A city with maritime heritage, La Rochelle is an idyllic place to spend a semester abroad. In addition to being a part of the national and international boat sporting circuit, La Rochelle is also known for being a clean city, making it a model of urban ecology. Join the city of 80,000 inhabitants and enjoy the pleasant climate. On the weekends, take a trip to Paris, which is only three hours away on the TGV.

Located near the city's center, La Rochelle was founded in 1998 and welcomes 600 students from around the globe annually.  As an exchange student, you also have the opportunity to learn French, so sign up now and improve your French while enjoying this beautiful Atlantic coast city.

Courses Include: Tourism & French Gastronomy, Marketing & Sales in Tourism, Coastal Tourism, and Design of Tourism Products.

NOTE:  Spring semester dates run from January through April. Fall semester dates run from September to December.

Requirements

• Must be a declared GHL major with at least sophomore status
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85
• Must have at least one semester remaining at UH upon return from abroad
• Must have a valid passport: six month validity rule meaning that your passport should be valid for more than six months before you would be allowed to enter France. If you do not have a passport, apply immediately from the U.S. Department of State. Or inquire with the UH Learning Abroad Office.
• Health insurance is required that covers basic medical illnesses. If you do not have health insurance, you will be required to purchase a policy either with the UH Health Center or through a private insurance provider. If you have health insurance, you will be required to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your health service at least two weeks before leaving the country.  

How to Apply

1. Complete and submit an GHL Study Abroad application. The application includes submitting a resume, essay and naming a faculty reference.
2. Applications will be reviewed by the HRM Study Abroad Selection Committee and students will be informed of their status within two weeks of the application deadline. Assessment of application is based on academic qualifications of the applicant, integration of La Rochelle curriculum with applicant's degree plan and strength of essay.
3. Selected applicants will meet with Jennifer Glickman regarding their application to La Rochelle.
4. Selected applicants will meet with UH Learning Abroad academic advisors.

Selected Applicants Agree to

• Sign a Student Responsibilities Contract.
• Apply for an International Educational Fee Scholarship (IEFS) – deadline October 1 (spring) or March 1 (fall).
• Comply with all requirements, deadlines and procedures of UH Learning Abroad. Please note that Learning Abroad requires an additional application form and a number of documents for outgoing exchange students.
• Assist Hilton College with study-abroad exchange activities (i.e. promoting program at the All Students Organization Fair, giving short presentations to students about the experience, greeting/assisting incoming exchange students, assisting outgoing exchange students, etc.) during the semester after returning.

Expected Expenses (in USD)

• University of Houston tuition and fees
• UH Learning Abroad administrative fee ($75-$125)
• Airfare – approximately $1,300 as of October 2017 RT IAH-CDG
• Train – Paris to La Rochelle as of October 2017, one-way $95
• Visa fees – paid through Campus France,  $180
• Housing costs starting at approximately $450/month
• Housing insurance at approximately $50
• Passport – if you do not hold a valid passport, please apply for one at this time
• Health Insurance – compulsory, approximately $260
• Academic materials/textbooks, as required by your syllabi in France

La Rochelle recommends a budget of approximately $600 per month for living costs (transportation, meals, personal expenses and incidentals)

Helpful Links

More about studying at La Rochelle, including requirements, procedures and important dates, can be found here.