The City of Compiègne

Compiègne is a city of about 60,000 in the Picardy region 45 miles north of Paris along the Oise River. The charming small city is famous for its magnificent royal palace that sits on the edge of a 36,000 acre forest and was a favorite residence of French kings and emperors in the 18th and 19th centuries. The history has a rich and varied history, both in France and in Europe. Compiègne is the site of the capture of Joan of Arc by the Burgundians in the 15th century and the Compiègne Forest, located on the outskirts of the city, was the site of the signing of two major armistices: the 1918 Armistice with Germany, which ended World War I, and the 1940 Armistice with France, which gave Germany control of France in World War II. The city is also the starting point for the Paris-Roubaix bicycle race and the finish for Stage 3 of the Tour de France. Commuter train service to Paris is frequent, offering students convenient access to the cultural and social attractions of one of the world’s most beautiful and exciting cities. Paris is a short 45 minute train ride away and only 35 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport.

L'Université de Technologie de Compiègne

The Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC) was created in 1972 to respond to France's need for more opportunities for technology-oriented secondary school graduates to pursue higher education and research at an advanced level equivalent in quality and prestige to the elite grandes écoles scientifiques, but separate from that traditional system of training professional engineers.

The pattern of innovative technological education at UTC is modeled in many ways after that offered in many U.S. universities, combining traditional classroom and lab instruction with practical internships in industry. It also stresses interdisciplinary approaches that complement the specialist engineering curriculum with appropriate courses in the exact sciences and training in technical skills, as well as with courses that focus on the human, socio-economic, and management aspects of technological change. The purpose of this broad-based education is to form engineers with solid scientific and technical backgrounds who also are able to understand the methods and needs of the work environment, and thereby are equipped to assimilate and implement new types of technology as these are developed.

Total enrollment at UTC is about 3,100 students, of whom nearly 450 are registered for post-master's degree programs and doctorates. The faculty numbers 200, all of whom are engaged in both teaching and research. Approximately one-third of the faculty comes from the public and private sectors on a contractual basis, thus providing a further link between the university, government, and the needs of industry. International students comprise approximately 17% of the student body, originating from over 60 different countries.

Program website: http://www.utc.fr.

Penn Students at UTC

Penn students will select courses that correspond to their area of engineering study at Penn. Fall semester or year-long students are strongly encouraged to participate in an intensive French language and culture program at UTC prior to the start of the academic year. This four-week program in August is designed especially for international students to improve their French skills and knowledge of French culture before beginning their regular course work. Students are grouped according to skill level, determined by a placement test at the beginning of the program. Cultural events and excursions supplement the in-class learning. A similar, but shorter program is offered before the start of the spring semester.

Course Load

Participants must maintain a full course load during their period of study abroad. The standard course load at the University of Compiègne is five courses per semester and each course requires between 100 to 150 hours of work (supervised and private) during the semester. This translates into about 50 hours' work per week. Two or three courses will normally be chosen from a relevant field of engineering, and one or more courses will be in general education, including French language and culture at an appropriate level. The final course selection and course load must be worked out in conjunction with the student's academic advisor in his or her home school.

Grading

Grades are given using the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) A to F scale. ECTS grades will be converted to Penn grades using the following equivalencies: ECTS A= A, ECTS B= A-,ECTS C=B, ECTS D=B-, ECTS E=C, ECTS Fx=D, ECTS F=F. As on all Penn Abroad programs, grades are recorded on the Penn transcript and are calculated in the cumulative grade point average. The pass/fail option can be exercised according to the Penn on-campus policy.

Academic Calendar

Intensive language program: early August – late August

Fall semester: mid September – end January

Spring semester: mid February – end June

Living Arrangements

Students can be housed in university halls of residence or local apartments that are conveniently located and modestly priced. Most often students are assigned to a four-room shared suite, although a few single rooms may be available. UTC staff will also assist Penn students who prefer to look for a rented room in a French household or a privately rented studio apartment. Students are responsible for their own meals.

Student Life

Campus extracurricular life revolves heavily around student-run clubs catering to a variety of social, cultural, and sports interests. Penn students are encouraged to participate in one of the many student clubs as an important part of their overall study abroad experience. Joining a club at Compiègne will provide exchange students with the opportunity to foster friendships with French and other international students. The Bureau des Elèves étudiants (BDE), Compiègne’s student union, has over sixty active cultural clubs and sports teams and L’Association Sportive de l’UTC (UTC Sport) organizes numerous sporting events and holds competitions throughout the year between various universities in France.

Insurance and Health Notes

International students attending French universities are required to purchase a supplemental medical insurance policy. This policy can be obtained upon arrival at UTC, and will cost approximately $260 for the academic year.

Visa

The French government requires that all program participants obtain a student visa and that year-long participants have a carte de séjour. Instructions are provided to admitted students. Non-U.S. citizens must consult a French consulate for visa requirements.