What costs are involved?

Exchange Program

Since this program is an exchange in the true sense of the word--with French and American students "trading places" and becoming fully integrated into student life -- a UVA student pays:

• UVA tuition and fees;
• $102 leave of absence fee;
• $500 program fee per semester (see below for details);
• Approx. 310 Euros for 3-week (3-credit) intensive language and culture course prior to the start of classes.

• monthly bread and cheese gatherings;
• monthly group cultural activities;
• 6 hours of personal tutoring in writing skills for French university course assignments;

Students are responsible for:
Airfare; local transportation; housing; insurance; personal travel; ISIC card; laundry.

N.B.: Students taking all their courses at the C.I.E.F. must pay an additional fee of approx. 770 Euros. Please check CIEF brochure for details.

Study Abroad Program

Program fee: $5,950 per semester.

Price includes:

• tuition;
• a 3-week (3-credit) intensive language and culture course prior to the start of classes;
• one week stay in a residence hotel upon arrival;
• 6 hours of personal tutoring in writing skills for French university course assignments;;
• monthly group cultural activities;
• monthly bread and cheese gatherings hosted by the UVA program's onsite coordinators.

Students are responsible for:
Airfare; local transportation; housing; insurance; UVA leave of absence fee; personal travel; ISIC card; laundry.

N.B.: Students taking all their courses at the C.I.E.F. must pay an additional fee of approx. 770 Euros. Please check CIEF brochure for details.

 INSURANCE

Medical
Health insurance is required of anyone applying for student status in France. The purchase of French national health insurance --"la sécurité sociale"--is required by law of all student who will spend the entire academic year in France, at a cost of approximately $160 per year (2002-2003). (Students spending only one semester in France are prohibited from purchasing this insurance.) Students should verify that their personal health insurance policy cover them while in Europe. Please realize that health care providers in France will expect immediate payment for services. You must then make arrangements with your insurance provider for reiumbursement. If your personal or family insurance policy will not cover you in France, health insurance may be purchased for the month from the CIEE - see www.ciee.org for details.
For Fall semester students only: Students should make sure that they have personal insurance coverage for the month of September since the French sécurité sociale may only become operative near the end of the month.

Responsabilité civile
Additionally, UVA students are required by the French government to contract "civil liability insurance" ("assurance de responsabilité civile") at a cost of approximately $20 (a one-time fee). This insurance covers you in case of any damage you may inflict by accident on another person or his/her property. This type of insurance is usually required when you rent an apartment and is mandatory for internships and even certain courses with labs, field trips etc. Details will be provided in Lyon.

Repatriation insurance
All UVA students who study abroad are required to obtain an International Student ID card -- known as the ISIC card -- prior to departure, at an approximate cost of $25. (See STA in Newcomb Hall for details.) This card comes with repatriation insurance in case you need to return to the United States for medical attention.

 HOUSING:

Students will select their own housing in Lyon with the help of the on-site manager Barbara Michelot. Housing costs in Lyon are cheaper than in Paris and slightly higher than in Charlottesville. Housing costs will depend on the type of housing selected by the student. It can range from 350-600€/month for an individual studio apartment, a private student residential hall, or staying with a host family. (The intermediary range --i.e. sharing an apartment--is approx 350-400€/month) Students should plan on bringing three months rent (the first month plus a two-month deposit, refundable at the end of the stay if the condition of the apartment is in its original state). It is possible to apply for a French government housing subsidy for students. Inquire about this upon arrival in France. Barbara Michelot can help you with this. Once you have selected your living arrangement, please continue to speak directly to Barbara Michelot (rather than the landlord) about any modifications to your situation.

Total Housing Cost: 350-600€/month

In order to help you budget appropriately for your academic experience in France, please see the ISO Lyon Study Abroad Handbook (.pdf file) for a more detailed cost list.

Transportation:
Public transportation in Lyon is safe and easy to use. The TCL (Transports en Commun de Lyon) network runs from 5 am until midnight daily. More detailed information on how to obtain tickets and passes is also included in the study abroad handbook.

There are two main train stations in Lyon: Perrache and Part-Dieu. All of the high speed trains (TGV) stop at Part-Dieu. A shuttle bus links the airport to both railway stations.