in the gardens of Versailles

The bells of Notre Dame de Versailles have begun to chime as you step out from your apartment building onto the cobblestone street. You make your way through the bustling Place Carnot and stop at the corner boulangerie to grab a pain aux raisins on your way to class. It's 8:43. You quicken your step as you approach the wide boulevards radiating out from the Place d'Armes until you reach the Petites Ecuries du Roy. Here, in the grand stable complex of the Sun King, you pass through the courtyard, pausing a moment to observe the busloads of tourists arriving at the chateau, then head upstairs to class.

Sound tempting?

Versailles Program

Since 1967, architecture students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have had a unique opportunity to participate in a special European travel-study program. Since 1970, the program has been hosted by the Ecole d'Architecture de Versailles, one of eight architecture schools in the Paris region. Each year, approximately forty-eight students spend their junior year living, studying, learning and delighting in the historically and architecturally significant city of Versailles, thanks to the School of Architecture 's ongoing relationship with the Ecole d'Architecture. The program uses both historic and modern European architecture to help students sharpen their awareness of buildings and cities. Program participants not only gain a deeper understanding of Europe 's rich architectural heritage, but they also learn to appreciate other cultures and to open their minds to a world of possibilities.

Eligibility and Preparation

The study abroad program is planned for students who will be in the junior year of their undergraduate architectural studies program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Occasionally M. Arch Limited Standing graduate students are also able to participate and should contact their advisor for more details.

Participants must meet the following criteria:

be enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
have a strong academic record (high GPA, no academic probation)
be making normal progress in the curriculum's course-sequence (62 credit hours earned before leaving for France )
be without encumbrances (all university encumbrances must be cleared before departure)
make all scheduled program payments
complete preparatory French language course during spring semester before program begins

From the list of eligible applicants, the International Programs and Relations Committee of the School of Architecture selects the list of participants and alternates with the approval of the Associate Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts.

In order to graduate on time, participants are advised to accumulate all 62 credit hours recommended before departure for France. All participants are required to complete a special introductory French language course or a more advanced course offered by the French department during the spring semester before the program.

Application Procedures

Applications for admission can be obtained from Rhonda Frank, the International Programs Secretary, or online. There is a $30 non-refundable program fee due at the time of application. Please supply all information requested on the application form, as it is required in making arrangements for students to participate in the program.

Program Schedule

The program usually departs from Chicago the day after Labor Day (Tuesday). The yearlong program of studies is organized into four major components: orientation (September), fall semester (September-December), spring semester (January-April), and April travel/study break (April-May).

During the semesters, daily schedules may be more similar to high school than college. Courses meet all day, most days of the week. The schedule is compressed to accommodate the study-travel periods. Students often improve their time-management skills in order to complete academic work, do laundry and shopping before stores close, explore Paris and still get away for the weekend.

Discover Another Culture: The Orientation Program

The Ecole d’Architecture de Versailles

During the first four weeks of the semester, a special orientation program introduces the student to European culture before they become immersed in academic work. The program consists of an introduction to the history, language and culture of France and the Paris region. Through classes, lectures and guided-trips, the orientation month helps students settle into their new environment. Students receive information on resources and opportunities in the area and have time to adjust while exploring Versailles, Paris, and France.

By being exposed to a variety of cultures, participants in the Versailles program gain a better understanding of the inherent relationship between a culture and its architecture. Students who study in Versailles deepen their knowledge of buildings and cities and this knowledge is reinforced in their work. Often, the new perspectives opened by European study increase students' interest in their homeland; many return with a new sensitivity to the architecture and culture of the United States.

Course of Study

the view from studio

The program of study in Versailles includes courses in architectural design, history, and structures (all academically equivalent to those offered in Urbana) and additional course activities with seminar and independent study credit. Classroom activities are supplemented by guest lectures, field trips, and directed independent study-travel. The program draws on the uniqueness of its European setting to illustrate important principles and heighten learning.

In the design studios, students develop sensitivity to context through projects sited in European settings. Studio workspace is assigned in ateliers alongside French students. Architectural history courses include visits to exemplary historic and contemporary buildings. Students take the same sequence of structures courses as they would on the Urbana campus. Additional course credit is provided for participation in the orientation program, for optional French language classes, for sketching assignments and for seminars (usually focusing on some aspect of the European experience). All courses are taught in English by faculty appointed by the University of Illinois.

Explore Europe

Versailles is ideally located: it's just outside Paris and it's linked to all of Europe by excellent and affordable transportation systems. Paris's central location means Scotland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Scandinavia and Spain are all less than a day away by train or car.

sketching in Athens

A ten-day to two-week period is scheduled in each semester to allow students to travel and study across Europe on an independent basis. Each student is required to plan his or her own travel-study period; traveling in small groups is encouraged. During these breaks, students are required to keep sketchbooks as visual journals of their experiences. Sketching helps students learn to study architecture in detail and improves their ability to communicate visual concepts on paper. In addition to helping students develop professional skills, the sketchbooks often become valuable references and treasured keepsakes.

The April travel-study is a three-and-a-half week period during which students participate in an organized two-week "sketch trip" led by visiting instructors followed by time for independent travel. The longer time period allows students to travel to destinations that are further away from Paris such as Russia, East Europe, Scandinavia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and/or African countries.

Program Costs for 2008-09

Note: The costs presented here are estimates and subject to change.

In addition to university tuition and fees (currently $8,594/year for Illinois residents; $21,514/year for non-residents), participants in the program must pay a $12,500 fee to cover round-trip airfare Paris-Chicago, housing, orientation, program operation, some field trips, inscription in the Ecole d'Architecture, obligatory French civil insurance and a French Visa and residency permit. This brings the total price of tuition and fees to $21,094 ($34,014 non-resident). Since tuition fees change, the most current fees can be accessed by students on the university's web site.

The above figures do not include cost of living expenses (such as food, laundry and, personal items), additional travel in Europe, transportation to and from Paris, purchases, medicine, health care or other personal expenses. Participants will be responsible for having sufficient personal funds to offset these and other costs. Applicants will need to verify that a minimum amount of $9,600 will be available for personal living expenses while participating in the program. The major portion of these funds must be considered for food. This amount should be included in requests for financial aid.

It is not possible for American students to work in France as a condition of their visa.

Travel and living expenses will vary based on each student's needs and spending habits. Living expenses in Versailles are comparable to those in a major US city such as New York or Chicago ; American buying power will fluctuate with the dollar-euro exchange rate. As expected, eating at home is much less expensive than eating in restaurants. A government-subsidized cafeteria is located in the Ecole d'Architecture and serves lunch on weekdays when French classes are in session. A range of travel and lodging options (inexpensive to luxury) are available throughout Europe.

Financial Aid

Information and application for student loans and scholarships may be obtained from www.fafsa.edu.gov or the University Office of Student Financial Aid (217-333-0100) and the Study Abroad Office (217-333-6322). It takes approximately six weeks to process a loan application.

A limited number of scholarships and awards are given by the School of Architecture based on need and merit. While these are awarded at the Annual Architecture Awards Banquet in the Spring, students seriously interested in going to Versailles, will learn about their awards, if any, earlier, so that they could rely on them when making financial commitment to the program.

Housing

The School of Architecture obtains student lodgings in apartments or in homes of French families in or near Versailles. The rooms vary in size, quality and location but all provide basic accommodations for sleeping, bathing, and cooking. Participants must be aware that living customs and landlord expectations may differ significantly from what they are accustomed to and participants must be willing to make necessary adjustments. The Versailles Program staff works very hard to address all housing-related issues promptly. All unmarried students must participate in the housing plan.