Saint Mary’s partner university in France, Rennes School of Business, in Brittany invites international students from around the globe to join their summer programmes. These programmes offer a unique opportunity to earn credits, enhance your skills, and experience French culture in a vibrant academic setting. Whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student, their summer courses are designed to complement your studies and broaden your horizons.
Why Rennes School of Business?
Join Rennes School of Business summer programmes for a great experience in Brittany! Dive into globally relevant subjects such as AI in Business, Digital Marketing and Branding, Sustainable Practices, and Cross-Cultural Management all taught in English by international professors. You’ll gain hands-on insight into your field while enjoying cultural immersion, vibrant student life and networking opportunities with students from around the world. Rennes School of Business is renowned for its multicultural environment and focus on preparing students for global careers, making this a perfect opportunity to enhance your knowledge, broaden your perspectives, and explore beautiful Brittany.
Rennes School of Business is offering the following courses in the summer of 2026:
A.I. Business | 18 May – 12 June 2026 (4 one-week modular courses)
Digital Marketing & Branding | 1 – 12 June 2026
Sustainable Business | 23 June – 3 July 2026
Corporate Finance in French | 6 – 10 July 2026
Cross-Cultural Management | 6 – 17 July 2026
Eligibility: Successful completion of at least one year of undergraduate-level studies.
Credits: 6 ECTS per programme (3 US credits), 3 ECTS per module for the AI Business programme
Language: English, except for the Corporate Finance programme (in French)
Number of students accepted from SMU: Up to 3
Accommodation
Students will have access to a list of accommodation options upon acceptance.
Fees
SMU students pay normal SMU tuition for the transfer credit hours at SMU. In addition, students will pay a €90 non-refundable registration fee at the host university.
Travel, accommodation, travel insurance, immigration application costs (if applicable), meals, local transportation, personal expenses, etc. are also each participating student’s responsibility. A $100 SMU Study abroad admin fee will be charged on banner.
Canadian passport holders and those who hold citizenship from countries eligible for a visa-free entry may enter France without a visa for the duration of the program. If a visa is required, the host university will provide the necessary supporting documents for your visa application. Note: please consider the costs of applying for a visa; it may be necessary for those who need a visa to travel to a visa processing centre in another Canadian city to apply in person, so budget accordingly. Please see the Immigration section below.
Transfer credits
Students may be able to earn credits to the extent that those credits are applicable to the program requirements of their SMU degree. Meet with your academic advisor of your program ( https://www.smu.ca/academics/academic-advising.html) to see if any of your remaining degree requirements can be completed at another university. If your advisor confirms that there is room for transfer credits in your degree, you will request approval to take courses for transfer credits by submitting a Letter of Permission Request Form (found here https://www.smu.ca/academics/student-forms.html) and course descriptions to the SMU Academic Advising Office as soon as your acceptance is confirmed. Typically, 3credit hours at SMU is earned for each 6 ECTS credits given at European partner schools. However, discuss the course detail (found on the website) with your academic advisor so that they can review the instructional hours, learning outcomes, etc. to determine if SMU credits can be considered.
Funding
Limited funding ($500 on average) may be available. Students who are accepted to the program will be invited to request funding.
Immigration:
Citizens of certain countries are required to apply for a visa before entering Finland, while visas are waived for others. Questions related to immigration should be directed to the French government’s France-Visas website (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en-US/web/france-visas/) and VFS Global (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/can/en/fra/).
How to apply
Interested students should submit the SMU Exchange Program application* by February 24 2026 for A.I. Business or by March 15 2026 for all other courses to the Global Learning Office.
*To complete your application, you will:
fill out your Study Abroad Application (https://studio.smu.ca/s/StudyAbroadApplication2021.pdf)
write a one-page letter of intent. (Tip: book an appointment with The Writing Centre or ask if personal statement workshops are coming up https://studio.smu.ca/wc-student-tutoring)
print in pdf your unofficial transcript from banner
prepare your resume, and
secure two references (one must be from a SMU professor of one of your courses) – referees can email their letters directly to Global@smu.ca. Alternatively, they can email Miyuki.arai@smu.ca to inquire.
Once you have all four pieces of application documents (except for references), upload them at the application link here https://smuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55UpfboKu5sImUe.
What happens after you apply?
Once your application package is received, the Global Learning Office will be in touch to schedule a short interview. If you are selected, 1) you will be nominated to the host university by the SMU Global Learning Office and 2) you will be instructed to complete a set of applications for the host university by March 2 (A.I. Business) or by mid-April (all other courses). Once the host university accepts you into the program, they will provide all program-related information as well as instruction for the payment of the program fee. You will also be expected to attend our pre-departure orientation meetings.
Program website
Please find some general information about our summer programmes on our website.
Questions?
Email the Global Learning Office (Global@smu.ca or Miyuki.arai@smu.ca).
