Want to study abroad in France this summer?
Participate in one — or both! — of the following opportunities facilitated by UBC Go Global.
Student testimonial and recap video:
FREN 395—The French Revolution: History, Myth, and Fiction (3 credits)
May 4 – June 8, 2026:
Overview:
- Location: France (Paris, Lyon, Vizille)
- Language of instruction: French
- UBC instructor: Dr. Joël Castonguay-Bélanger
Application deadline:
- December 10, 2025
Information session:
- Wednesday, November 5
- 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- UBC Life Building – Room 1505
- RSVP here
Description:
The French Revolution of 1789 left a profound mark on the French imagination. As a foundational rupture, it inspired a considerable amount of discourse aimed at recounting, explaining, and commenting on this event, which sought to break free from the old order and build a new world. Novels, poems, songs, plays, newspapers, engravings, and pamphlets published during the decade of 1789-1799 attempted to capture this revolution as much as they contributed to its mythologization. More than two centuries later, the representation of this political and social upheaval remains a significant aspect of French identity. Historians, writers and filmmakers continue to share the duty of questioning these years of euphoria and violence to give them meaning for the present.
Through a combination of visits of historical landmarks and museums, and the study of authentic 18th-century documents and contemporary fictions, this course aims to equip students with the necessary tools to better understand this event, its legacy, and the debates around its diverse interpretations. It also seeks to provoke a general reflection on the relationships between history and fiction and on the recurring debates surrounding the representations given to the origins and repercussions of this period in French history.
Université Lumière Lyon 2 CIEF French Language and Culture Summer School (3 credits)
Early June – Early July 2026 (4 weeks):
Overview:
- Location: France (Lyon)
- Language of instruction: English and French (open to anyone)
Application deadline:
- December 10, 2025
Description:
Spend four weeks discovering Lyon and the beauty of the region all while improving your French. Open to students of all levels of French language proficiency, the CIEF Summer School provides language courses in the mornings to help students develop written and oral skills for comprehension and linguistic expression. Then in the afternoons, students engage in collaborative project-based learning. The CIEF Leisure team organizes immersive cultural experiences and outings throughout the program such as sampling local gastronomy and a field trip to Annecy. More specific and finalized program details can be found on the partner institution’s website. However, you must apply through Go Global to be considered for this program and ensure you follow the appropriate transfer credit process.
Students can participate in one of the opportunities for 3 credits, or both opportunities for 6 credits. They can be done back-to-back. Apply separately.
If you have questions, please contact the Go Global office.
