Overview

Location	Tours, France
Term	All terms Fall: August - December Spring: January - May Summer: end of May - end of July
Areas of Study	French language
Housing	Host family, shared apartment
Passport	Required
Visa (for US citizens)	Required for stays of 90 days or longer

Eligibility

GPA	2.5
WIU hours completed	12
Student Conduct	Good standing
Grad credit	Not available
Pre-requiste	None
Student Year	Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Entry Requirements

Passport:  Required. Must be valid for at least six (6) months after your study abroad program ends.  For information on how to apply for or renew a passport, see Passports 101 .
Current passport processing times are 10-13 weeks.  Plan accordingly to avoid issues obtaining your visa, airine tickets, and other necessary items for travel.  Failure to receive your passport in time can lead to postponement or cancellation of your program.

Visa:  You must apply for a student visa before entering France if you are studying there for 90 days or longer. Visa requirements can be found on the website of France - Visas, the official visa website for France .
Traveling to France without your student visa can lead to denied entry to France, forced removal from your program, and financial consequences.

Health Insurance

It is University policy that you must have international health insurance for the time you are abroad.  Only two options are approved to meet this requirement:
  • WIU Student Health Insurance
  • A supplemental plan (Patriot Travel Medical) from International Medical Group (IMG) .

Health Precautions

COVID-19 - You are REQUIRED to follow the policies of your host school, host country, the CDC and TSA.  It is your responsibility to know and understand these policies.  If policies change before or during your program, it is your responsbility to comply with the new policies.  Failure to do so can result in removal from your program and/or the host country, financial consequences and academic consequences at the host school and WIU.

Walking/mobility/travel - Expect more walking than on-campus.  It is a mixture of urban (pavement/concrete) and natural (grass/dirt) terrain, including uneven/hilly terrain and up/down flights of stairs.  Some historic sites and tourist areas have limited handicapped accessibility.  Sidewalks in these areas can be narrow with uneven surfaces. 

Vaccinations - No vaccinations are required for entry into France.  Up to date vaccination recommendations are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website .

Accessibility - Accessibility and accommodation are very different from that found in the United States.  Please contact Disability Resources for questions on the availability of accommodations for your specific situation.

PLEASE NOTE  It is your responsibility to request accommodation from DR; staff are not legally permitted to inquire about such needs.  Requests should be made as early as possible so there's sufficient time to arrange accommodations in your location. 

Costs (Comparative Table)

last updated 7/31/2023             

Items	WIU	Institut de Touraine
Tuition and fees 15 semester hours, plan W	6,040	2,935
Commitment Fee	--	75
Health Insurance	1,052	250
Passport	--	165
Student visa (programs longer than 90 days)	--	310
Housing and meals	5,450	Homestay: 2,505 Shared apartment: 3,300
Books and supplies	600	inc. in Tuition and fees
Local transportation	785	330
Personal/misc. (phone, laundry, recreation, etc.)	890	1,000
Total	14,817	Homestay: 7,570* Shared apartment: 8,365*

*You are responsible for purchasing your own flights.

Various types of aid are available to help fund your experience.  Check out our Financial Aid and Scholarships pages for more details.

Academics

Study Abroad students at Institut de Touraine take 4 classes per semester, equaling 15 sh at WIU.

Courses at Institut de Touraine are taught in French to improve your fluency in French.

Courses available

Housing and Meals

The acommodation options at Institut de Touraine include homestays and shared apartments.  Homestay participation is strongly encouraged because it provides an excellent opportunity to acquire and enhance knowledge about French language and culture.

More information on housing and meal options can be found on the Institut de Touraine accommodation webpage .