Excelia International Institute

An almost centenary history

An old wooden desk in a vintage classroom setting
Creation
1931

Creation of the IEF in La Rochelle

Founded in 1931 by the CCI as part of the arrival of Swedish engineers to La Rochelle, the Institut d'Études Françaises de La Rochelle has established itself for more than 90 years as a recognized player in the teaching of French as a foreign language.

Excelia
1988

Integration of IEF into the Excelia Group

The integration of IEF into the Excelia Group in 1988 marked a strategic turning point, strengthening our position in higher education.

New start
2025

New identity: Excelia International Institute

In 2025, IEF became Excelia International Institute, reflecting our ambition to broaden our mission. We continue to teach French as a foreign language and develop courses in English to meet international needs.

Every day is a new adventure of learning and discovery, where academic excellence meets personal growth.

Choosing Excelia International Institute means making the choice to join a renowned institute and to follow excellent training courses in an exceptional living environment. Our innovative courses are based on immersion in an exceptional cultural and heritage environment in La Rochelle and Paris.

Team

Our team is driven by a common passion: languages and cultural transmission. Each member is committed to supporting you step by step in your journey, putting their expertise and enthusiasm at the service of your success. Always available and listening to you, we make your linguistic progress a real human and academic adventure.

Beyond skills, it is team spirit and passion that unite us. We believe that learning a language is a unique personal and cultural experience that requires listening, patience and creativity. That is why we make every effort to create an environment that is stimulating, caring and open to the world.

Richard Ginioux

Director

Matthieu Bréheret

Development manager

Géraldine Legendre

Educational coordinator

Manuella Werberschütz-Dal

Educational manager

Frédérique Babin

French teacher

Patrick Boitel

French teacher

Céleste Dolhen

French teacher

Magali Biay

French teacher

Sébastien Gendron

French teacher
EESPIG labels and FLE quality

A school you can trust

IEF holds the Qualité FLE label which guarantees quality services, education and training. The EESPIG state label, owned by Excelia, aims to distinguish non-profit institutions that contribute with quality to the public service missions of Higher Education and Research and to their commitment to the general interest. This is the guarantee of a continuous evaluation of Excelia's training courses. To date, 64 higher education institutions have been certified EESPIG, including 10 management schools including Excelia.

Flagship values

Much more than a school

Excelia is defined by strong set of values

Sharing
To build our future together by relying on collective intelligence and the power of participatory work.
Humanism
By welcoming the Other in its diversity, by nurturing the learner's posture of humility and by taking a step back from the world around us.
Audacity
To develop the ability to adapt and the power of persuasion that promote employability, while encouraging innovation.
Responsibility
To be in line with commitments to sustainable development aimed at contributing to a better world.
Commitment
Through our ethical responsibility to our stakeholders, our loyalty to our values and our thoughtful decision-making in line with our civic commitment.
learner services

Optimal conditions

Library

A modern and friendly space dedicated to learning: cozy corner, coworking boxes, collaborative work rooms. Easy access to resources thanks to our partnership with the University Library.

Excelia digital tools

A complete digital environment: learning software (PrepMyFuture), educational platforms (XL Connect), collaborative tools and integrated services to support your daily studies.

International Student Card

Join a global network of students and professionals

Student associations

Associations to enrich your student experience

On-site cafeteria

Enjoy a friendly space for your breaks

Teaching team

Personalized support throughout your training

Recognized partners and labels

Our partnerships and accreditations guarantee the quality of our courses.