Article 1 – Introduction to MICEFA

The Interuniversity Mission for the Coordination of Franco-American Exchanges (MICEFA) is an association governed by French law under the Act of July 1, 1901, whose purpose is to organize and coordinate university exchange programs between French and North American institutions of higher education.
Its headquarters are located at 6 rue du Douanier Rousseau, registered under SIRET number 334 834 322 000 52, and represented by its President.

These General Terms and Conditions of Sale (hereinafter “GTC”) apply to all services offered by MICEFA to students at MICEFA member universities in France and partner universities in North America, as part of exchange and study programs between France and North America.

Article 2 – Purpose

These Terms and Conditions set forth the rights and obligations of the parties in connection with the sale of the following services, among others :

• administrative and educational support for mobility,
• organization of language courses, intensive courses, and summer programs
• collection of application fees, excursion fees, and various administrative fees.

Registration for any of these services implies the student’s full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Article 3 – Pre-contractual information

Before definitively accepting an exchange program or enrolling in a course, the student acknowledges having received, in a legible and understandable manner :

• a detailed description of the program (host university, duration, language of instruction, academic requirements),
• information regarding the costs they are responsible for (application fees, internship fees, field trip fees, visa-related costs, insurance, transportation, and housing),
• Cancellation, modification, and refund policies.

Article 4 – Prices and Payment Terms

The applicable rates are those in effect on the date of purchase, as communicated by MICEFA or the student’s home university.
Prices are listed in euros and may include, as applicable (non-exhaustive list):

• the cost of participating in an intensive course,
• rents for housing units offered or managed by MICEFA
• security deposits related to housing
• costs of field trips and cultural activities
• administrative fees (including fees for issuing transcripts)
• fees for participating in summer language and culture programs
• fees for participating in the summer public health medicine program
• application fees for graduating students

Payment terms (payment schedule, accepted payment methods) are specified in the documents sent to the student or on the MICEFA website. All payments include a 5% processing fee.
Failure to meet payment deadlines may result in the suspension or cancellation of participation in the program.

Article 5 – Non-refundable fees

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the specific terms and conditions applicable to a particular service, all payments made to MICEFA for services offered on its website are non-refundable.

The student acknowledges that he or she was informed, prior to making any payment, that the amounts paid are non-refundable.

In the event of a visa denial, withdrawal, or cancellation of the trip for reasons not attributable to MICEFA, any amounts designated as non-refundable shall be retained by MICEFA or the relevant service provider.

MICEFA shall not be held liable for any payments made by the student to third parties, including when such expenses are related to the student’s participation in the program (such as visa fees, consular fees, transportation costs, airline tickets, insurance, or any other expenses incurred directly with an external service provider).

These payments, which are made outside of MICEFA and are not collected by the association, are under no circumstances eligible for reimbursement by MICEFA.

Article 6 – Cancellation, rescheduling, and changes

6.1. Cancellation by the student
In accordance with Article 5, payments made to MICEFA are non-refundable.

A partial refund may be granted, depending on the date of the request and the expenses already incurred.

6.2. Cancellation or modification at the initiative of MICEFA or its partners.
MICEFA reserves the right to cancel or modify a program or service, particularly in the event of insufficient enrollment, force majeure, a decision by a partner university, or changes in legal requirements (such as visa regulations).
Whenever possible, an alternative solution will be offered to the student. If no alternative solution is available, MICEFA may, depending on the circumstances, issue a partial or full refund of the amounts paid, excluding any non-refundable fees already incurred.

Article 7 – Visas, Student Responsibilities and Obligations

The granting of a visa is at the sole discretion of the consular authorities. MICEFA cannot guarantee the issuance of a visa under any circumstances.
The student agrees to :

• provide accurate information and complete documents in a timely manner,
• follow the procedures and instructions provided,
• take out the required insurance (health, liability, emergency medical evacuation, etc.), both for a stay in the U.S. and Canada and for a stay in France.

MICEFA shall not be held liable for the consequences of a visa denial, inaccuracies in the information provided by the student, or the student’s failure to comply with administrative and legal obligations.

Article 8 – MICEFA’s Responsibility

MICEFA acts as a coordinating body for academic exchanges. It shall not be held liable for :

• changes to academic programs, academic calendars, or class schedules decided by member and partner universities,
• transport cancellations, delays, or disruptions,
• decisions by administrative or consular authorities, particularly regarding visas,
• matters attributable to member universities, partner universities, external service providers (housing, transportation, insurance, banks, etc.), or public authorities,
• loss, theft, or damage to the student’s personal property,
• the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, as well as the cultural and academic differences inherent in living abroad,
• any case of force majeure or unforeseeable event beyond MICEFA’s control,
• damages resulting from the student’s wrongful, negligent, or rule-violating conduct.

In any event, MICEFA’s liability is limited to direct damages, excluding any indirect damages, within the limits provided for by French law.

Article 9 – Personal information

The personal data collected in connection with these services is processed by MICEFA in accordance with the terms set forth in its Privacy Policy, which is available on the website.
Students are encouraged to review this information before registering.

Article 10 – Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms and Conditions are governed by French law.
In the event of a dispute, the parties shall endeavor to reach an amicable resolution. Failing that, and subject to applicable public policy rules, the competent French courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction.