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Language: French
Climate: Continental
Currency: Euro
Stroll down the elegant Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence, where sparkling fountains and imposing aristocratic buildings remind you of the city’s historical wealth and cultural significance. Savor your daily baguette from a local boulangerie or practice your French with friendly farmers market vendors. This idyllic town, known for its cafés, theaters, and vibrant markets, offers a quintessential French experience under its sunny skies.
Our partner universities offer academic programs tailored to your interests, with classes taught in English or French, while internship opportunities are designed to develop your professional skills and kickstart an international career. Beyond the classroom, immerse yourself in the town’s rich traditional culture through activities like volunteering at a local soup kitchen or an after-school children's center. Participate in excursions to the Roman town of Arles or the seaside town of Cassis, where you can sample local wines and visit the breathtaking Calanques National Park by boat, or explore Marseille, France’s cosmopolitan second-largest city. Engage with contemporary issues such as sustainability, migration, and intercultural diversity, all set against the backdrop of the region's thriving tourism industry and its deep-rooted connection to the Mediterranean basin.
IAU
Starting at $9,295
Aix Marseille University
Starting at $16,295
IAU
Starting at $10,495
IAU
Starting at $9,795
IAU
Starting at $10,495
Aix Marseille University
Starting at $6,295
CEA CAPA alum Kara Barnes writes about her cultural and academic experience while studying abroad in the French Riviera. Read more.
CEA CAPA alum Payton Arbuthnot writes about her experience studying abroad as a first-generation college student studying in Grenoble, France.
CEA CAPA alum Payton Arbuthnot explains how she adjusted to new cultural norms while studying abroad in Grenoble, France. Read more.
Aix Marseille University, one of the oldest universities in France, boasts many prominent government leaders among its alumni. The university is centrally located near the famous Cours Mirabeau.
You’ll take courses through the Service Universitaire des Langues (SUL), the university’s French language school. Founded in 1953, SUL (previously known as Service Universitaire de Français Langue Etrangère, SUFLE) is regarded as one of the best French-language teaching centers in the country and hosts about 1,000 students from 65 countries.
SUL offers instruction in French at all levels—from beginning to advanced—and prepares students for the diplomas of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and other diplomas and certificates. At SUL, you won’t just learn French language: you’ll also gain an understanding of and appreciation for France's literature, history, and culture.
Aix Marseille University awards credits based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) system. CEA CAPA credit hour recommendations are based on the following conversion: 2 ECTS credits equals 1 U.S. semester credit. Credit transfer is ultimately determined by your home university. Please consult with an academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.
Students receive a transcript from Aix Marseille University upon successful completion of the program.
Aix Marseille University is recognized by the French Ministry of National Education as a degree-granting institution.
Founded in Aix-en-Provence, France in 1957 under the auspices of l'Université d'Aix-Marseille and initially chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, Institute for American Universities (IAU) is one of Europe’s oldest and largest education abroad programs. IAU serves as the study abroad institute of The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM), a U.S. non-profit institution which provides American degree programs at its Aix-en-Provence campus.
IAU welcomes undergraduates from U.S. colleges and universities who wish to study abroad for a semester or summer term. Courses in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts are taught in French and English. Previous French language experience is not necessary. In the context of Provence's rich Mediterranean heritage, IAU delivers curriculum that guides students to cultural competency while fostering a life-long affinity for the culture, language, and people of France.
Since its inception, IAU has enrolled more than 30,000 students and worked with over 700 U.S. public and private colleges and universities, many of which are familiar with the high standards of IAU’s programs and which accept IAU’s recommendations for the direct transfer of academic credit to the home institution. A number of U.S. universities and colleges have signed direct affiliation agreements with IAU and provide for direct transfer of academic credit.
IAU curricula and class schedules follow a U.S. university model. Credit transfer is ultimately determined by your home university. Please consult with an academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.
Students receive an official transcript from IAU’s parent institution, ACM, complete with traditional American letter grades upon successful completion of the program. It is understood that some institutional policies require students to obtain their study abroad credit from accredited U.S. institutions. For these cases, IAU has an agreement with a U.S. school of record. Students are encouraged to work directly with their study abroad office or academic advisors to determine if they will accept an official IAU transcript or will require an official school of record transcript for credit transfer.
ACM-IAU is recognized as an institution of higher learning by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the French Ministry of the Interior, and the Rectorat of Aix-Marseille University.
Further, ACM, IAU’s parent institution, has been granted candidate for U.S. accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Candidacy is not accreditation nor does it assure eventual accreditation. Candidacy is a formal affiliation with the New England Commission of Higher Education. It indicates that the institution has achieved initial recognition and is progressing toward accreditation.
Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.
*Housing options may change and will be confirmed on the housing application form prior to the start of the term. Below are the housing options that have been offered in the past.
Semester
Summer
An ideal apartment choice for students living in France for the first time. The Residence Mirabeau complex is located in the center of town, in the historical Quartier Mazarin a 2-minute walk from the main street, the Cours Mirabeau and a 15-minute walk to CEA CAPA's partner schools in Aix. Residence Mirabeau is made up of forty studios on three floors. CEA CAPA manages a handful of studios - the other studios are occupied by French and international students studying in Aix. You will be sharing a studio with another CEA CAPA student.
Semester
Summer
All CEA CAPA students studying in Aix-en-Provence have the option of living in apartments while abroad. Located in or near the city center, these apartments cater to the independent, do-it-yourself type students who want to experience Aix just as the locals do. Cook tasty French meals with your roommates in your kitchen, explore the personality of the neighborhood that surrounds you and make your new Provençal apartment a home.
This housing option carries a supplemental fee which may vary based on housing inclusions (i.e. meals, amenities, etc.) as well as program length. Exact amount will be confirmed on the housing application form.
Semester
Summer
All CEA CAPA students studying in Aix-en-Provence have the option of living in apartments while abroad. Located in or near the city center, these apartments cater to the independent, do-it-yourself type students who want to experience Aix just as the locals do. Cook tasty French meals with your roommates in your kitchen, explore the personality of the neighborhood that surrounds you and make your new Provençal apartment a home. Students choosing this option will have a single room in a shared apartment with 1 to 4 other CEA CAPA students. (Single rooms are subject to availability and additional fees apply).
This housing option carries a supplemental fee which may vary based on housing inclusions (i.e. meals, amenities, etc.) as well as program length. Exact amount will be confirmed on the housing application form.
An ideal housing choice for students living in France for the first time. The Aparthotel complex is located just outside the center of town, in the university district, within walking distance from the CEA CAPA Office and partner schools in Aix. The Aparthotel is made up of 172 studios and apartments on five floors. CEA CAPA manages a handful of studios - the other studios are occupied by students and tourists. You will be sharing a studio with another CEA CAPA student.
This housing option carries a supplemental fee which may vary based on housing inclusions (i.e. meals, amenities, etc.) as well as program length. Exact amount will be confirmed on the housing application form.
Engage in Aix-en-Provence’s vibrant culture firsthand when you live in a homestay with a French family. For the culture-seeking type whose study abroad goals include improving French language skills and cultural understanding, homestays provide the opportunity to dive headfirst into the daily lives of Aix-en-Provence locals. (Additional Fees apply)
This housing option carries a supplemental fee which may vary based on housing inclusions (i.e. meals, amenities, etc.) as well as program length. Exact amount will be confirmed on the housing application form.
