IAU Aix-en-Provence, France Summer

Aix-en-Provence, France (Europe)

Quick Facts

SUMMER 2023 

Costs: $9,460 homestay OR residence hall/apt; $9,115 semi-independent 


*A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due within two weeks of acceptance. This deposit is applied towards the program cost and paid to the College of Staten Island. 



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Please note that if you see dates or costs for a prior term above, that future terms will have similar dates and costs.  We will update info as soon as it becomes available.
 
 

Scholarships available for in person experiences. Apply HERE* 

Click here for IAU Aix-en-Provence Semester Programs

 

Program Overview

The Institute for American Universities (IAU) is located in Aix-en-Provence (pop. Approx. 143,000) situated on the Mediterranean coast. The program offers courses in French language and a variety of other liberal arts and social sciences courses, making it an ideal study abroad location for any major. Homestays and a strong program of cultural activities complement the academic program to ensure students have a complete immersion into French culture.
 
Aix is a very beautiful old town, rich in history and local tradition. Overlooked by hills and Mont Sainte Victoire, Aix lies in a natural basin and is famous for its fountains, winding streets and sunny squares, monuments and churches, universities and thermal waters. The many concerts, the summer Festival d'Art Lyrique, libraries, museums, churches, bookstores, markets, and cafés have earned Aix its reputation as one of France's most engaging cities. A wealth of cinemas, restaurants, night clubs, and sports facilities welcomes Aix's students.
 
In Aix-en-Provence, you can find one of the finest examples of the famed Provencal style of architecture, and a walk through the streets is a lesson in artistic control, in form, composition, rhythm, and beauty. Within a few miles of the center of Aix, original motifs of many great artists remain intact. Aix-en-Provence allows easy access to Paris, Geneva, London and other major European cities. With Italy and Spain only hours away by train, Aix-en-Provence is ideally located for students planning to travel on the weekends.

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Contact Program Sponsor and Advisor

This program is sponsored and administered by the College of Staten Island CUNY.
 

Academics & Program

See here the Summer 2022 Course Schedule.  Course descriptions and syllabi are available on IAU's website.

The Institute for American Universities (IAU) in Aix-en-Provence, France is chartered by the Board of Regents of The State University of New York and was founded in 1957 under the auspices of the Universitè d'Aix-Marseille. It is one of the oldest and largest education abroad programs of its type in Europe.
 
IAU offers four programs of study in Aix-en-Provence: The School of Humanities and Social Sciences, The School of Business and International Relations, The French Honors Program, and The Marchutz School of Fine Arts

• The School of Humanities and Social Sciences - IAU prides itself on the diversity of its course offerings in English, French, and Arabic which enables students with any background in French language the ability to gain access to a study abroad experience. The multiple course offerings allow students to fulfill many of their general education requirements and complete major and minor requirements linked to areas in the humanities, social sciences, education, and the arts.
• The School of Business and International Relations - Through the School of Business and International Relations, all students have the unique opportunity to learn about international business strategies and procedures with a specific focus on the global market. IAU business courses are approved by Fairfield University, an IAU partner institution whose Dolan School of Business is accredited through AACSB, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Disciplines taught include economics, finance, international business, management, and marketing.
• The French Honors Program - The French Honors Program is designed for French majors or other students with demonstrated advanced-level French, interested in a comprehensive language and cultural immersion program. All honors students enroll in a weekly French Honors Seminar (FRE/LIT/ART 411), all remaining courses are taught in French, and internship placements for course credit are also available. Additionally, students will be expected to keep a daily journal in French. This journal will be examined and discussed on a regular basis in the weekly seminar meeting.
• The Marchutz School of Fine Arts - The Marchutz Arts Core Program is open to students of all majors, artistic skill levels, and backgrounds, and offers an immersive experience in painting, drawing, art history, and art theory with extensive excursions throughout Europe. Students enrolled in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences or the School of Business and International Relations may take courses at the Marchutz School of Fine Arts along with their other courses including art history, creative writing, archaeology, painting and drawing, photography, architectural design, sculpture, and more

In addition to the above programs of study, IAU provides access to unpaid, for-credit internships available at local enterprises for 8-week summer term students. Interested students should have at least four semesters of college French and must provide their resume before the start of the semester. While placement cannot be guaranteed for those without upper-level French language experience, it is possible for students with lower-level French to be placed.  These situations are handled on a case-by-case basis.


Course Offerings 

Students may choose 1, 2, or 3 classes (3 – 9 credits) from the flexible summer sessions. The summer terms include a six-week session and two three-week sessions.

The principal areas of study offered in the summer program are French language and culture (introductory through advanced levels of language, civilization, and literature); art and archaeology, including art history and studio art; and European/international studies and social sciences (business, comparative literature, economics, education, government, history, philosophy, political science, and psychology). 


 

Student Life & Housing

Student Life

Aix-en-Provence is a major cultural center, hosting a summer International Music Festival featuring jazz, pop, classical, and opera. Cinemas, museums, parks, restaurants, cafes, and night clubs, as well as a variety of sporting events, are available to students. The region is known for its sunny, temperate and generally dry climate, so sunshine and outdoor activities abound. 
 
Aix’s location provides numerous travel opportunities for students. Field study trips are embedded into many courses; several others are organized by IAU staff. Additionally, students are also encouraged to strike out on their own and explore their new surroundings. Marseilles, the Mediterranean and the Maritime Alps are only an hour away, and Nice, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Saint Tropez, Paris, Milan, Rome and Geneva are all within one day of travel, perfect for a weekend trip.
 
Housing

IAU prioritizes homestay placements for students due to the cultural and language advantages they offer; however, given the changes in availability and willingness in host families, it is important that students maintain flexibility and an open mind when it comes to housing placements. Moreover, as a result of the reduced number of families available to host students at this time, it will be necessary to place some students in student residence apartments. Students should be prepared that they may not receive their first preference for housing. Note that the costs of all meals, laundry, and cleaning supplies for the student residence apartment are the responsibility of the student.

Students are housed in the homes of French host families when possible. Living in a French home is ideal as it provides an immediate introduction to life in Southern France. Host families come from a cross-section of society; they belong to no particular professional or social milieu, but all are carefully chosen, and many have hosted American students for several years.
 
The homestay option offers students room and half board. Daily continental breakfasts and six dinners a week are provided by the host family. Students are responsible for lunches. 
 
Bed, linen, pillow and blankets, are provided, and the room is cleaned weekly. Students must bring their own towels, and they are provided with one machine load of wash each week. You can request to be placed with another IAU roommate in the host family setting.

There is a multitude of affordable cafés, brasseries, small sandwich and grocery shops from which to choose. Many other food markets are available around town during the week.


 

Duration & Costs

Duration
 

Costs: $9,460 homestay OR residence hall/apt; $9,115 semi-independent 


Please note that if you see dates or costs for a prior term above, that future terms will have similar dates and costs.  We will update info as soon as it becomes available.
 

*A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due within two weeks of acceptance. This deposit is applied towards the program cost and paid to the College of Staten Island. 

 

Costs included: Tuition and fees, homestay (breakfast daily and six dinners included) or apartment (without meals), (or lower cost in semi-independent housing), pre-departure advising and orientation, textbook rental, insurance, field study tours, and scheduled cultural activities.

Costs not included: Airfare ($1,200 - $1,500), some meals (homestay option) or all meals (apartment option), passport/visa fees, and personal expenses ($1,000 – 1,500), courses that may incur an additional lab fee.
 


All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Contact the program sponsor to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.

Please refer to your acceptance materials for information on arrival, orientation, and the academic calendar. The refund policy is program specific and non-transferable. Refer to your acceptance materials for the comprehensive refund policy or contact the program sponsor.
 

Eligibility & Deadlines

Eligibility Requirements
- Prior French language is not required, except for internship.
- Minimum class standing - students must have completed at least one semester (minimum 12 semester credit hours) of college-level coursework at the time of application.
- 2.5 GPA or higher
- Students must be at least 18 years of age


Applications to Include
- Official transcripts
- One letter of recommendation from a teacher who knows the applicant from a classroom setting
- Statement of purpose


Application Deadlines
Internship - February 1
Regular Sessions - February 15


Entry Requirement
A valid passport is required. U.S. citizens do not require a visa for the summer program. Students with other nationalities may be required to apply for a visa. If this is your situation, please allow ample time (6-8 weeks) to apply for your visa starting with the Campus France  visa application. Upon acceptance to the study abroad program, you will be provided with detailed instructions on the visa application process, if necessary. Additional information is available on the IAU Passports & Visa page.


Have you talked with your study abroad advisor about your home institution's application process? Your institution's deadline might be earlier than the CCIS program application deadline. Check now to make sure all of your material is submitted on time!
 

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