Study Abroad Programs in Aix-en-Provence, France

Aix-en-Provence has been a university town since the early 1400’s, when its first university was established; as such, the collection of over fifteen universities and institutions that currently call the city home have made Aix-en-Provence a crucial educational center of France. Most study abroad programs in Aix-en-Provence offer semester, summer, or year-long programs in almost any subject area, but the city still clearly specializes in a few fields. 

The Arts. Aside from being an official European Capital of Culture, Aix-en-Provence also hosts yearly music festivals that attract worldwide attention, particularly in the opera, jazz, and classical music communities. With numerous galleries and museums in the city housing works from Degas, Renoir, and Monet to Van Gogh and Picasso, Aix-en-Provence is also an excellent place to study art abroad. Studying art in Aix-en-Provence may include courses that range from Art Criticism and Aesthetics or Picasso to Matisse and the Mediterranean. Many universities and study abroad programs in Aix-en-Provence focus on the humanities as well, and offer numerous opportunities within and beyond the classroom for learning.

Politics & International Affairs. Over five of Aix-en-Provence’s esteemed learning institutions focus exclusively on the subjects of international affairs and political science and how these subjects intersect with economics and administration. The city’s reputation as a center for intellectual discussion and debate has attracted some of the most noteworthy educators in the latter fields. Aix-en-Provence is also within close proximity to many other European countries, and North Africa on the Mediterranean, making interactions with other cultures and demographics very common and essential to Aix-en-Provence’s continued economic prosperity. The city is also home to the second-most important Appeal Court of the French government in the entire country, outside of Paris. Politics and international affairs courses in Aix-en-Provence may include The European Union: Integration, Enlargement, Unity or International Economics and the European Union.

French Language. It may seem like an obvious choice, but Aix-en-Provence is in fact home to multiple French language study abroad programs and schools. Although the city attracts high numbers of tourists each year, the use of English is not as widespread as it is in other larger French cities, such as Paris. As a result, Aix-en-Provence offers a far more immersive language experience that gives students the opportunity to be surrounded by French daily, both in the classroom and throughout the city. Studying French in Aix-en-Provence may include courses like Living in France: Intercultural Communication, The Phonetics of Contemporary French, or Business French.

It is important to remember that the French college environment is very formal, with a heavy emphasis on respect between professor and student, and that some basic French language is almost always required to study abroad in Aix-en-Provence.