Honors French Language & Culture
Why Choose This Program?
Live the Language
Experience authentic immersion in the French language and culture.
Network
Meet new friends with advanced French skills like yours and gain a new family. Make lasting memories and connections.
Get Inspired
Challenge yourself to make greater gains in your French. Shine on college applications.
The Destination
Welcome to Rennes, a charming French city rich in regional identity and off the beaten tourist path.
Fifteenth-century half-timbered houses with colorful facades, Renaissance buildings, cobbled streets, and cozy courtyards all make Rennes a feast for the eyes. Situated at the confluence of the Ille and Vilaine rivers, Rennes is a gem in France’s northwestern Brittany—a scenic region of medieval villages, rugged beaches, and dramatic landscapes, which you’ll explore.
Rennes—the capital of Brittany—is a blend of the quaint and cutting edge, ranked as one of France's “most livable cities” and a center for digital innovation. Centuries-old traditions—including its own language, Breton—intermingle with a vibrant cultural scene driven by the city’s young and student-friendly population. Rennes has a long roster of festivals—music, cinema, and now gaming—with no shortage of things to do!
The city holds France’s second largest outdoor farmer’s market, known as the Marché des Lices, featuring local Breton specialties such as crêpes, galettes, and kouign-amann. Bring your appetite, be bold, and explore the city with an open heart and mind!
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Rennes.
Sample Itinerary
Sample Activities
Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!
- Dabble in the art of pastry-making with a local chef. Make (and taste!) traditional specialties, such as sablé breton or tarte Tatin. Bon appétit!
- Travel to Mont Saint-Michel, a tidal island and UNESCO World Heritage Site with breathtaking views. Hike barefoot through the wet sands, explore the medieval town, and climb to the awe-inspiring abbey at the top.
- Discover Rennes from a new perspective while canoeing or kayaking the canal Saint Martin.
- In Rennes, art is everywhere—in museums, galleries, and streets! Tour its vibrant graffiti scene and design your own tags and murals with local street artists.
- On excursion, explore the Emerald Coast of Brittany. At the corsair city of Saint-Malo, famous for its long sandy beaches, admire a stunning coastline and rich marine ecosystem!
Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Demat! Learning the Breton Language
Global Navigators attended a workshop to learn more about Breton language and culture.
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Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors—who have:
- Completed high school French Level 2 or higher by the start of the program, and
- Attained a minimum ACTFL proficiency level of Intermediate-Low on the pre-program STAMP test that determines language proficiency.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application fee
$25
Optional college credit fee
$150
Learn more about how to get college credit for your future college degree
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us!
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Program Balance = $7,250
Total Fees = $7,250Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Program Balance = $7,250
Total Fees = $7,250Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
Daniel Audaz
Director
Daniel Audaz has been the Director of the CIEE program in Rennes since 2008. He is originally from Marseille and studied at the University of Aix-en-Provence (France) where he obtained his M.A. in Geography and then specialized in FLE/S (Français Langue Etrangère et Seconde).
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
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