Location
  • France
    • Aix-en-Provence
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Short Term, Spring, Summer, Winter
Subject Areas
Anthropology Archaeology Art History Arts Business Communications Conflict Studies Creative Writing Culinary Arts Cultural Studies Economics Education English European Studies Finance Global Studies History Hospitality Humanities International Business International Relations Liberal Arts Linguistics Literature Marketing Media Relations Museum Studies Peace Studies Philosophy Photography Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Sciences Visual Arts +25

Program Details

Program Type
Direct Enrollment
Degree Level
Bachelors Masters
Housing
Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

Price Details
Program fees vary between program selection and duration. Please visit www.iau.edu for further details. Fees include tuition, housing, continental breakfast every day and six evening meals per week, activity fee, orientation, textbook rental, health, liability and repatriation insurance, excursions, and scheduled cultural activities. Additional student costs include round trip airfare, lunches, and personal expenses. Students also can enroll on a multi-country travel seminar in January for a reduced cost. Please note IAU offers a wide range of scholarships and grants to study abroad students year-round and financial aid for degree students.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Classes Some Meals Travel Insurance Wifi
What's Not Included
Some Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Some Meals Transportation
Apr 20, 2021
Sep 06, 2018

About Program

IAU, with its flagship campus located in Aix-en-Provence, is an American institution of higher education that offers semester, summer, and year-long study abroad options, full bachelor degree options, and complete master degree options offered in both English and French. IAU prides itself on the diversity of its course offerings in both languages which enables students with varying levels of French language ability to gain access to an international education experience. The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM), the degree-granting branch of IAU, shares faculty, facilities, student support services, and infrastructure with IAU. The vast breadth of course offerings at IAU and ACM allows students to study disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, education, business and the arts. Academic year study abroad students also have the option to roll their courses into a bachelor's program.

https://iau.edu/programsearch

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • No previous college experience or language experience required
  • Internships for-credit
  • French homestays
  • Scholarship, grant, and work-study opportunities
  • Wellness and Diversity resources and support on-site

Related Programs

Program Reviews

9.35 Rating
based on 17 reviews
  • 9-10 rating 82.35%
  • 7-8 rating 17.65%
  • 5-6 rating 0%
  • 3-4 rating 0%
  • 1-2 rating 0%
  • Academics 7.7
  • Support 9.7
  • Fun 9.2
  • Housing 9
  • Safety 9.2
Showing 1 - 8 of 17 reviews
Default avatar
Allison
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Say "Yes"

Jump out of your comfort box and go abroad to Aix-en provence France. The school is amazing and offers you lots of resources. I recommend taking French and getting to know your professors. The community is beautiful and very easy to get around. I found the french residents to be very kind. I live with a host family, who took care of me and gave me love away from home. My overall trip was incredible. I felt safe and very free to do what I wanted. I highly recommend going on the bus tours that the school plans for you. IAU will not disappoint you take the leap and go!

What would you improve about this program?
It was perfect!
7 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Gabriella
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

La Belle Vie à Aix

The French Honors Program at IAU College was a fantastic experience that I highly recommend! I attended in the fall of 2011 and made so many friends that I continue to hear from today. This program is especially great for those who want to polish their French language skills, as students live with host families and sign a contract to speak only in French. If this sounds a little intimidating, students can transition into French around the clock, as not all students at IAU College opt to sign the language contract.

The program becomes what you make of it, and if you work hard to speak, read, and write in French as much as possible, the reward of your improved language skills will clearly present itself over time to you, your friends, host family, professors, and community members living in Aix and elsewhere in France!

When I attended in 2011, many of the students drawn to the program were also interested in meaningful experiences with the French people and culture, which made the program that much better! Give IAU College a try, and you won't be disappointed!

What would you improve about this program?
As someone who wanted to have as much interaction as possible with the French people and culture, I found it was sometimes difficult to break out of the fun and vibrant group of IAU College students, in order to meet more French people of similar age. IAU College does offer a community club/sports/recreational activities introduction day at the start of semesters, and I encourage all students to take advantage and try to jump into any of these group and activities if you want to create a more immersive experience for yourself!
6 people found this review helpful.
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Elizabeth
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Bonding with a host family

The homestay experience is a great opportunity to further your language skills, get an inside understanding of the culture, and develop relationships with locals. My experience was mostly positive. I was in a family of a single mom and 12 year old host sister, along with my roommate. They were kind and providing to us, despite a few misunderstandings. One experience I particularly enjoyed was when our host mom and sister took us paddle boarding in the Mediterranean. Overall I was very thankful for the opportunity to stay in a host family and would strongly recommend it to others.

What would you improve about this program?
While I had a positive homestay experience, not all of my friends were as fortunate. I'm not sure of the details of the process to change host families, but that could potentially be made more clear or easier.
7 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Jackson
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Aix-en-Provence, an International Adventure

Studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France in my fall semester of junior year was so much more than just a ‘French’ semester abroad. I continued my International Studies coursework that consisted of classes dealing with the contemporary social and political climates in France, as well as a course about the unity and expansion of the European Union taught by an American ex-pat. A history course taught through the exploration of antique monuments and a course on international wine marketing and analysis rounded out my schedule. I enjoyed the balance of learning about big-picture, macro-level ideas and institutions, while still concentrating on topics inherently Provençal.
In giving advice about my experience, a lot of talk has come up about travel abroad being 'study tourism.' Thus, I implore those who are wanting to study in France to actively take advantage of what this amazing country has to offer and not be overcome with having to travel every weekend. I visited only places that I knew I would never have the chance of seeing again.

What would you improve about this program?
Coming from a prestigious liberal arts college in the US, the level of academics was not up to par to what I have here. Also, I think the program could offer more in terms of actively helping students contact members of the local community to pursue actives they are interested in. I basically took it upon myself to find a community where I could continue practicing and training for tennis, the sport I play collegiately in the US.
5 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lizzy
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Building Freindships

The beautiful thing about IAU's location in France is how it is situated perfectly in the center of Aix-en-Provence. The size of the town is about the same as a medium/large sized college in the United States, so overwhelming size isn't something you need to think about on top of everything that comes along with being in a different country. The best part is that you really have a chance to get to know the locals, especially students who attend the French college just around the corner. Having the ability to immerse myself by getting to know actual people like me who are local made all the difference.

What would you improve about this program?
I would focus on housing and how to deal with any snags students have with the homestay policy.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Danielle
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Great program!

I really enjoyed my experience at IAU! Despite the fact it is a study center for just US students, they give you plenty of opportunities to practice your French and interact with locals. I took all my courses in French, and the university put me in contact with a French business for an internship, and local French students whom I could practice my French with. My host family was great, and the on-site staff was always super friendly and helpful! I would definitely recommend this program to other people.

What would you improve about this program?
When I was there, a few of my friends had some poor housing experiences. I believe this was because the university had just gotten a new housing coordinator, so that could be improved.
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Arianna
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

IAU College-Aix-en-Provence

IAU College was simply an amazing experience. The professors are all so fantastic and the school is incredible. They teach through experiential learning, small group discussions, readings, essay responses and sometimes through exams as well. The way they teach is a way to teach you how to enjoy learning the material. It was such a refreshing environment coming from a huge Univ such as Colorado State. I loved the 150 person semester class of students from all over the US and UK! The school truly cares about the students and this you can truly feel as a student there. I highly recommend this program. I also highly recommend Aix-en-Provence as a study abroad city. It is a notorious college town for students of all backgrounds. It is also very safe and not too big but large enough where there is plenty to see and do.

What would you improve about this program?
I don't see any ways this program could be improved.
5 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jeremy
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

IAU College Fall Semester 2014 in Aix

I wanted to study abroad for a variety of reasons: to experience a different culture, improve my French language skills, and travel. IAU college allowed me to do all these things. While I certainly wanted a rich academic experience, which I got with the courses I took this semester, I really appreciate the cultural experiences that I've had through IAU. My home stay has been fantastic as I've learned so much about French culture and really been able to hone my skills in French conversation. My French class is creative and not so grammar heavy that the conversational and everyday usage of the language is lost. The small class sizes allow for great discussion and the field trips really add a tangible, real-world aspect to class. For example, the material we learned in class came to life during our visit to vineyards in my wine studies class. If you want to meet other French students or locals, there are a ton of opportunities to do so and the IAU administration will help you find these opportunities. Aix is lovely and in a great location for travels to other countries from the Aix-TGV station or the Marseille airport. I highly recommend this program!

What would you improve about this program?
I think that continuing to introduce and make available opportunities to meet other locals/French students is really important and could be done more.
7 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

The rigor of IAU classes was comparable to my classes at my home university. I found IAU classes to be easier to follow though since the class size was smaller than my home institution (10-15 students per class typically) and I felt more comfortable asking questions and discussing the material with the professors. I also found that the IAU professors take more time to make sure every student full...