This paper investigates the link between foreign language skills, the international experience gained during a year of study abroad, and intercultural competence, using structural equations modeling. To this purpose, we exploit longitudinal survey data collected among student of a French Higher Education Institute, before and after a one-year study stay abroad. Intercultural competence was measured through the understanding of critical incidents. The results show that the level in English and the competence in the local language have an impact on intercultural competence, along with open-mindedness, the length of the mobility and negative emotions experienced during the stay.