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Get up to $1,250 in flight credits or grants toward study or internship programs abroad when you apply by June 30, 2026. See our Official Rules for full details.
About the Program
Study abroad in the south of France while participating in an American form of university education. Choose from a wide range of electives in subjects from business to communication, art history to psychology, education to humanities. Most elective courses are taught in English, allowing you to take full advantage of IAU College’s offerings. French language instruction is available at all levels of proficiency, from beginning to advanced. Semester students are required to take a French language course, while Summer students are encouraged, but not required, to enroll in a French language course.
Requirements
Overview
Aix-en-Provence
late Jan 2027 - early May 2027
$22,995
15 - 16
Deadlines
10/1/26
11/1/26
Requirements
Eligibility
1 Year of College
Some students may attend US colleges/universities already affiliated with this host institution and therefore will not be eligible to attend this CEA program. Please call CEA for further details regarding eligibility specifics.
2.5
All Levels
Where You'll Study
IAU
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 Am...
IAU
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.
Credit Transfer Information
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.
Transcript Information
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.
Accreditation
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.
Grading
Grade conversions from CEA CAPA partner institutions abroad to a US grading scale are determined in consultation with our School of Record and benchmarked with other peer institutions in the field.
Please note that CEA CAPA can only recommend grade conversions to students’ home institutions—it is ultimately at the discretion of the home institution to convert grades from abroad to students’ academic records.
For further information or details about grade conversion for a particular host institution, please reach out to our Registrar at registrar@ceacapa.com.
Please note that CEA CAPA can only recommend grade conversions to students’ home institutions—it is ultimately at the discretion of the home institution to convert grades from abroad to students’ academic records.
For further information or details about grade conversion for a particular host institution, please reach out to our Registrar at registrar@ceacapa.com.
Classroom and Information
- Language and elective courses are taught by international faculty.
- Periodic exams, homework assignments, and final exams are administered.
- Attendance of classes is mandatory and monitored by each professor.
- Small class sizes allow for personalized attention.
- You’ll attend class with other CEA CAPA participants and U.S. students.
Amenities
Student Lounge
Counseling Services
University Library
Computer Lab
Printing Facilities
Student ID
Internet Access & Wi-Fi
Language Exchange with Local Students
Cultural Engagement
15
Credits
Program Structure & Courses
Beginning French speakers will enroll in 1 language course and 3 elective courses. Intermediate and advanced speakers will enroll in 1 language course and 4 elective courses. Language courses meet for 45-90 contact hours/3-6 credits; electives meet for 15-90 contact hours/1-3 credits per semester. You may earn up to a total of 15-16 credits (up to 225-270 contact hours).
Classes meet Monday-Friday. Active learning components required by your courses may be scheduled for Fridays.
Before you leave for Aix, you'll submit an IAU course selection form and an IAU language questionnaire that estimates your language knowledge. An IAU advisor will evaluate your language questionnaire and transcript and either enroll you in courses or schedule a language placement exam that you'll take before your program starts. After you arrive on-site, French faculty will determine if you're the in correct language level; you'll have two weeks to add/drop if necessary.
It is in your best interest to have multiple alternative courses approved by your home university prior to your departure due to course availabilities. To ensure that you receive credit for the language level you place into, have your home university pre-approve courses at several levels before you leave for France. Please consult with your academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.
Classes meet Monday-Friday. Active learning components required by your courses may be scheduled for Fridays.
Before you leave for Aix, you'll submit an IAU course selection form and an IAU language questionnaire that estimates your language knowledge. An IAU advisor will evaluate your language questionnaire and transcript and either enroll you in courses or schedule a language placement exam that you'll take before your program starts. After you arrive on-site, French faculty will determine if you're the in correct language level; you'll have two weeks to add/drop if necessary.
It is in your best interest to have multiple alternative courses approved by your home university prior to your departure due to course availabilities. To ensure that you receive credit for the language level you place into, have your home university pre-approve courses at several levels before you leave for France. Please consult with your academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.
Beginner Level Course Structure
Available Levels
Courses
The host institution has offered the following courses in the past. Please note that course listings will not be finalized until the start of the term.
*Courses with an asterisk indicate that the course has been associated with multiple subject areas.
Please click on the course title to view additional subject areas and detailed course information.
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRE 101 Practical Elementary French I | 100 | Fr | 45 | 3 |
| FRE 102 Practical Elementary French II | 100 | Fr | 45 | 3 |
| FRE 151 Immersive Elementary French I then II | 100 | Fr | 90 | 6 |
| FRE 251 Immersive Elementary French II then Intermediate French I | 200 | Fr | 90 | 6 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS/WGS 380 Applied Sustainable Viticulture | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARA 151 Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I or II | 100 | Ar | 60 | 4 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARC/ENS 338 The Development of Mediterranean Civilizations: A Landscape Archaeological Approach | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARH/ART 201 Introduction to Art History: Prehistory to Modern Times | 200 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ARH/ART 364 Contemporary Art: Visual Representations of the Mediterranean | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ART 108 Photography and Videography: Smartphones and Digital Cameras * | 100 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ART 114 Introduction to Printmaking: Theory & Practice | 100 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ART 294 Altered Landscapes: A Mixed Media Studio Course | 200 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ART 306 Drawing into Painting * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ART 382 Cezanne and Van Gogh | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ART/ARH 373 Renaissance Art and Architecture | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ART/MUS 304 Curatorship: Theory and Practices | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| MSM/ARH 391 Museums Today: Mission and Challenges (Museology Seminar) | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUS 301 International Business Today and Tomorrow | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS 303 Intercultural Management | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS 304 Business Ethics in the Global Market | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS 307 What is French Luxury Today? | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS 314 The Global Fashion Industry in the Mediterranean | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS 323 The Business of Responsible Fashion | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS 336 Sustainable Entrepreneurship | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS 338 Perfume Culture & Business: French History and Know-How in Action | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS/IRL 335 Strategic Communications and the Magic of Stories * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| BUS/WGS 310 International Wine Business | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM/IRL 316 Media and Conflict * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLT/WGS 307 Wine and Food Pairing | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ENS/WGS 305 Chemistry and Biochemistry of Wine Production | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| MKT/WGS 302 Wine Marketing and Sensory Analysis * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIS/WGS 270 Food Culture in Provence, France and the Mediterranean | 200 | En | 45 | 3 |
| HIS/WGS 340 The History and Culture of Wine in the Mediterranean | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| MED 201 Mediterranean Cultural Traditions | 200 | En | 45 | 3 |
| MED/SOC 352 Mediterranean Identities and Cultures through the Lens of Museums | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO 301 International Economics and the European Union | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG/LIT 377 Creative Writing - Spirit of Place | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 200 Ecology of the Mediterranean | 200 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ENS 201 Principles of Environmental Systems Science | 200 | En | 45 | 3 |
| ENS/POL 309 Global Environmental Politics * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIN 300 Financial Management | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRE/LIN 379 Deep-Dive into the French Language: History, Acquisition and Teaching | 300 | Fr | 45 | 3 |
| LIT 325 The European Novel | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARC/ARH 313 Powers and Identities in the Ancient Mediterranean | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| COM/HIS 314 France During the Occupation: 1939-1945 * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| HIS 303 France and Europe in the Cold War | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| HIS/POL 321 French Colonialism in the Middle East and North Africa | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| HIS/SOC 304 Muslim Presence in Europe * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR 305 US Diplomacy in an Age of Change: Case Studies and Practical Exercises * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| IRL 448 Global Justice | 400 | En | 45 | 3 |
| IRL/MED 323 Migrations, Borders, Hospitality | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| IRL/POL 303 International Relations * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUS 305 Global Marketing | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART/MUS 245 Music and Sound of the Mediterranean | 200 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI/POL 312 Ethics in Society * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| PHI/REL 402 Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Religion * | 400 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM/POL Contemporary French Politics | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| IRL/POL 308 Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin: Security in a Diverse Region | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| IRL/POL 318 Palestinian Israeli Conflict | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| IRL/POL 360 The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict * | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| POL 307 The European Union: Integration, Enlargement, Unity | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY 304 Human Development in Cultural Contexts | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI/REL 301 The Problem of God | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| REL 311 Early Christianity in Europe | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUS/SOC 307 Opera, Women and Politics: How Music and Theatre Portray Femininity and Class | 300 | En | 45 | 3 |
| Course Name | Level | Lang | Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART 112 Ceramics I: Introduction to Ceramics | 100 | En | 45 | 3 |
Interested in taking your career to the next level?
Where You'll Stay
We offer different housing options to match your budget, preferences, and study abroad goals. 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.
Global Housing Standards
Learn more about what's included with CEA CAPA housing.
Learn more about what's included with CEA CAPA housing.
Global Housing Standards
Your housing abroad is more than a place to sleep, it's a place to feel at home.
Health & Safety
Health and safety are a top priority when selecting and reviewing program housing. When evaluating housing, CEA CAPA considers several factors including the surrounding location, commute time to academic or internship settings, as well as the condition of the building exterior and interior, common areas, the individual housing unit, and other living spaces. CEA CAPA works to ensure that program housing meets established minimum health and safety guidelines and aligns with best practices in the field.
Cleaning Services
Regular cleaning of communal areas for programs longer than 4 weeks.
Wi-Fi
Reliable internet access is included in every housing option we offer.
Students Per Bedroom
Typically 1–2 students per bedroom, with a maximum of 3 per room.
Commute Time
Housing is located within 60 minutes of campus by foot or transportation.
Temperature Control
Cooling and heating appliances are provided (AC not always included).
Kitchen Access
A shared space with basic utensils, refrigerator, freezer, and a stove, oven, or microwave.
Laundry
Access to laundry is guaranteed onsite or within walking distance. Drying racks included.
Study Space
A desk in your room or a table in a common area.
Storage Space
Practical, modest storage space for personal belongings.
Linens
Pillows, blankets and sheets.
Global Housing Standards apply to CEA CAPA-sourced housing only, beginning Summer 2026.
Housing provided by partner universities may differ slightly.
Residence Hall Shared Studio
Share a student residence hall studio with a fellow CEA CAPA student, providing an immediate connection as you discover your new city. The student residence halls are in the city center within walking distance of IAU and AMU campus and are also occupied by local students. The studios include a small kitchenette in the living area, bedroom space and bathroom.
This housing option is included in the program price.
Additional Options
Prefer to live like a local in an apartment located near the city center? Shared rooms in apartments are available for a supplemental fee. Supplemental fees may vary depending on the included amenities as well as the length of the program. The exact amount will be provided on the housing application form.
Homestay Private Room
Immerse yourself in a French home located in or near the city center. You'll enjoy the privacy of your own bedroom and may share the homestay with up to two other CEA CAPA students, fostering a unique group experience within a local setting. Homestay includes breakfast & dinner Monday - Friday, as well as breakfast on weekends. This option is ideal for students eager to fully immerse into the local culture, experiencing customs, cuisine, and traditions with their host family.
This housing option carries a supplemental fee that may vary depending on the included amenities as well as the length of the program. The exact amount will be provided on the housing application form.
Apartment Private Room
Live like a local in an apartment located near the city center. You'll enjoy the comfort and privacy of your own bedroom. You'll share the apartment's communal spaces with fellow CEA CAPA students, creating a lively home base and instant community. The fully equipped kitchen and common area offer space to cook, relax, and connect with others.
This housing option carries a supplemental fee that may vary depending on the included amenities as well as the length of the program. The exact amount will be provided on the housing application form.
Excursions
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.
What's Included in your Program
From housing to excursions, our programs include a variety of inclusions to enhance your study abroad experience! Here are examples that may be available in Aix-en-Provence. Inclusions vary by program – please contact our Enrollment and Advising team to find out what options are available for you.
- Airport Welcome
- Personalized Pre-Departure Advising
- Visa & Immigration Advising
- Financial Advising
- Tuition and Registration
- Onsite Orientation
- City Tour
- Onsite Staff Support
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
- Travel Medical Insurance
- International Emergency Service Support
- Welcome & Farewell Events
- Centrally Located Housing
- Cultural Engagement
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Excursions
- Host Institution Services & Amenities
- Official Transcript(s)
Sample Calendar
The calendar for this program is coming soon; please check back later.
Sample Budget
The sample budget is unavailable at this time. Please check back later or ask your CEA CAPA Admissions Counselor/Site Specialist for a comparable program's sample budget.