You will apply to North Georgia College and State University as a transient student by requesting a "Letter of Transient Permission" from the registrar at your university and including the NGCSU Immunization Form.  You will include this letter with your application (See "How Do I Apply" section below). Once in Quebec, you will take courses, which are brought back to NGCSU under our own course numbers (See the attached sheet). When the program is over, the program director will have NGCSU Registrar's Office send a copy of your transcript to your own institution.  It is up to  your advisor as to how  the courses will fit in your plan of study.

How Will The Courses I Take At Laval Count In My Program Of Study?

First of all, you should consult with your academic advisor when applying for the Quebec Program. It is your advisor who decides if the courses will count as required or elective courses.   Laval courses do count for the language requirement in the University System of Georgia. Credit is offered form the elementary through graduate level.  Since Laval is on a different academic system than we have in the United States, the actual Laval courses will be regrouped into NGCSU (and USG) course numbers such that you will receive credit from NGCSU in the following way.  Please follow the link on the main Quebec Page to see  more about courses.

What Courses Are Offered?
Week One (transfers as 3 semester hours NGCSU credit) -Quebec Civilization and Culture course taught by program director

All students who have taken at least one intermediate level course (2000-level) at their home institution and who can write an essay-type exam are eligible to sign up for the 3 credit hour Quebec Civilization and Culture course at the 3000-level.

Students who have had two elementary-level courses (1001 & 1002)  and who can not write an essay-type exam may sign up for the Quebec Civilization and Culture course at the 2000 level.

Students who have taken no previous courses or only one elementary-level course will still sit in on the course as auditors, but will not receive credit.  The course is conducted primarily in French, but with some English in order to accommodate all students in the program.

The purpose of the course is to give students the historical, political, and cultural  background necessary in understanding the contemporary Quebec culture they will be experiencing. The course meets in the morning for four hours; afternoon historical visits complement the formal academic course. The first week is also used to orient students to Laval University and to Quebec City in general.  The course continues during the following five weeks with additional reading and writing assignments.  As part of the civilization  course  students do  special projects , depending on their level of French.  Those at the Advanced or Superior  level normally read a  Quebec  novel, attend  discussions with the program director, and write a five-page paper.

Weeks Two - Six (transfers as 6 semester hours NGCSU credit)
On Monday of the second week, students from all over the globe arrive on campus.  All students take a placement test, and Laval courses are chosen based on the level of placement. The courses offered by Laval professors are taken during weeks two through six, and they transfer as six semester hours of NGCSU credit back to the University System of Georgia through NGCSU.
General description of the courses:
Elementary (sub levels A, B, enrichi)- Laval courses restricted to French language courses (communicative grammar, oral and written expression, phonetics).  Laval course credits regrouped and transferred under two 3-hour NGCSU study abroad course numbers corresponding generally to FREN 1001 and 1002.

Intermediate Levels (sub level A)- Laval courses restricted to French language courses (communicative grammar, oral and written expression, phonetics). Laval course credits are regrouped and transferred as two 3-hour NGCSU study abroad course numbers corresponding generally to FREN 2001 and 2002.

Intermediate Levels (sub level  B and enrichi)-Laval courses restricted to French languge courses (communicative grammar, oral and written expression., phonetics).   Laval course  credits are regrouped and transferred as two 3-hour NGCSU  study abroad course numbers.

Advanced Level Study  -  Includes a required course on French language, both oral and written, and an class in oral expression.  The student then also chooses from a selection of courses, including phonetics, advanced oral conversation, Quebec culture, and Quebec literature. Laval course credits are regrouped and transferred as two 3-hour NGCSU study abroad course numbers.

Superior Level Study -Includes a choice of French language courses (grammar, vocabulary, stylistics, phonetics, oral expression), plus a broader selection of specialized content courses on literature, cinema, popular culture and folk traditions, and on contemporary Quebec.  Laval course credits are regrouped and transferred as two 3-hour NGCSU course numbers.

A commercial French course MAY be offered at the advanced and at the superior level. Laval University reserves the right to alter exact offerings depending on enrollments and the availability of instructors.  For more details on courses, click here.

What Is The Itinerary For the Program?

Saturday, June 27                         Depart Atlanta - Arrive Quebec
Sunday, June 28                           Group meets for orientation, for the Civilization course,  and to obtain bus tickets and passes.
Monday, June 29 - Sat., July 4     Morning & afternoon course with program director on Quebec History,
                                                    Culture, & Civilization. Afternoon site visits
Monday, July 6                             Other international students arrive.  Students receive Laval ID's and courses. Classes begin.
Tues., July 7 - Thurs., Aug. 6        Courses with Laval faculty
Friday, August 7                           Final Exams for Laval Courses
Saturday, August 8                       Depart Quebec - Arrive Atlanta

What About Lodging And Meals?

Your course work is enhanced by your stay in a private Québécois residence. We try very hard to put each of our students in a separate residence;  occasionally, however, we must place two or three students in one household.  For meals, students normally take breakfast at home and lunch in the university cafeteria or in a café nearby.  For the evening meal, some students return home while others prefer to eat out with friends in a café or restaurant.  All meals are provided by the program through a weekly meal allowance.  Later on in the application process, you will fill out a Housing & Meal Form.  The  housing office at  Laval interviews families and the program director  knows most of the familes (although not all) and  helps in the selection process.  The program director encourages students to take  both breakfast and dinner with the family in order to have the  most contact and most opportunity to  speak French.  However, the choice is up to the  each individual student.  No matter which meal plan  is chosen, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are included in the  program package price.

What About Transportation?

Round-trip transportation Atlanta - Quebec is included in the program package cost.  Once in Quebec, students will receive  monthly city bus passes for July & August.  Those students who enter the program at an early date may be allowed to arrange their own transportation to Quebec thereby reducing the cost of the program.  Students doing this, however, must notify the director immediately, and they may not be able to take the group flight if they later decide to fly with the group.  Students may opt to car pool.   Due to rising fuel costs, it is possible  that participants will be asked to pay additional costs.

It is possible to register your car on the Laval University campus. A parking permit is about $90.00.  Students are reminded that should an accident occur, the program director will help insofar as possible, but cannot act as an agent in dealing with the Canadian police, with the other driver(s) and passenger(s) involved, or in dealing with insurance. Driving in a foreign country is potentially more problematic than driving in one's own country.  It is, of course, the student's responsibility to verify that his/her auto insurance coverage is valid in Canada.

What are the Program Costs and How Much Does The HOPE Grant Pay?

The total cost of the program is $5,500.00 as stated in our literature.  Students who place into elementary French courses and graduate students will enroll for 6 semester hours; those placing at the intermediate, advanced, or superior level will enroll for 9 semester hours.  All students will complete the entire six week program, regardless whether enrollment is for 6 or for 9 hours.  All students pay the $5,500.00 up front; those eligible will be reimbursed by the HOPE scholarship. (Be sure to read the next section, "Who Is My Financial Aid Officer for the Quebec Program," which explains the process for HOPE for a transient student.)
Out-of-state students must pay an additional $250.00, per USG policy.  Due to rising fuel costs, it is possible  that participants will be asked to pay additional costs.

Students enrolling for 9 hours credit will be reimbursed by the HOPE Grant for approximately $875.00 (tuition & mandatory fees) plus $150 (books), totaling $1020.00. 

Students enrolling for 6 hours credit will be funded by the HOPE Grant for approximately $596.00 (tuition & mandatory fees) plus $150.00 (books), totaling $746.00. 

You do not pay any additional tuition to Laval, to NGCSU, or to your home institution; it is included in the program price.

If at pre-registration time before departure, it is unclear as to whether you will enroll for 6 or for 9 hours credit, enrollment will be for 6 semester hours and the initial HOPE  reimbursement will be based on that amount.  If you place at the intermediate level and enroll for 9 semester hours, HOPE will make the additional reimbursements after you return from the program.

Although the courses taken in Canada will appear on the student's transcript as North Georgia College and State University courses, there will be no additional tuition charged by North Georgia College and  State University. All tuition costs are included in the program package price.

What is  included in the  Quebec Program Package Price?

• all tuition costs
  
• round trip transportation from Atlanta to Quebec City
• ground transportation in Quebec City (bus passes for  the six weeks)
• lodging in a private residence
• all meals (three meals a day), with breakfast & dinner normally with the hosts
• a selection of excursions and activities sponsored by the Université Laval
• USG medical Insurance and Université Laval medical Insurance
• Book for the Quebec Culture & Civilization course (week one)
  

Who is my Financial Aid Officer for the Quebec Program?

HOPE Scholarships
Once you have your TRANSIENT PERMISSION LETTER from your registrar, and before sending it in with your NGCSU application, you must take it to your Financial Aid Office.  Instruct your Financial Aid Office to send a HOPE TRANSIENT PERMISSION LETTER or SLIP to the Financial Aid Office at North Georgia College and State University. (You should then include your Transient Permission Letter from your registrar with your NGCSU application.)
The NGCSU Financial Aid Office will then be in charge of the HOPE scholarship for you. It is extremely important that you complete the necessary paper work for the NGCSU Financial Aid Office by April 23 so that you can get your reimbursement on time. You should personally contact our Financial Aid Officer at NGCSU, by calling 706 864-1412 or by emailing Finaid@ngcsu.edu. to ensure that the NGCSU Financial Aid Office has received notice of  your transient status at our campus.

STARS Stipends (Offered by the Board of Regents)
The University System of Georgia offeres stipends to study abroad students.  These stipends are awarded locally on individual campuses.  Visit your Study Abroad (International Education) Office on your own campus to apply for a STARS stipend.

Other financial aid
All other financial aid is done on  your own home campus, not through the NGCSU campus.

How and When does the HOPE Grant Pay?

You pay the entire program cost of $5,500.00 ($5,750.00 for non-Georgia residents).  The HOPE Grant then reimburses you during the summer for the amount described above.  If you join the Quebec Program in time to be pre-registered for your summer courses through NGCSU, your HOPE reimbursement will be made during the last week of  May. The program director will be responsible for registering you, but it is your responsibility to have all application materials in on time.

Does Other Financial Aid Apply?

Talk with your own financial aid office, since all financial aid other than the HOPE scholarship and the Regents Study Abroad  Scholarships (see above)  are administered on the student's home campus.  

When Do I Have To Pay and What are the Refund Guidelines?

Payments are DUE on or before the dates shown below. Cancellation notice must be RECEIVED in writing on or before the refund deadline date shown below. Participants are respectfully reminded that the Quebec Program incurs expenses and encumbers moneys throughout the year that are non-recoverable.

Out-of-state students must pay an additional $250.00, bringing their cost of the Quebec Program to $5,750.00.  Out-of-state students do not pay additional out-of-state tuition. Please note that the $25.00 NGCSU application fee and $75.00 of the program deposit are immediately non-refundable. Program costs are paid by student fees.

Payment Due                Date Due                                               Refund Policy

$     25.00*                Upon applying           Non-refundable NGCSU application fee.
$   400.00*                Upon applying           $75.00 immediately non-refundable.  Any money not incumbered less $100.00 refundable until February 1
$2,600.00                  March 15, 2009        If you withdraw from the program after  March 15,
                                                                   you will be refunded whatever North Georgia
                                                                   College and State University can recover from
                                                                   recruiting, transportation, and housing costs,
                                                                   plus other services.
$2,500.00                   May 1, 2009
No refund is made after the program begins.

The program director will do everything possible to keep the cost of the program at the stated $5,500 price.  However, due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and rising fuel and transportation costs, it may be necessary to request additional funds of participants.

*Please send two separate checks, one for $25.00 to cover NGCSU application fee, and one  for $400.00 to cover the deposit for the Quebec Program.  Both should be made payable to North Georgia College and State University and included in the application mailed to Dr. Chesnut.  You may also phone in a credit card payment  by dialing 706 864-1409. (Be sure to state that payment is for the Quebec Program and let the program director know, if you do phone in a payment.)

Should the program be canceled for any reason, all money will be returned to the applicant, except for the $25 NGCSU application fee and
the $75 Program application fee, neither of  which is refundable.

Neither NGCSU nor the Quebec Program is responsible for expenses incurred by participants for reasons beyond the director's control, such as  delayed flights requiring a hotel stay (although normally the airline  takes care of such expenses).  Program participants must pay such  unexpected costs.

What Does All Of  The Above Mean For My Own Financial Planning?

The main thing to understand from the above is that you are responsible for paying the total cost of the program ($5,500.00 for in-state students) up front according to the deadlines given, and that you will be reimbursed by HOPE for the appropriate amount (based on enrollment for 6 or 9 hours).  The program itself does NOT reimburse you. The NGCSU Financial Aid Office must follow its guidelines in reimbursing you your HOPE money.

What Other Costs Might I incur?

All University System of Georgia students must be insured while participating in a System study abroad program.  Included in the Quebec Program package price is the USG Health Insurance for Study Abroad Participants which covers participants during the entire program.   The Laval insurance is included in the program price. You are also urged to check with your own insurance company to ensure that your coverage applies while abroad.  In no instance does the program pay for health-related expenses.

Not included in the program package price are books ($70.00 - $100.00), except for the book used in the Quebec  course, which is included.

Of course, you will need your own personal spending money. Students have said that between $400 and $700  should be plenty.  Some students spend very little during the entire six week, since all basic living costs (food, lodging, transportation) are included in the program price.

Do I Need A Passport To Go To Quebec?  What about other documentation?

Each participant must, by law, travel with a passport.   It is no longer possible to travel to Canada with only a driver's license and birth certificate, as in the past.
For reasons, which will be explained later, you should also bring a valid driver's license with you, one that will not expire during the dates of the program.
If you need to get a passport, do it early!!!  It normally takes a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks to get your passport once you have applied for it.  The easiest way to obtain a passport is through selected U.S. Post Offices.  Call 1 800 275-8777 to find out which post office nearest you offers a one-stop passport service (including pictures).

Students going on the program who are not American citizens may be required to provide both a passport and a visa, obtainable through the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (202) 682-1740. http://www.usps.com (click on "Government Links"). 

It is the student's responsibility to obtain all travel documentation necessary.

In addition to travel documentation for entry into Canada, Lava University and the province of Quebec require a certified copy of the birth certificate.  You must supply two certified copeis of your birth certificate with your application to the Quebec Program.
A notarized copy of the birth certificate qualifies as a certified copy.

How Do I Apply For the Quebec Program?

You will make three applications, one to North Georgia College and State University, one combined NGCSU Study Abroad Application and application to the NGCSU Quebec Program itself, and a third to Laval University.
1)  Contact the program director for the application materials.
2)  Return the NGCSU Application, the combined NGCSU Study Abroad  and Quebec Program Application, and the Laval
     University Application filled in and signed, along with supporting documentation.
3)  Attach a check in the amount of $400.00, plus a separate check for the NGCSU application fee ($25), both payable to
     North Georgia College & State University
4)  Return the "Statement of Agreement"
5)  Include 3 pictures (wallet/passport type). These do not need to be official passport pictures, however.
6)  Include two notarized or certified copies of your birth certificate (required by Laval University)
6)  Have two of your professors send in the recommendation forms or write short letters (an email will do) of recommendation.  One of  these  should be a French Professor. They should send letters to the address shown below. We will process other forms dealing with  your lodging, meals and other matters at a later date.