Paris Academic Institution

Accreditation

Catholic University of Paris is monitored by the French Ministry of National Education and a member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC).

Available Programs French Culture & Society Choose... 2010 July 4-Week French Language Immersion Choose... 2010 Spring Semester 2010 July 4-Week 2010 July/August Combo 2010 August 4-Week 2010 Fall Semester 2010/2011 Year

Catholic University of Paris

Catholic University of Paris is a prestigious French university that has welcomed international students to its campus since 1948. Courses are held on Catholic University of Paris's campus in the 6th arrondissement, in the heart of historical Paris. Students are a stone's throw away from the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Montparnasse. Catholic University of Paris, founded in 1875, is considered one of the most renowned universities in Paris and is not only monitored by the French Ministry of National Education, but is also a member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC). Students who successfully complete their program will be issued an official transcript from Catholic University of Paris.

CEA students attend classes with other international students at the Institute for L'Institut de Langues et de Culture Françaises (ILCF), the University's center for French Language and Culture. The professors at ILCF specialize in teaching French as a foreign language to students of all language levels and make international students feel welcome. Out of a total student population of 30,000, there are approximately 3,500 students representing 120 countries. This gives CEA students the opportunity to meet many of the world's cultures in one of Europe's most diverse and exciting cities.

Catholic University of Paris offers a variety of services to CEA students including university ID card, Catholic University of Paris libraries, computer labs, university cafeteria (CROUS), and Cultural Activities Office.

Classroom Information

• Language and elective courses are taught by faculty at Catholic University of Paris through Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises.
• Periodic exams, homework assignments and final exams will be administered.
• Attendance of classes is mandatory and monitored by each professor.
• Class size range between 10 and 25 students allowing more personalized attention.
• Classes are specifically offered to be taken with other international students of equivalent language level and not with native French students.
• French style of teaching is different from those found in the U.S. or Canada. Be prepared to adapt to the different classroom structure and coursework expectation for your school.

Grading

The French grading system is based on a scale of 20, as opposed to 100 in the US system. It would be inaccurate to merely multiply a French grade by a factor of five to find its U.S. equivalent. Grades in France are awarded on a scale of 1-20, but the tradition is such that grades higher than 16 are seldom awarded. The passing grade for a single subject is usually 10/20 although grades of 8 and 9 can indicate satisfactory performance. Grading in France is particularly severe and can vary from one institution to another and from one course to another.

The Franco-American Commission for Educational Exchange recommends the following comparison of grades:

French Number Grade	US Letter Equivalent
14-20	A
12-13.9	B+
11-11.9	B
10.5-10.9	B-
10.1-10.4	C+
10	C
9-9.9	C-
8-8.9	D
0-7.9	F

Finally, French diplomas often include one of the following five “mentions” which we have translated into English:

RESOURCES

• Interpretation of the French scale in terms of American grading standards was taken from the website of World Education Services, WES (www.wes.org).
• The Franco-American Commission for Educational Exchange supports the interpretation of the French scale provided by WES.
• For more information regarding the French educational system refer to:
• Assefa, A. Mariam. France: A Study of the Education System of France and a Guide to the Academic Placement of Students in Educational Institutions in the United States. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 1988.