Why Study at the Université de Haute Alsace?

1. Location: Mulhouse is located in Alsace, a few miles to the west of the Rhine River that forms the border of France and Germany, a mere twenty-minute train ride from Basel (Bâle), Switzerland, a few minutes' drive from the colorful Vosges mountains, and in the heart of the Alsacian wine country of rolling vineyards and quaint villages. Immediately to the north lie Colmar and Strasbourg, tourist and metropolitan centers of great historical, architectural and culinary interest.

Official City of Mulhouse Website

Official Website of the Universite de Haute Alsace

Downtown Mulhouse at Christmas.

Photos courtesy of Josh Black

2. Mulhouse, the city: Mulhouse is a medium sized city in which it is easy to find one's way. The metropolitan area supports approximately the same number of people as the Columbia area; therefore there are many cultural and recreational facilities and activities. Public transportation is efficient and inexpensive. Its population, of French-German heritage, is warm and welcoming to the foreign student. Further, there are relatively few English-speaking inhabitants: the student must speak French in order to communicate, and French language enhancement is of course a primary goal of the program. Too, Mulhouse has its share of fine restaurants offering traditional French dishes and regional specialties-such as choucroute garnie and an assortment of delicious pastries.

3. The Université de Haute Alsace itself: The Université is a small institution with many small classes. Students thus may receive the individual attention that would not be possible at larger institutions. The atmosphere is that of a small college campus: students are amicable and accommodating. Friendships are easily made and USC students soon feel quite at ease within this new social and academic atmosphere. Culture shock is thereby reduced and the learning experience is accelerated; academics are enhanced, the culture becomes readily accessible, and-many students attest-the social life can be even more rewarding than at USC. It is in this healthy and authentic atmosphere, that of an authentic French university, that participants grow and mature as students and as people.

General Characteristics of the Program

1. Requirements for admission:

a. Submission of a South Carolina Study Abroad application form, including references, Request to Earn Credit Through Special Enrollment, health statement, and transcripts by February 1st.

b. Completion of at least one advanced level French course (normally 390, 391 or a 400 or 500 level course or equivalent).

c. Normally, students must be enrolled on a campus of the USC system.

2. Courses Available, Credits and Grades:

a. Courses are available in the following subjects: thème, version, history, art history, computer science, literature, linguistics, phonetics, sociology, psychology, German language and literature, and so on. Cooperative agreements with nearby institutions in Switzerland allow for expanded individualized programs in French, German and English.

b. Credits are established by report from the Mulhouse director in close consultation with the students' individual professors in France. The USC-Columbia director is responsible for coordinating credits and major or minor requirement satisfaction in consultation departmental undergraduate advisors.

c. A written report is submitted to the registrar and to the student to document student perfor-mance in Mulhouse. Since the French system normally recognizes only full year courses, credits are earned in one of two ways: to earn 6 credit hours, students may satisfy all usual course requirements, including final exam; to earn 3 credit hours, the student may satisfy all usual course requirements except the final exam, in lieu of which a written report of some twenty pages (pre-approved by the USC director) is submitted to the USC director for evaluation prior to return. It is recommended that students take at least two courses entailing a final examination, and required that they take at least one such course.

d. A maximum of 30 credit hours can be earned per year. College credits are granted by the University of South Carolina, and USC in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees are in effect. The awarding of GPA quality points is subject to University policy.

3. Faculty: The faculty are exclusively those of the Université de Haute Alsace, unless the student has permission to enroll in a course on a nearby consortium campus (e.g., L'Université de Bâle, Switzerland).

4. Calendar: The academic year lasts from October to June. Vacations are taken at Christmas and in the spring, allowing for travel on the continent.

5. Travel, Accommodations and Meals: Transportation is arranged individually by the participant, in consultation with the program director. Housing is normally available at the Cité Universitaire in private rooms with communal kitchen facilities. Costs are generally lower than at USC. Students have access to University restaurants which generally charge less per meal than their USC counterparts.

6. Cost: Exclusive of travel, an academic year in Mulhouse should cost no more than an academic year at USC, perhaps less for the careful spender. Tuition is paid to USC at the usual rates. Only a moderate insurance fee is paid in Mulhouse.

University-approved grants and financial aid are applicable to this program. Scholarship monies are available for competitive students .

Further information is available from the director. Application forms are available at the USC Study Abroad office, International Programs for Students, first floor Byrnes Center, Campus.

Who is eligible?

The USC/UHA program is an exchange program. The number of participants is limited by the number of mutual exchangees in a given year. The program is designed for students who have already acquired a proficiency in French and a familiarity with French culture and letters that will allow them to function effectively within an authentic French university, as opposed to an institute for foreigners. Courses are both demanding and rewarding. Students are selected competitively by the Study Abroad committee of the Department of French and Classics, upon application. An interview and an essay in French may be included as part of the selection process. Both are part of the screening process for those seeking scholarships (see item 6 under "Cost").

The USC/UHA program is open to eligible majors in all disciplines. Overall performance in all courses counts heavily in selection decisions, but excellence in French courses and language proficiency carry the greatest weight.

Further information is available from the director. Application forms are available at the USC Study Abroad office, International Programs for Students, first floor Byrnes Center, Campus.

Lucille Mould
Dept.of Languages, Literatures, & Cultures
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
USA
(803) 777-2613
Fax (803) 777-0454
Email: mouldl@sc.edu