FRANCE - ISEP Université de Savoie: Business and Sports

To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Good academic and judicial standing during time of application AND time of participation in program
• Undergraduates must have completed at least two semesters of study at Lake Forest College AND have sophomore status or higher before participation. 
• At least 18 years of age by the program’s departure date. 
• Be able to stay at the host program for the duration of the semester, including through the exam and travel periods
• Minimum GPA of 2.75.  
• Language Requirement: It is preferred that students have completed at least 2 semesters of college-level French or at least French in high school. There may be flexibility, but it is not guaranteed.
• The student must submit ISEP language proficiency report in the application, even if native speaker.

Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information).

The Annecy-le-Vieux campus is situated on the northeastern shore of the gorgeous Lake Annecy. Annecy-le-Vieux has located a short 3 km away from the center of Annecy, the largest city of Haute-Savoie. Annecy is known for its charming city streets, proximity to lake and winter sports, and its cultural heritage dating back to the 10th century. Students have access to on campus dining facilities and student residence halls directly on campus. 

The university has now developed “study in ENGLISH and improve your French” semesters, offering academic study in English in some of the university’s key specialist areas. These are component parts of bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees which they now teach in English, completed by credit-bearing courses in French as a foreign language, enabling incoming foreign students to complete their academic disciplinary studies in English while improving their knowledge of French language expression and contemporary French society and culture.

Within this context, incoming ISEP students can choose to take the full program offerings presented below, or limit their choice to certain courses. Students can also add courses from other departments to create a course list to fit their academic needs. 

IUT Faculty- International Industrial & Business Management 

Objectives:

• Offer international students the opportunity to develop their skills in industrial and business management in one of the most economically active regions in France
• Train students by providing them with an international experience both inside and outside of the classroom via company visits and a group project based on a company’s real needs

Course content: 10 modules (three ECTS each):

• Business and intercultural communication
• International issues in management
• Export management
• Strategic innovation management
• Managing and monitoring projects
• Management and improvement using quality
• Supply chain management
• Business information systems
• French language and culture
• Group project

For program syllabi, click HERE

IUT Faculty- International Sales Specialists in Sport

Objectives:

• To train future international sales representatives and managers to master applied sales techniques in the outdoor sports industry and to be capable of working in an international environment. The curriculum will provide a solid understanding of sales and operational marketing techniques for the sports markets.

Course Content: 

• Sports industry culture
• Sustainable development in the sports industry
• Sports markets
• Sports industry marketing
• Product design and technical tools
• Consumer behavior and market studies
• Sports goods distribution
• International trade
• Sales techniques and negotiations
• Operational marketing

For a full list of courses & syllabi, click HERE 

IAE Faculty- International Semester in Management 

Course Content: 

• Economic analysis
• Human resource management
• Information system
• International project management
• Marketing management
• Marketing research
• Negotiation techniques
• French as a Foreign language

For a full list of courses and syllabi, click HERE.

ISEP Exchange
Students typically enroll in 6-8 classes per term which average to 12-16 hours in class per week. A term runs for 12-14 weeks.  Students must take 30 ECTS credits to earn 4 Lake Forest credits.

French universities operate in ways that are quite different from the system with which you are familiar. Understanding the differences will help you plan your program of study in France, use your time effectively while you are there and return with transferable credits. French students follow a highly structured curriculum specific to the degree they are pursuing from day one at the university. They do not take “liberal arts” or general education requirements for 2 years before focusing on a major or area of study as most U.S. students do. 

Please understand that the academic system is quite different. Classes are usually lecture-based, instead of discussion or group work. Classes are often much larger than those found at Lake Forest College. Grades are based heavily, at times almost entirely, on one end-of-term exam, though some courses will also offer a midterm.  Professors are often more formal than those in the United States.

All courses/modules may have prerequisites.  Some departments may have limitations on numbers of courses that can be taken within or outside it.  Be aware of these limitations.

Special Application Instructions 

When filling out your ISEP application, please specify your faculty of interest. 

Non-native English speakers must provide TOEFL scores or a Language Proficiency Report. 

Non-native French speakers must still submit at Language Proficiency Report for French and a French essay. Students with no French background should contact the ISEP Program Officer for France before applying for this program.

Please review the ISEP country handbook for more information on the education system, grades, class hours, and classroom etiquette.

Université de Savoie is a medium-sized university (12,000 students) with three campuses. Good facilities are offered (library, computing, sports, accommodation) along with special attention paid to assistance for induction, French language, “brush-up” sessions, help with administrative procedures, and organized visits to the region.

Students should note that, while courses are offered in English, students should have a working knowledge of the French language in order to navigate daily life in small-town France. ISEP recommends at least 2 semesters of French or an A2 French language level. This may be flexible if students are willing to put in the time for independent language study, but this is not guaranteed.

ORIENTATION

ISEP students receive a special orientation upon arrival that includes academic and administrative information and details about the various excursions and activities that take place during the semester. The International Office provides assistance and guidance regarding registration, academic affairs, an organization of classes, exams and grading systems, and all administrative procedures. The “Student Welcoming Committee” assigns a local student as a contact person, responsible for providing a campus tour, an introduction to sports and other activities on campus, integration with the cultural and social activities in the city, and contacts with the local student body. 

ARRIVAL DETAILS 

Host will provide arrival directions with acceptance packet.

ISEP Exchange
Students are housed either shared apartments (private bedroom), or individual study bedroom with en-suite facilities. A meal plan at the restaurant-Universitaire, supplemented by a stipend, is provided. 

For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for ISEP Exchange to Savoie includes housing, university fees, and a meal plan for 19 meals per week.

Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 programs:

Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of January 2018. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change.

You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution.

Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices.  

Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.