Ok so here’s my reply again. I dont think u can do a course in any other university except for what the sem organise. You should call up the sem and ask for a prospectus and they will send you a whole booklet with all information about all the courses etc. So yes the french girls used to study in the sem in the afternoons.
and yes it did exist when i was in sem – i said before i was good friends with two french girls. I think you have to apply by chanuka but if you know of a rav in france who has connections with gateshead you should try and talk to him because it may be difficult for you to get in on your own if your parents dont really want you to go.