French - Study & Travel

Here at Waikato we strongly encourage students of French to spend time in a francophone country during or after their studies. As well as being a chance to discover different cultures, it's also the best way to boost spoken language skills. Here are some of the ways to live, work or study in metropolitan France or in one of the French Pacific territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis & Futuna)

1. Student exchange agreements

a) La Rochelle University:
Study in the beautiful French city of La Rochelle for a semester or two and get your courses credited to your Waikato degree. Semester One starts in October, Semester Two in February. For more details see  www.waikato.ac.nz/international/students/exchange/index.shtml.

b) Avignon University:
This is a teaching and study agreement for students who have already completed their first degree and wish to carry out research in French at Honours or Masters level.

The teaching part consists of English conversation tutorials at the University of Avignon in Provence. You also teach a number of hours of English conversation at a local high school in exchange for free accommodation.

The study part consists of attending classes at the University of Avignon to be credited to a Waikato BA(Hons) or MA. There is usually also research work that leads to the writing-up of a 2-paper dissertation, co-supervised by Avignon and Waikato universities. For more details see  www.waikato.ac.nz/international/students/exchange/index.shtml.

2. Scholarships

Open to students of French, at Honours level and above, who want to study, carry out research or take part in a training course in a French university or research institution. It can be in Science, Law, Computing and many other subjects. www.campusfrance.org is a database of French courses. See the French Embassy website for more: www.ambafrance-nz.org.
Tenure is usually for one academic year but may be extended to three years to enable completion of a PhD. Applications also have to be made by 31st August of the preceding year.

3. Teaching assistantships in France, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis & Futuna

Work as an English-language assistant in a French primary or secondary school. Your contract is for about 7 months, starting on 1st October (or on 1st March in New Caledonia). If you haven't finished your university study, special arrangements can be made to sit the final exam overseas.

The assistant's job is up to 12 hours of English conversation per week. Prior teaching experience is not necessary. Accommodation and some meals are usually provided by the school at little or no cost, and the pay (and free time!) gives you lots of time to travel and study at a local university. The application deadline is about ten months before the contract starts.

More information and application forms are available at the French Embassy website: www.ambafrance-nz.org.

4. Working holiday scheme

An agreement between the governments of New Zealand and France has just been signed, "allowing young citizens of each of the two countries to stay in the other, on an individual basis, with the aim of holidaying there, with the possibility of undertaking employment in the country and, as a secondary consideration, to engage in full or part-time employment as a means of supplementing the funds they have available."

Each country will issue a multiple-entry Working Holiday visa, valid for one year, to people aged between 18 and 30, provided they have either a return ticket or an onward ticket to a third country, and that they possess sufficient funds to cover their expenses at the beginning of their stay [minimum 2,700 francs ($900) per month].

When New Zealanders in possession of a Working Holiday visa find employment in France, they will automatically be granted a temporary work permit for the expected duration of the position. This may be renewed up to the limit of the authorised length of stay (1 year).

Applications to participate in this scheme should be made to the French Embassy in Wellington.

For further information please contact:

William Jennings, Convenor of French, Email w.jennings@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: +64 7 838 4466, ext: 8446