Beyond The Classroom
Discover countless opportunities to explore the French language and experience the variety and richness of French-speaking cultures from around the world.
Not only does the French program provide students with a solid training in French language, literature, and culture, it includes opportunities to study abroad in France in Nice or Montpellier, to participate in a unique immersive experience with the Language House Living & Learning Residential Program, to practice one-on-one with a native speaker through the Language Partner Program, free French tutoring, and many more opportunities to experience culture from the French-speaking world and master the French language. Students can choose to join University of Maryland’s chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honors Society, as well as apply to a variety of scholarships and awards supporting students in need and recognizing student excellence.
Education Abroad
Studying abroad allows students to experience different cultures, engage in worldwide discourse and develop global understanding while strengthening their fluency in French. The French program offers two French study abroad opportunities guided by a University of Maryland resident director -- Maryland-in-Nice (1 or 2 semesters) and French Language and Culture on the Mediterranean Summer program in Montpellier (summer).
Language Partner Program
Meet with an international student outside the classroom and practice French in an informal yet structured way.
Meeting with a native speaker will help students develop fluency and increase their confidence in speaking while also learning about other cultures and gaining new friends. Language Partners meet on a regular basis at least once a week for one hour of conversation. Upon successful completion, students earn 1 credit for SLLC 309.
Free French Tutoring
The Department offers free tutoring Monday through Thursday. Check out updated tutoring hours here.
Pi Delta Phi
The Department of French and Italian at UMD is affiliated with Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society. Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1906, Pi Delta Phi is the oldest national academic honor society for a foreign language in the United States. The aims of the Society are to recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and Francophone literatures, to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world, and to encourage and to stimulate French and francophone cultural activities. There are currently more than 400 chapters and over 75,000 members across the United States.
In order to be eligible for nomination, undergraduate students must be sophomores, must have completed at least one semester of a 300-level or higher course in French, have a current minimum GPA of 3.0 in French 3.0 overall, and rank in the top 35% of their class. The eligibility requirements for graduate students are completion of 2 graduate courses in French (either here at UMD or in a program in which you were formerly enrolled), and minimum 3.5 GPA in graduate coursework.
National dues for a lifetime membership are also required. As of September 1, 2019, the fee for a premium membership is $45.00, for which students receive the Pi Delta Phi pin, certificate, and one set of graduation honor cords in blue, white and red.
Regular members of Pi Delta Phi are eligible to apply for several generous scholarships for summer study in France and Québec. The annual awards are designed to enable undergraduate regular members of an active chapter to continue their studies of the French language and of the literatures and cultures of the French-speaking world.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Pi Delta Phi Faculty Moderator, Dr. Hannah Wegmann (hwegmann@umd.edu).
For more information, please consult Pi Delta Phi’s website.
Department Scholarships and Awards
Each year, students from the French program are recognized for their excellence in French through a variety of scholarships and awards, including awards dedicated to students in need.
- AATF Outstanding Senior in French
- AATF Excellence in French
- Outstanding Intermediate Level French Students
Scholarships from the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Donald Hirsch Scholarship
- Bartsch-Dunne Language Scholarship
- Valerie Von Mach Choudhury (non) Endowed Scholarship for Romance Languages (available every other year)
Education Abroad Scholarships
Available for students wishing to attend one of our two Education abroad programs -- our semester- of year-long Maryland-in-Nice program or our French Language and Culture on the Mediterranean Summer program in Montpellier.
Pi Delta Phi Undergraduate Scholarships
- Joseph W. Yedlicka Award
- Full tuition summer-session scholarship (six weeks including housing and board) to Aix-en-Provence awarded by the Institute for American Universities College
- Mary E. Gutermuth Award
- Full tuition summer-session scholarship (give weeks including housing, board, and activities fee) to the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi awarded by Pi Delta Phi
*Students must be members of the French Honors Society to be eligible for these awards.
Other Scholarships available for French Students
Past Awards won by our students include:
- Boren Scholarship
- Critical Language Scholarship
- Fulbright Fellowship
- Gilman Scholarship
- National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Beyond the Classroom
