Program Overview

Program Overview

The VIU Baking and Culinary Field School to Belgium and France is a unique opportunity for students to explore the world of chocolate, pastry, and bread. This field school offers hands-on workshops, tours of chocolate and baking factories, Belgian chocolate shops, and the best of Parisian pastry, bread, and chocolate.

Field School Dates

The field school will take place from January 13 to 28, 2024.

Application Procedure

Interested students should submit their completed Application Form by the deadline of September 8, 2023. Students should be prepared to do lots of walking and should have comfortable shoes.

Eligibility

Students who graduated in 2023 from the Culinary Arts program, Culinary Diploma Program, Professional Baking program, or Baking Diploma Program will have first refusal on participating in this field school. New students starting in Fall 2023, and Alumni from any of these programs listed above will have second refusal. After this, the field school will consider VIU students from other programs, and people from industry as participants.

Fees and Costs

The field school fees include:

• Flights
• All chartered buses
• Walk-on ferry fares
• Paris Metro passes and tickets
• Accommodation (shared in hostel style housing)
• All breakfasts (except Day 1, 16 flight days)
• Final group dinner on Day 14
• All group activity, entrance fees

Expenses not included:

• Participants need to pay out of pocket for approximately 10 lunches and 13 dinners not included in the program cost.
• Personal expense money
• Excess baggage fees
• Sightseeing, visits, entrance fees for other activities not listed in the itinerary
• Items of a purely personal nature
• Travel Medical Insurance (mandatory enrollment in Guard.Me)
• Vaccinations, immunizations, passport applications/renewals
• Schengen Visa for Entry to France/Belgium (for non-Canadian citizens)

Payment Schedule

The payment schedule is as follows: | Type | Amount | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | | Deposit* | $500 | September 15, 2023 | | Payment 1 | $1950 | October 13, 2023 | | Payment 2/Final Payment | $1950 | November 17, 2023 |

*Non-refundable deposit required to secure your seat in the program.

Passports and Visas

All successful applicants must be able to legally travel outside of Canada and through/to the USA. Participants must have a valid passport good for six months after their return. International students going abroad must ensure their TRV and Study Permits are up-to-date and won't expire while they are abroad. Students will be responsible for applying for and securing their own visas (where appropriate). Canadian citizens will not normally require a visa. International students may require a Schengen visa as per European Union entrance requirements.