Study or Earn Your Degree in Aix-en-Provence, France

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!