Semester- and year-long study at the Université de Caen Basse Normandie
In 2006-7 academic year, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University will begin an exchange with the Université de Caen - Basse Normandie.

Caen University is located in Normandy, France in the western part of the country not far from the D-Day invasion beaches and less than two hours from Paris by train.

The university was founded in 1432. By the 18th century, it was one of the most important universities outside of Paris. During the Second World War in 1944, the university was destroyed but was rebuilt in the 1950s. The phoenix was chosen to symbolize the school's rebirth from the ashes. Today, the university has over 24,000 students. Caen University is located in the heart of the city next to the 11th-century castle.


The program is open to all students at VPI&SU. It allows students to study and live on the campus of a French university. Courses are available for all levels of French. The cost of the program is approximately the same as studying in Blacksburg. The chief differences in price are plane fare and a $315 program fee. (Some students may need to acquire extra insurance coverage to make sure they are insured in France.) Usually, students pay much less for books than in the US.


The program is administred through the VPI&SU Education Abroad Office in 1820 Litton Reaves Hall (540-231-5888) vtabroad@vt.edu
To see how the Caen program can fit into your studies, contact Richard Shryock at shryock@vt.edu