France: IAU College Aix-en-Provence

• Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
• Clean record with the Office of Community Standards and good academic and College standing
• Professional application: materials are submitted on-time, are edited before submission, and are thorough and thoughtful.
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• Starting with programs beginning on or after May 1, 2023, IAU will strongly recommend though not require all participants be up to date on the COVID-19 vaccine and recommended booster dose(s) prior to the start of their program. 
• No previous French required unless applying to the Honors Program and/or internship track
• This program has a required advising session (30 minutes) as part of the application process. Please visit our home page to schedule an advising appointment.

Additional Requirements for the Internship

• Strong resume, cover letter, and successful internship interview
• Priority given to students in the French Honors Program and Business School tracks
• Minimum of 4 semesters of college-level French
• Some majors have specific course pre-requisites for the internship; contact your faculty advisor or International Programs for more information.

Spring 2023

• Jan 14: Optional Early Start Program Arrival
• Jan 21: Required Arrival Date
• Jan 23 – 24: Orientation
• Jan 25: First Day of Classes
• Mar 6 – 10: Mid-Term Exams
• Mar 11 – 19: Spring Break
• May 8: Last Day of Classes
• May 9 – 12: Final Exams
• May 14: Departure

Fall 2023

• Aug 26: Optional Early Start Program Arrival
• Sept 2: Required Arrival Date
• Sept 2 - 5: Orientation
• Sept 6: First Day of Classes
• Oct 9 – 20: Mid-Term Exams
• Oct 28 – Nov 5: Fall Break
• Dec 8: Last Day of Classes
• Dec 9 – 13: Final Exams
• May 14: Departure

Flight and Orientation

Students are responsible for booking their own flights.  The closest airport to Aix-en-Provence is Marseilles, which is easily accessible by train.  In addition, there are fast trains that run between Paris and Aix (approximately a three-hour journey). Students should plan to arrive between 9:00am and 5:00pm on their designated arrival date. Students should make their way to Terminal 1A to check-in with ACM-IAU staff. For information on ground transportation options visit IAU's pre-departure website. Upon arrival, students will participate in an orientation program that introduces them to the program, Aix-en-Provence, the other students on the program, and the program staff, including the Housing and Academic directors. 

Visa

US citizens are required to obtain a student visa from a French consulate in the US prior to departure.  The French visa process is complex and lengthy and involves an online component as well as an in-person visit to the consulate. For general information about the visa process and visas for non-US citizens, see our Passports and Visas Page

IAU College

IAU College was founded in 1957 and chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, making it one of the oldest and largest study abroad programs in Europe. IAU College is comprised of The School of Humanities and Social Sciences & The Marchutz School of Fine Arts.  Aix-en-Provence is located in southern France close to Marseilles and the French Riviera.

Students can opt to participate, at no additional cost, in the Early Start Program , a week long 1- credit program before the start of the semester which includes cultural activities, language practice, and tips in getting acclimated to French culture.

Courses

All IAU College semester students are required to enroll in one French language or culture course taught in French.  In addition, students have the option of choosing from different program tracks as follows.

Full French Immersion (for French minors)

• The French Honors Program is designed for students with demonstrated advanced-level French and an interest in comprehensive language and cultural immersion.
• Students take four courses in French including language courses, one content course, chosen by the student, and an additional seminar-style class meeting each week. This hour-long weekly seminar will integrate the themes of the student's chosen course with current sociocultural-political events in France. Students will be expected to keep a daily journal of thoughts, feelings and experiences in French.
• Required: Four semesters of college-level French and GPA of at least 3.0.
• Additional advanced courses in French in a variety of subject areas are available at local French universities.

Business Administration Track

• Students take two mandatory core courses in Business Administration and two other content courses taught in English.

Fine Arts Track

• IAU offers a wide variety of fine arts courses including (but not limited to) painting, drawing, photography, creative writing, and art history.
• You'll have the unique opportunity to study fine arts in the south of France and experience the sights and sounds that inspired artists such as Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Monet.
• Students take two mandatory core courses in Fine Arts and two other content courses taught in English in areas such as art history, fine arts, and fashion.

General or Open Track  (Listed as Humanities and Social Sciences on IAU's website)

• Students select courses from the wide range of offerings at IAU including options in the social sciences, the humanities, business and/or the arts.
• All courses have an emphasis on Provence, France, and Europe.
  
• Full List of IAU Courses
  

J-Term Course Option (Spring Only): Spend the first 3-weeks of the semester participating in an intensive academic traveling seminar offered prior to the start of the traditional 15-week spring semester. Contact IP for more information as scholarship opportunities for this experience are available. 

Transfer of Credit

Students participating in this program are required to take at least 15 credit hours. Most classes at IAU, unless otherwise noted, are worth 3 credit hours each. All courses on this program appear on the Rollins transcript as transfer credits and the grades are factored into the Rollins GPA. Students who successfully complete this program through Rollins will receive an official transcript from Truman State University. It can take up to 3 months to receive the official transcript.

Housing

Students live with local hosts to experience daily life in Provence and hone their conversational French skills. Each student has their own room, own key, and is treated as an independent adult. Most of the hosts have been with the program for many years and IAU places students only with hosts who have been highly rated by past participants.  There are also a range of homestay placements and students can express their preferences for a more engaged family or a more independent experience.

Meals

When living in a French homestay, students will be on a demi-pension “plan.” This includes daily breakfast and six dinners per week. Students eat lunches and one dinner out at the many wonderful cafes and restaurants in Aix.

Activities

IAU College offers a wide range of cultural activities including a lecture series, social events, events connecting students with French students from the University of Aix, wine tasting, cooking workshops and more!  Students can take advantage of the beautiful location of Provence and go biking, hiking, take dancing classes, and engage in other outdoor activities. Students are welcome to take advantage of available local social and recreational activities like sports, ski trips, local gyms, and more. The students will also have a French partenaires linguistiques that will show students around the city, and answer any questions they might have.

Excursions

The program usually includes a field trip to Nice/Monaco/Antibes. In both fall and spring, the program includes day trips to Provence, Loire Valley, and Normandy. Some courses include specific field trips to locations related to the course. Past trips have included the Alps, Morocco, Barcelona & Amsterdam.

Things to Consider

Students with mobility disabilities may find accessibility and accommodations different from the United States. Check the US Department of State Travelers with Disabilities and specific to the country, Mobility International USA, and the IP Your Identity Abroad page for resources.

Program Fee

Most Rollins financial aid and scholarships will apply to the semester abroad.

• Tuition: $29,150
• Housing: $4,925
• Some food/meals (breakfasts and six dinners per week): $2,615

Also Includes

Orientation, all course-related field trips, on-site transportation, program administration, and emergency insurance.

Estimated Additional Costs

• Transportation: Round-trip airfare from FL $1,200, onsite
• Transportation from Marseille airport or Aix-en-Provence TGV station to the Aix gare routière: $70
• Meals/food not included: $1,030
• US Passport: $165
• Visa fee: $280 plus cost of travel to nearest VFS Global Center
• Books, course materials, supplies: $50
• Personal expenses: $940
• Federal student loan fees if applicable: $40
• Professional licensure, certification or credentials costs: $0

Scholarships

Scholarships based on financial need are available to off-set costs associated with international airfare and other costs associated with study abroad. Students can apply for scholarships through the Rollins program application. Additional scholarships including work study are also available through the IAU website. IAU's Pell Grant Plus Program provides $3,000 toward a semester program for Pell grant recipients.

Living and Working

Having a credit card while abroad is very helpful. France has a comparable cost of living to the United States. Students are able to work part-time on a student visa while in France.