with the most up-to-date information and advice available at the time of printing. Changes may occur before your departure or while you are abroad.

CIEE handles the program’s day-to-day operations. Generally, questions about aspects of your program abroad should be directed to CIEE (e.g., program housing options, program facilities abroad, cultural tours offered as part of the program, etc.) Questions relating to your relationship with UW-Madison or your academics should be addressed to International Academic Programs at UW-Madison (e.g., course credits, equivalents, UW Madison registration, etc.)

This program handbook contains the following information:

Contact Information 1

Program Dates 3

Preparations Before Leaving 3

Travel and Arrival Information 4

The Academic Program 5

Living Abroad 7

Contact Information

CIEE On-Site Contact

Daniel Audaz, Resident Director

Council/CIREFE

Université Rennes II Place du Recteur Henri Le Moal , CS 24307

35043 Rennes, CEDEX France

Tel: (33) (0)2-99-14-13-07

Fax: (33) 2-99-14-13-10

Email:

CIEE Pre-Departure Contact

Amanda Gilliam, Enrollment Officer

CIEE – Europe Programs

300 Fore Street

Portland, ME 04101 USA

Tel: 207-553-7633

Fax: 207-253-0697

Email:

UW-Madison Information

International Academic Programs (IAP)

University of Wisconsin-Madison

250 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive

Madison, WI 53706

Tel: 608-265-6329

Fax: 608-262-6998

Web: www.studyabroad.wisc.edu

For Program Advising & Grades:
Katie Saur
IAP Study Abroad Advisor
Tel: 608-890-0939
E-mail: / For Financial Matters:
Judy Humphrey
IAP Financial Specialist
Tel: 608-262-6785
E-mail:

Emergency Contact Information

In case of an emergency, call the main IAP number (608) 265-6329 between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; after-hours or on weekends call the IAP staff on call at (608) 516-9440.

In an emergency, you or a family member can call CIEE 24 hours a day at 1-800-40-STUDY (from the US) or 207-553-7600 (US and overseas). This number is monitored 24 hours per day and will put you in touch with CIEE program staff in Maine.

Embassy Registration

Program participants who are U.S. citizens must register at the U.S. Embassy before departure as this will help in case of a lost passport or other mishap. You can register on-line at https://travelregistration.state.gov. If you are not a U.S. citizen, register at your home country’s embassy or consulate.

U.S. Embassy

2 avenue Gabriel

75382 Paris Cedex 08

Tel: 33-1-43-12-22-22

Fax: 33-1-42-66-97-83

Web: http://www.amb-usa.fr

American Consulate in Rennes

30, quai Duguay-Trouin

35000 Rennes

Tel: 33-2-23-44-09-60

Fax: 33-2-99-35-00-92

Web: http://www.amb-usa.fr/rennes

Program Dates

Fall 2009

August 23 Depart US

August 24 Arrive Paris

August 24 - 27 Paris / Rennes Orientation

August 27 Transfer to Rennes

August 31 Pre-program

September 14 Semester starts

Oct. 24 - Nov. 1st Fall Break

December 19 Departure Date/End of program

Spring 2010

Mid January – Late May

Dates to be available September 15, 2009.

Preparations Before Leaving

Refer to the Pre-Departure Checklist on pages four and five of the IAP Study Abroad Handbook as well as your CIEE handbook for essential information.

Immigration Documents

Participants will need to obtain a student visa. CIEE will provide program participants with application instructions as well as necessary documents to apply for the student visa. Contact CIEE with any specific visa questions.

Handling Money Abroad

The currency of France and much of the European Union is the Euro broken down into 100 cents. You have several options for getting money in Rennes. Past participants recommend that you come with two or three ways to obtain money so that, in the event that one method fails or is in-convenient, you will have a back-up option. Most students recommend planning to use credit and debit cards and having traveler’s checks as a back-up in case your cards are stolen.

Visa, American Express, and MasterCard are widely recognized. They're great for emergencies and, with a Personal Identification Number you can withdraw money from ATMs. Cash advances cost less from ATMs than those made at banks or exchange offices. Pay off these cash advances quickly though, as the service charge and interest rates are high.

Note, however, that the French use Debit and Credit cards for purchases far less than Americans. While some larger stores may accept a card, expect to use cash for your day to day

Packing

Please see your CIEE Rennes handbook (pages 12-13)

Electronics

Electrical current in France, as in nearly all of Europe, is 220 volts, 50 cycle AC (hertz). Electric converters and adaptors must be used to connect North American equipment. Travel supply shops and some hardware stores in the U.S. carry them. Al-though converters and adapters are available in France, it will be easier and less expensive to buy them before you go.

If you are buying any new electric items to bring with you, try to get dual-voltage models so you will not need a converter at all-though you will still need the adapter plug. The French plug is a standard European plug with two round prongs.

Most laptops have a built in voltage converter – check your manufacturer if you are not sure. You will still need an adapter if you choose to bring your laptop.

Travel and Arrival Information

Travel and Arrival Information will be provided by CIEE. There will be a “Meet and Greet” at the airport in Paris where you will then check into your hotel and later participate in the Welcome Dinner. A group bus will be arranged to take you to Rennes following the days in Paris. Please see your CIEE Handbook for more details.

NOTE: Even if you have a VISA, you may be requested to show the following elements to the French border police upon arrival:

· a valid passport (still valid 3 months after your return from France)

· a return plane ticket (for a short stay only)

· means of support during the stay (cash, credit cards, traveler cheques...)

· accommodation reservations, and, for some visa holders only : an "attestation d’accueil"

· medical coverage abroad (travel insurance recommended)

*Refer to the web site for the French consulate in Chicago for more information: http://www.consulfrance-chicago.org/spip.php?article473

The Academic Program

General Information

The Centre International Rennais d’Étude du Français pour les Etrangers (CIREFE) teaches both French language and content courses. The University of Haute Bretagne (UHB) is divided into two campuses: Rennes I (the science division) and Rennes II (the humanities division). Students will take class at the CIREFE and may also have the opportunity to take classes at Rennes II.

After a three-day orientation in Paris, students are enrolled in a two-week intensive language course. Following this course, and based on the results of a placement exam, students enroll in semester-long classes at the CIREFE and Rennes II.

Course Information

All students are required to take the intensive language course at the beginning of the semester. After this course, students enroll in a required language course at their level of placement, and then enroll in three to five content courses. Content courses include courses on French literature, civilization, history, international relations, art, film and media. Students who place into the advanced level may take one to two courses at Rennes II. Placements during the spring semester for academic year students are dependent on their performance during the fall semester.

For information regarding required courses, see the CIEE academic information on line (http://ciee.org) or in the CIEE catalogue. For information about CIREFE courses and levels, consult their website at http://www.uhb.fr/cirefe (Information is more complete on the French version of the site; change language to French at top of screen).

Registration

Registration information will be provided by CIEE. In general, CIEE will communicate with you by email. You will receive detailed information on courses and requirements in your online CIEE acceptance materials. Read all of the CIEE materials carefully and return all CIEE forms directly to CIEE by their deadline date.

Equivalents and Course Equivalent Request Form (CERF)

Each course you take abroad must be assigned a UW-Madison “equivalent” course in order for your grades and credits to be recorded on your UW-Madison transcript. In order to establish UW-Madison course equivalents for your study abroad courses, you will submit a Course Equivalent Request Form (CERF). Information on the UW course equivalent process is available in the IAP Study Abroad Handbook.

For the preliminary language course, students will receive two credits for the next course in the French language sequence. (French 228, 311, 312, 523)

For the French language course, Comprehension and Oral Expression course, and the written expression course, students will continue to receive credits in the French language sequence.

Credits

Conversions

The intensive language course is worth 2 credits. The typical semester course on this program is worth 2 to 3 UW-Madison credits.

Limits and Load

Students must take a minimum of 14 semester credits. The maximum number of credits per semester is limited to 18, which includes the credits received from the Intensive Language Course.

Pass/Fail/Drop/Audit

Please refer to the IAP Study Abroad Handbook for Academic Policies. Please be aware that there are no pass/fail privileges for pre-session courses.

Grades and Grade Conversions

Haute Bretagne Grades

CIEE Center in Paris

UW Madison Equivalent

15+

14 – 14.9

A-

13 – 13.9

B+

12 – 12.9

11.5 – 11.9

B-

11 – 11.4

C+

9.5 – 10.9

C / C-

7.5 – 9.4

Below 7.5

Living Abroad

About Rennes:

The city of Rennes is home to over 250,000 people in its urban center and is located in the east of Brittany. As the medieval capital of Brittany in times past, Rennes has historically established itself as a hub for the arts and culture, and continues to cultivate this identity today. Annual festivals held in the city are well-known throughout France, and its museums are considered to be some of the most beautiful in the region. The city has a large student population supported by two universities, making clubs and activities available for the younger population. Geographically, Rennes is divided by the Vilaine river and includes the pretty medieval streets around the Place des Lices. Here you'll find half timbered houses, designer boutiques and chic bars & restaurants.

Source: Wikipedia.com, Justtourfrance.com and Sitesatlas.com

Educate yourself about your host country. Read the Preparing to Live in Another Culture section of the IAP Study Abroad Handbook. Consult the following resources as well as travel books and program binders in the Study Abroad Resource Room (250 Bascom Hall). Remember - It won't be possible to prepare yourself completely. There will be situations you will not have anticipated and your flexibility will determine in great part the kind of experience you will have while abroad.

Housing

Housing and all meals are included in the program fee. During the program, students live in French homes. Students eat breakfast and dinner Monday through Friday and all weekend meals at the place of residence. Meal tickets are distributed for lunches during the week. The Resident Director and the Student Services Coordinator meet with students individually to confirm their housing. For more information on housing, please see your CIEE handbook. You’ll also complete a Housing Online Questionnaire to help determine your housing placement.

Student Life

Every French University has a CROUS: Centre Régional des OEuvres Universitaires et Sco-laires. Each CROUS is responsible for the cultural and sports facilities generally located on its particular campus; it also supplies information on all the cultural and sports activities in the area by means of circulars, monthly bulletins, and posters in the university restaurants and dormitories. In addition to these services, CROUS has a valuable travel service that supplies Billet BIGE/ Transalpino tickets. These student discount tickets (half price) are good for trains going to destinations in all parts of France and Europe. Billet BIGE tickets have some restric-tions, but they probably are the best way to travel if you do not have a rail pass. Billet BIGE tickets cannot be bought at the train station.

You can also take advantage of the services provided by the MJC, the Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture. The MJC serves as a meeting place for students and provides various social and educational activities. Through the MJC, you can pursue your interests, whether they are intellectual, artistic, or athletic.

Transportation

Buses

Buses run every 15 minutes. You can buy a car-net, a book of ten tickets or a monthly pass. A French student monitor will show you how to buy a carnet and help you find the best bus route from your home to classes. Currently a monthly bus/metro pass costs 23.80 – 26.90 €. Note that students will need to use public transportation on a daily basis to get to and from class.

Subway

Rennes is one of the smallest cities in the world with a subway system. The tickets for the bus system also work on the metro (VAL). With a stop near the UHB, most students will find that the VAL is the fastest and easiest way to school. A combination ticket (bus + VAL) will be available and explained during orientation.

Safety

Although Rennes is safer than Paris, you must be careful about what you do and where you go, just as you would in any major city in the world. Follow these general rules:

•Tourists are common targets for pickpockets. Be aware of your backpacks and camera especially on crowded buses. Don't car-ry large amounts of cash or your passport with you. Never leave belongings in a parked car.

• Keep a suitcase that can be locked under your bed and leave your money, passport, camera, and other valuables secured in it or in the hotel safe.