Academic stay in GI : Q&A

What is the French level needed to study at INSA ? 

A minimum of B1 proficiency would be acceptable, while B2 would provide a more comfortable level of understanding. 

Is French required in order to study at INSA ? 

Technically, no. Several courses are offered in English. At the GI department, there are 31 ECTS of English-taught courses during the Fall semester (S1) and 38 ECTS of English courses and projects in the Spring semester (S2). Still, it is important to understand the following points :

- places are subject to quotas. 
- it is unlikely that you can cumulate all these credits, as the corresponding courses span over several timetables which are quite likely to collide. As class attendance is mandatory, massive timetable collisions are not allowed.

Consequently, it is highly improbable that you can accumulate 30 ECTS worth of English-taught classes during either the first or second semester. 

Exchange students usually propose 15-20 ECTS English-taught learning agreements during the first semester. 

I plan to make an academic stay during the Spring semester (S2). I am not able to follow classes in French, I can only take English classes. 

The English-taught offer during the Spring semester (S2) is significantly less extensive compared to the offer provided during the Autumn semester (S1). The course offer consists of: 
- 8 ECTS worth of English-taught courses 
- 15 or 30 ECTS worth of English-conducted laboratory research projects. 

Therefore, the course offer is considerably more scarce, and the quotas are also significantly lower, as our in-house student population increases during the second semester.

You can consider several options: 
- If you only wish to take English-taught classes, you can try mixing classes from GI as a major department, and another INSA department as "minor". This requires the approval of the minor department, and comes at a risk: timetable collisions between two different departments are likely to occur. But sometimes it works! 
Nevertheless, it appears improbable that you will be able to accumulate more than 15 ECTS of English-taught courses in this configuration.

- You may apply for a lab research project. 

What is a Lab research Project ? 
Lab research projects come in two versions: 15 or 30 ECTS. In a lab research project, you do not follow traditional classroom lectures. Instead, you work with a project supervisor inside a research lab, you focus on a research topic and deliver a final project by the end of the semester. Lab research projects are typically conducted in English. You may also combine French or English-taught classes with a 15 ECTS laboratory research project. However, a 30 ECTS laboratory research project does not permit you to enroll in additional classes. 

It is important to keep in mind that Lab research projects operate just like internships. There are no pre-defined subjects, no pre-assigned supervisors. You need to observe the following pre-requisites: 

- you are fond of doing research and you have a research topic you would like to explore. 
- you have reasonably good academic results and you have good reading/writing/speaking English skills. 
- you initiate contact with researchers and request a project proposal. This process is typically collaborative, you are expected to express your interest in a specific topic and inquire about the possibility of collaborating on a research project around that topic. 

If you find a supervisor and a project subject, then you shall be enrolled in this activity. 

It is extremely important to anticipate this process, in parallel with your application. If you arrive on-site without a lab project already arranged, it is unlikely that you will find one.

I am an exchange student at INSA. I would like to pass a certification test in French or English during my stay. 

At INSA, unless you have an excellent level of French, you are strongly encouraged to take the French as a Foreign Language (FLE) course. As part of this course, you have the option to take the TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français), but the exam fees will be at your own expense.

However, please note that there is no option to take an official English language certification test at INSA.