Campus International de Valbonne (CIV)
Baccalauréat Français International · French Baccalaureate
A public international school in Sophia Antipolis: about 2,300 pupils from 65 nationalities on a 12-hectare campus in the pine forest. Offers the BFI, which replaced the OIB from the 2022 school year, in six sections: American, German, Chinese, Spanish, Italian and Russian.
School’s official website: civfrance.com (opens in a new tab)~2,300
Students
65
Nationalities
BFI + Bac
Curricula
1978
Founded
Overview
The Campus International de Valbonne (CIV) is a public school founded in 1978. It teaches about 2,300 pupils from 65 nationalities, from collège through lycée to preparatory classes for the grandes écoles (CPGE), on a 12-hectare campus with boarding.
The collège admits only pupils enrolled in an international section. At lycée, pupils prepare the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) in one of six sections, or the French Bac.
The campus sits at 190 rue Frédéric Mistral in Valbonne, inside the Sophia Antipolis technology park.
Curriculum and programmes
Baccalauréat Français International (BFI)
The flagship programme at CIV is the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI), which replaced the OIB from the 2022 school year. CIV teaches it through six international sections: American, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Chinese. It combines the French national curriculum with subjects taught in the section language.
Graduates go on to universities in France, Europe and further afield, which recognise the BFI.
Standards hold from collège through lycée, so pupils move up without disruption. Because CIV is a public school, there is no tuition for the French curriculum. Ask each international section about any additional costs.
- Baccalauréat Français International
- Six sections
- Public school
French Baccalaureate programme
The French Baccalaureate (Bac général) builds on the demanding national curriculum and solid academic foundations. It suits pupils aiming for a French university who want to keep French credentials and cultural depth.
Pupils complete the standard Bac requirements, with full coursework in sciences, humanities and languages. They leave well prepared for French and European universities.
CIV also runs an EsaBac French-Italian section and CPGE preparatory classes in economics and sciences.
- French Baccalaureate
- National recognition
- European pathway
Campus and facilities
Science & technology
Laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics, and computer rooms for the collège, lycée and CPGE classes.
Arts & performance
Rooms for music and the visual arts, and spaces for school performances and exhibitions.
Sports & recreation
Sports grounds on the 12-hectare campus, and a rugby sevens sports section (Sevens Academy). The sports programme covers competitive and recreational sport.
Extracurricular activities
CIV runs clubs covering sport, the arts, debate, science and cultural interests, with activities organised by the international sections.
Pupils put on concerts, plays and art exhibitions. Sport runs from inter-school fixtures to recreational play.
Ask the school which clubs and section activities run in your child’s year.
- Clubs
- International sections
- Boarding
Admissions
Requirements
- Previous school reports
- Language tests for entry to an international section
- Application within the school’s published calendar
- Separate application for boarding
Tuition and fees
- Public school: no tuition for the French curriculum
- International sections: ask each section about additional costs
- Boarding and meals are charged separately
- Families eligible under French rules are entitled to apply for state means-tested grants (bourses)
Location
The campus is at 190 rue Frédéric Mistral, Valbonne, inside the Sophia Antipolis technology park and about 10 minutes from Valbonne village.
Distances from the main towns:
15 km
Antibes coast
20 km
Nice Airport
25 km
Cannes
20 km
Grasse
50 km
Monaco
Frequently asked questions
Common questions and answers about this school.