Next available start dates: August 2027 and January 2028. Applications are now open.
Last minute for the Spring Semester 2027 starting in January 2027? Contact us now. 

Discover our 7-day boarding schools in the South of France! 

Some students want the cultural immersion of studying in France, without living with a host family. If that's you, our full-time (7-day) boarding schools in Espalion and Masseube give you a complete boarding experience: you live on campus alongside French and international classmates, every day of the week, with no host family required at any point in the program.

Unlike our weekly boarding programs, where students spend weekdays at school and weekends with a host family, full-time boarding means your whole experience happens within the school community, including weekends, which are packed with organized activities, excursions, and trips.

And when school breaks come around, the choice is entirely yours: fly home to see your family and friends, or make your own plans, since the boarding house closes for holiday periods.

Espalion: 

This school considers students in Grades 10 and 11.

In Grade 10, students may attend options such as:

• "Multi-art" option (plastic art, music, and cinema)
• Artistic exploration (art and philosophy), literature and society
• "Micro-business experience"

Size: 370 students.
Boarding quarters (4 students per room, shared bathroom, living room): 30 students.
School Plus:

• Various options on offer (Plastic Arts, Rugby, Handball, Outdoor sports, Horseback Riding and Dance).
• Cultural clubs: Radio, Theatre, Cinema, Arts, a lot of thematic Wednesday afternoons and evenings at the boarding school.
• Personalized support for each student, school time adjusted for options.
• Opportunities to take French language lessons and to sit the DELF exam.

Minimum French level: A2
Free time allowed outside of school: not independently but with adults.

Masseube: 

We place our international students in a private Catholic school following the Lasallian educational project and offering a warm family atmosphere.

• Size: 600 students, French and international
  
• International students: strong International community
• Boarding house: 85% of the students are boarders (shared bedrooms and bathrooms); the school offers evening activities, conferences and sport activities. 

School Plus:

• On Campus: horse riding stables, soccer and rugby fields
  
• 1h30 to 2h of daily tutoring or supervised studies
• Dedicated counselor for international students
• Choir
• Outdoor activities: soccer, rugby, mountain biking, horse riding, crossfit, climbing, table tennis, golf, basketball, boxing, etc.
• Music lessons: piano, guitar, or drum (150€/term)
  

​​​State-supported private schools are significantly subsidized, making them much more affordable than fully independent international private schools in France. These schools adhere to the national curriculum, and while many have a religious foundation (often Catholic), students are not required to participate in religious services.

What should I expect of my school year in France?

French secondary education is divided into two schools:

• the “collège” for the first four years directly following primary school (Grades 6-9)
• the “lycée” for the next three years (Grades 10-12).

Completion of secondary studies leads to the “baccalauréat”. The school’s director makes the decision regarding grade and placement level for international students, taking into account the school’s organization, the student’s transcripts, and their French level. All students attend general classes such as French, History, Foreign Language (usually English, then German or Spanish), Sports, etc..

Learn more about the French high school system: 

• How will my grades look if I'm an exchange student in France?
• ​Learn more about the French grade report you may earn during your High School Study abroad in France
• 10th Grade in France: what to expect in Seconde
• 11th Grade in France: what to expect in Première

Why choose Full-Time Boarding? 

• No host family required, ever: your entire program takes place on campus, with the same community of classmates day and night.
• Weekends are part of the program, not a gap: from ski trips to city excursions in Toulouse, Montpellier, or Rodez, weekends are organized and included, not left up to a host family's plans.
• A built-in international community: full-time boarders form close bonds with French and international classmates who share the same daily rhythm.
• Total freedom during school breaks: fly home, travel, or make your own arrangements; you're not tied to a host family's schedule or availability.
• A structured, predictable routine: ideal for students who prefer consistency over adapting to a new family's household rules and habits.
  

Who is this program for?

This program is a great fit if you:

• Would rather live in a school community than adapt to a host family's home life
• Want your weekends organized for you, with built-in activities and excursions
• Value independence during school breaks, without depending on a host family's holiday plans
• Are comfortable with a more structured, communal boarding environment
  

Apply now to study in a 7-day boarding school in France! Prefer a mix of boarding and host family life, with weekends spent with a French family?
See our weekly boarding programs in the Loire Valley / South / Southwest. 

Rather looking for an exchange program in France in host families? Or a program in a different location? Look at our page dedicated to student exchange in France. 
Discover our 7-day English-speaking boarding school in Paris.