Information for term Business + Culture
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenExplore business, economics, history, art and art history, international affairs, and culture while improving your French language skills in the picturesque south of France. Select from courses at CIEE’s partner schools, Toulouse Business School (TBS) and Institut Catholique de Toulouse (ICT), as well as CIEE Toulouse, all within walking distance of the city’s magnificent historical center. The option to take part in an internship offers students hands-on experience in international business. All courses are taught in English and are complemented with CIEE co-curricular activities and excursions beyond the city to enhance classroom learning and provide intercultural understanding.
Follow our Travels:
Unique experiences
-
Study at France’s
top-ranked undergrad business school with international students.
-
VISITS
to local companies around the vibrant university town.
-
Use the rail system
to explore the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees.
-
people living in Toulouse
630K -
universities in the city
7 -
museums
12
Location & Culture
Click to Open

Your Destination
Situated in the South of France between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, Toulouse offers easy access to the Atlantic, the mountains, and the Mediterranean when you’re not studying — not to mention the music, art, and festivals. The fourth largest city in France, with the second largest student population in the country, Toulouse offers students the opportunity to learn about France’s past and present while experiencing life in a dynamic city.
The Culture

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
- Visit the medieval city of Carcassonne, the city of Albi, go on a hike in the Pyrenees, or visit an organic farm in the Ariège department.
- Partner with local French students who will show you Toulouse’s most popular sites.
- Enjoy the pleasant year-round climate of Toulouse, while you visit the city’s historical district, monuments, and immigrant neighborhood.
- Take in a show at the Toulouse Capitole theater.
- Make new friends during a game of petanque, similar to bocce.
- Visit local companies around the vibrant university town.

PROJECTS
Volunteering. Volunteer at a food bank, women’s shelter, primary or secondary school, or local independent movie theatre, tutor children after school, or work on an organic farm.
Internships. Immerse yourself in the French work environment as you build business skills and experience the nuances of working with people from different cultures.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Daily Life
Click to Open-
HOUSING
Homestay: Students live with homestay families in Toulouse to promote integration into the local culture and reinforce daily use of French.
-
MEALS
Homestay: All meals are offered at the homestay on the weekend, and students typically eat breakfasts and dinners with their homestay families on the weekdays. Lunches during weekdays can be purchased at local cafes, restaurants, and markets throughout the city.
Toulouse, France Where You'll Study
-
1
Toulouse Business School
A 25-minute walk from the CIEE Study Center.
-
2
L’Institut Catholique de Toulouse
2 minutes from the CIEE Study Center
-
3
CIEE Study Center
located in historical downtown area
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
Business + Culture in Toulouse invites students to study at two prestigious CIEE partner schools: the Toulouse Business School and the Institut Catholique de Toulouse, as well as CIEE Toulouse.
Toulouse Business School (TBS) was founded in 1903 and is one of a select group of business schools earning all three international accreditations: EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB. It is also among the top 20 in the Financial Times’ ranking of the best master’s in management and was rated number one in the SMBG ranking of the best bachelor’s degree in management and business management.
Institut Catholique de Toulouse (ICT) is an academic and research center that continues the legacy of Toulouse’s Medieval University, founded in 1229. ICT provides individual attention for international students and offers some courses in English and a large variety in French.
GPA
2.5
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
Program Requirements
Students take the following courses:
- one French language course (4 credits)
- at least one CIEE Culture course (3 credits each)
- at least one CIEE Business course (3 credits each)
- any combination of CIEE and/or local university courses (Toulouse Business School) and/or (Institut Catholique de Toulouse) for 5-8 credits
Program Credit
Total credit: 15-18 U.S. semester/22.5-27 quarter credits
Course Credit
- CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
- CIEE Internship: 3 U.S. semester/ quarter credits; 15 seminar hours, 100-120 internship placement hours
- Toulouse Business School (TBS) courses: typically 1.5-2.5 U.S. semester/2.25-3.75 quarter credits; 75-125 notional hours
- Institut Catholique de Toulouse (ICT) courses: typically 1-3 U.S. semester/1.5-4.5 quarter credits; 50-150 notional hours
Academic Culture
Students notice striking differences between education systems. Professors in France tend to be more formal than in the U.S. and do not see it as their role to give encouragement or individual attention to students. As a result, French students are generally very self-disciplined and do not expect to be motivated by their instructors. Classes meet Monday through Friday (with excursions on weekends), and students are expected to complete all of the work given and take exams when scheduled.
Class Format
Students enroll in CIEE elective courses and direct enrollment courses taught in English or French at the Toulouse Business School or at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse. They also take French classes at CIEE.
Grading
In general, French professors use a French grading scale of 0-20, with 10 a minimal passing grade. Final grades are converted into U.S. letter grades. Assessment is based on essays, written tests, oral presentations, out-of-class projects, class participation, and final exams. Students can expect at least two major exams during the term; the final exam typically accounts for as much as 50 percent of the final grade.
Language of Instruction
English and French
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
Course Notes
- Registration is finalized on-site.
- Toulouse Business School offers courses both in French or English. Semesters tend to be divided into several periods. Detailed information is provided to accepted students prior to the beginning of the program.
- Institut Catholique de Toulouse offers courses in English, French or Spanish. For French-taught or Spanish-taught courses, ICT requires you have at least 4 semesters of college-level French and/or Spanish.
Fall 2021 Courses and syllabi will be available here in January 2021.
Host Institution Courses
Click to OpenTOULOUSE BUSINESS SCHOOL (TBS)
Students choose business courses either at TBS and/or at ICT for 3-8 semester credits in order to meet the 15-18 total semester credit enrollment requirement. In order to avoid scheduling conflicts, we recommend that students select courses at either TBS or ICT.
The spring semester at TBS is divided into six periods. Fall semester typically offers courses throughout the semester. Students can select no more than 1 course per period, either in French or in English. They can also decide to skip periods depending on the number of credits they need. Courses are offered in a modular format of 15, 30, or 36 contact hours each.
Below is a list of sample courses from which CIEE students may choose. Please note this list is subject to change:
- Energy and Environment Challenges
- Ethics and Compliance to Improve Companies’ Performance: Fight Against Money Laundering and Corruption
- Philanthropy and Sponsorship
- Sustainable Business and Inclusive Business
- From CSR to Social Business
- Marketing Solutions towards Sustainability
- Innovation, Collaborative Spaces, and New Business Models for Social & Business Impact
- Natural Resources Management and Climate Action
- Nudging Consumer Behavior: Fighting Obesity, Equality Promotion, and Protecting the Planet
- Religion and the Workplace
- Competition Policy and Business Strategies
- Competitive Strategies in Healthcare Market
- Market Intelligence
- Communication and Client Relationship
- Marketing and Innovation
- Marketing Analytics
- B2B Marketing
- Aerospace Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- Global Talent Management
- Recruitment, Selection, and Assessment
- Managing across Borders
- International Business Negotiation and Conflict Management in HRM
- Corporate Crisis Communication: Theory & Practice
- Financial Analysis
- Controlling
- Business Modeling & Forecasting
- Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, and Control
- Strategic Management
- Leadership in a Dynamic Global Environment
- Practical Aspects of International Trade
- International Institution
- International Business
- International Branding & Communication
- International Business Skills
- Economics and Social Issues in the Iberic World
- Operations Management
- Operational Procurement
- Improving Supply Chain Performance
- Business Modeling and Forecasting
- Leadership for the Professionals
- Designing and Developing Small Companies
- Corporate Finance 1
- Corporate Finance 2
- Financial Markets
- International Financial Management
- Earth Sciences and Life Sciences
- Arms Industry & Industrial Policy
- Coding & Artificial Intelligence
- Long-term Growth, Innovation & Intellectual Property
- Fablab, Patent Designs
- Intellectual Property, Economics, and Strategic Asset for Companies
INSTITUT CATHOLIQUE DE TOULOUSE (ICT)
- ICT courses are offered on a weekly basis throughout the semester for a total number of contact hours ranging from 10 to 36 classroom hours for 1-2.5 semester / 1.5-3.75 quarter credits.
- Please note that some courses are offered in English, French and Spanish. You can choose to follow courses either in French, English, Spanish or a combination of the three.
INSTITUT CATHOLIQUE DE TOULOUSE
The list is a representative sample and is subject to change.
BUSINESS
- Companies’ Internationalization Strategies (in French)
- International Trade (in French)
- Introduction to Accounting (in French)
- Import, Export (in French)
- Mathematics – Statistics (in French)
- Main Economic Issues (in French)
- Logistics and Geographical Approaches (in French)
- Trade Negotiation Techniques (in French)
- International Business (in English)
- International Project Management (in English)
- International Marketing (in English)
- Financial Accounting (in English)
- Civilization: English Perspective on World News (in French)
LAW
- International Relationships (in French)
- Introduction to European Law (in French)
- Geopolitical Issues (in French)
- French Political Life (in French)
- Contemporary Social Issues (in French)
- General Culture (in English)
- Environmental Sustainability (in English)
- International Political News (in English)
- European Art Culture (in English)
- Introduction to Human Rights (in English)
- To Become a Start-up Manager (in English)
HISTORY
- Roman History (in French)
- Medieval History (in French)
- Geography (in French)
- Modern History (in French)
- Contemporary History (in French)
- Geography (in French)
- Introduction to Art History: Methodological Approach (in French)
- Urban Planning in Brazil (in French)
- Art Object: from Creation to Exhibition (in French)
- Modern History (in French)
- Contemporary History (in French)
- Geography (in French)
LITERATURE
- Literature: History of European Literature (in French)
- French Literature: Tales and Other Youth Literature (in French)
- Literary Genres (in French)
- General Linguistics (in French)
- French Literature: 16th Century (in French)
- Comparative Literature: Renaissance and Humanism (in French)
- Medieval Literature and Literary Influences (in French)
- Comparative Literature: Humanism and Utopia (in French)
- French Literature: 20th – 21st Centuries (in French)
- Comparative Literature: South Francophonies (in French)
- New Literary Approaches (offered in French)
PSYCHOLOGY
- Cognitive Psychology: Learning Process and Memory (in French)
- Clinical Psychology: The Individual, the Subject, the Person (in French)
- Developmental Psychology: 0-3 year-old Children (in French)
- Psychotherapeutic Practices: Theories (in French)
- Developmental Psychology: 3-12 year-old Children (in French)
- Social Psychology: Representation of Self and Others (in French)
- Case Study: Therapeutic Management (in French)
- Social Psychology: Representation of Self and Others (in French)
- Cognitive Psychology (in French)
- Developmental Psychology: From 12 year-old to Adulthood (in French)
- Introduction to Psycho-ontology (in French)
- Introduction to Psychogerontology (in French)
- Research Methods in Psychology (in French)
PHILOSOPHY
- History of Antique Philosophy (in French)
- Metaphysics I (in French)
- History of Medieval Thoughts (in French)
- Introduction to Ethics (in French)
- Epistemology (in French)
- Philosophy of Culture (in French)
- Ontology (in French)
- Philosophy of History (in French
- Metaphysics II (in French)
MEDIATION
- Introduction to Communication - Theories and Strategies (in French)
- Introduction to Economy - Principles and Process (in French)
- Introduction to Marketing - Strategies and Financing (in French)
- Artistic Trends - Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism (in French)
- Scenography (in French)
- Communication Strategy (principles) (in French)
- Artistic Trends - Outsider Art, Pop Art, Urban Art (in French)
- Contemporary Art Workshop (in French)
- Photography (in French)
EDUCATION
- Cognitive-emotional Approaches to Learning (in French)
- Sociology of Educational Facts (in French)
- Conception of Learning Situations (in French)
- Didactics and Pedagogy (in French)
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
Scholarships
Click to OpenScholarships & Grants
CIEE offers more than $8 million in scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fall 2021 16 weeks | Apr 1, 2021 | Aug 26, 2021* | Dec 18, 2021* |
$16,950
Click to Close
Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $12,333 ** Housing = $4,150 *** Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $16,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $1,200 International Airfare = $1,200 † Local Transportation = $200 Books & Supplies = $200 Visa Fees = $165 †† Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500 Personal expenses = $2,900 Total Estimated Costs = $6,365Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** includes breakfast and dinner seven days a week † round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure †† average cost, including Campus France fees |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, ask your college or university study abroad advisor if your school charges additional fees for study abroad.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
-
Isabelle Jaffe
Director
A resident of Toulouse with American and French citizenship, Isabelle received her BA in English and philosophy. Isabelle has been running study abroad programs in France since 1998.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! -
2
CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.