Study in French at an advanced level in Poitiers, a quintessential French town with a strong university and student culture.

What is unique about this program?

This is a full immersion program with few other study abroad students.

Middlebury's C.V. Starr School in France has been offering undergraduate students the opportunity to study at the Université de Poitiers since fall 2002. Founded in the fifteenth century, the University of Poitiers enrolls approximately 28,000 students who comprise one quarter of the city's population. Students can enroll in virtually all disciplines in Poitiers, including science and mathematics. The main campus is located a mere 20 minutes by bus from the picturesque city center. This program offers students the opportunity to spend their time abroad in a full-immersion environment within a French institution of higher education.  STEM students can join a lab for 5-6 weeks in May-June.

Why Poitiers?

Poitiers is a great university city with few Americans.  Conveniently located between Paris and Bordeaux- only an hour and a half by TGV (Train de grand vitesse) from either- the cobblestone city of Poitiers is the capital of the Poitou-Charentes region, close to La Rochelle and Ile de Ré, and beyond the major tourist attractions of the Loire valley. Once the haunting ground of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and home to both medieval cloisters and the ultra modern Futuroscope park, Poitiers is a blend of the ancient and contemporary.

How do I choose among programs?

• See the Office of Global Learning’s “Selecting a Program” page for information on program types and considerations
• Use the search features on the Experience Cornell  Opportunities page to filter for programs approved by your college, and by particular subject areas
• Go to the “Get Advice” page for information on drop-in advising hours, scheduling an advising appointment, returned student contacts, and college advisors for study abroad
• Find out about upcoming events, check out FAQs, and read stories from returned study abroad students

How do I apply?

Applying to study abroad is a two-step process. You may complete both steps simultaneously, but the Cornell approval process must be complete before your program advisor in the Office of Global Learning can submit any approval or nomination to the program.

1. For Cornell Approval, click on the "Apply" button on this webpage. Applications are approved by the Office of Global Learning on a rolling basis until the application deadline listed on this page.
2. For Program Admission, complete an external application directly on the program’s webpage, using the link in the “Snapshot” section. (Note: This deadline may be in advance of the general Cornell deadline for approval. Many programs fill by rolling admission.)