C.I.E.L. Bretagne, founded in 1987, is run by the Brest Chamber of Commerce and Industry and operates under a partnership agreement with the Université de Bretagne Occidentale. All faculty members are specialised in the teaching of French as a foreign language. The school is located in a magnificent 19th-century manor overlooking the Brest harbour, which is one of the most beautiful in the world. Brest, which lies at the extreme west of Europe, is the capital of western Brittany, a region with a strong identity and concentrates 25% of the public and private research and great attractiveness owing to the quality of its environment and the beauty of its landscapes.

Each year, C.I.E.L. Bretagne hosts some 1,000 students from more than 50 different countries. The school offers: general French courses or specialised classes (preparation for higher studies, business French, tourist French), training courses for professors (DELF/DALF, evaluation, early learners, TICE) and classes for juniors. Unlimited access to the media library, the multimedia area (with tutorial) and internet is provided free of charge. Each week, in summer, group leaders organise excursions, visits and evening events. A variety of housing possibilities are available: in host families (for full language immersion), at the university residence hall or in flats in downtown Brest.

C.I.E.L. Bretagne has recently developed ICIFO (Institut de Commerce International de France Occidentale), a program to prepare Chinese students for post-secondary study, through partnerships with the following institutions: Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), the University Institute of Technology (IUT) of Brest and Quimper, Ecole supérieure d'Arts de Brest (ESAB), French Business School (Brest), National School of Engineers of Brest (ENIB), Telecom Bretagne and National School of Advanced Techniques (ENSTA UK), C.I.E.L. Bretagne gives particular care to preparation for higher education.