Academic Year Study Abroad Programs in Nice, France

I was absolutely in love with this program. Each member of the faculty was continuously super helpful, and helped us get through any practical or personal issues we faced when there. They also made a clear effort to get to know each of the students and do all that they could to make sure we were comfortable, well-informed, and happy. I loved each class I took. Studying international relations, I feel as if these classes I took at IES honestly gave me a deeper engagement in many ways that I've missed out on in the past. The faculty and staff also organized more than enough activities to help us get acquainted with Paris and experience the city in a way we most likely would not have been able to do otherwise. From my French classes to my personal conversations with the faculty, as well as my homestay placement, my proficiency and comfort in the French language grew immensely. I can honestly say that my months with IES were the happiest months I have experienced in university and the only regret I have is not being able to stay for the full year. I'm now considering going back to Paris for my Master's. If you're looking for a program that will have you not wanting to leave at the end, then IES is the choice for you.

This program exceeded my expectations in every way possible! My host family was supportive, inclusive and interesting enough; they taught me the tiniest details about the local culture! The class offerings were vast, the line between the program and university was fast, easy to adapt-to and welcoming. The program allowed us to go on widely different, informative yet fun and active trips. Overall, this experience has allowed me to pursue my areas of interest, develop my French and learn a lot about the local culture! Amazing program!

IES Abroad Nice was one of the best decisions I have made in my life! I have never had the opportunity to live and become so submerged into another culture prior to this summer. I have always lived in Michigan and while having the opportunity to travel to various places, I have never been gone from home for so long. Walking to class every morning (even though we had class at 9 or 9:30 everyday which is super early for me) by all of the pastry shops and walking to the Mediterranean ocean after class to sunbathe was literally a dream. This program is super unique, too, because you also get the chance to live in Marseille (another town in France) and to travel around Morocco with the other people on the trip. I got super close with all of the other students as well as the director or the program, and look forward to returning to Nice very soon!

If you were to ask me at the start of university if I would ever study abroad, I would've definitely said there's no way. In fall 2018, I challenged myself to do things outside of my comfort zone and being that I always wanted to go to France, I took the initiative to study abroad with IES at Skema Business School in spring 2019. Hands down one of the best decisions I've made. From the initiation of the study abroad process, I felt constantly reassured by the IES staff in my home country though I frequently doubted myself. The process of getting courses approved could deter anyone as it is very tedious and approvals aren't always guaranteed but honestly it just takes a strong sense of determination and hope to eventually get there. Like almost every other college kid, I struggle with procrastination. One thing that I really admired about IES Abroad, was the fact that there was an online portal to upload documents and this portal had different deadlines for varying documents, so it was very easy to keep abreast of the submissions and other outstanding requirements. What also aided in the portal being efficient was the fact that there were detailed descriptions therefore there wasn't much room for confusion. When I arrived in France, the IES abroad staff was just as hospitable. The center was walking distance from my homestay, so my friends and I would visit anytime we could. I would be lying if I said I never experienced culture shock. The first two weeks in France wasn't really the best time because I felt like I wasn't able to relate with the locals. Thanks to IES abroad, the transition went a bit smoother because they hosted games night with French locals and they had numerous events so that we could get acclimated with the French cuisine. I would do spring 2019 all over again because the memories that I've made, there is nothing that compares to the joy that I've held on to. My advice for anyone looking to study abroad is to go with an open mind. So much adventure awaits and I promise you, you'll enjoy.

I spent four months in Paris, France during the Spring 2019 semester. I am a nursing major at Hope College and I went to Paris to finish up my French minor. I decided to choose this particular IES Paris program because I really desired to grow in my overall French language skills, even though French may not have any direct involvement in my future career as a nurse. That being said, my decision to take classes entirely taught in French and to live in a home stay with a woman who only spoke French was hands-down THE best decision of my life. I grew immensely in my language skills, and I got to immerse myself in Parisian culture while also traveling around Europe on weekend excursions with the new friends I made there and together with my entire program. I grew in self-assurance and maturity as I navigated my life abroad very much independently, and I got to experience cultures drastically different from my own - which I believe is one of the most important things anyone could ever do. When I ask people now if they have plans to study abroad, and their response is "Well, I don't really have any reason to with my major," it is difficult for me not to laugh because I know what a huge impact studying abroad had on me and my entire perspective on life. Everyone should study abroad. I made some of the best friends of my entire life, and I grew into a mature adult with the confidence to travel and take huge leaps out of my comfort zone. I now better understand the importance of taking the time to appreciate and learn from other cultures, and I can understand a whole new language!!

I loved my experience with IES Abroad French Studies. I was placed with a homestay family, which allowed me to both practice French on a daily basis, but also to gain interesting points of view on current events and popular culture. My IES Aborad classes were excellent, and all taught by French university professors who both understood how to teach classes to American students and to students for whom French was their second language. I was also able to take classes at an outside university, and truly gain an understanding of the French university system, invaluable because I plan to return to France for further education after graduating college. I also met wonderful people during my time abroad, both students in my IES Abroad program, and French teenagers in my classes at the university. IES Abroad both encouraged and facilitated our immersion in French culture, and allowed students to really personalize the program to meet their specific goals.

The IES BIA Program gave me the opportunity to learn more about the political, economic, social, and cultural institutions in France through their planned excursions, weekend recommendations, and ticket giveaways for the Opera, Ballet, rugby games, and cooking classes. My French not only significantly improved through these immersive experiences, but also because of my host family, which was perhaps the best part of my experience. My host mom was kind and supportive, always helping me improve my French and introducing me to the different facets of French culture and cuisine. The classes were engaging and the small size allows you to interact with both the professors, which come from prestigious universities around France, as well as the students. Coming from a university with larger class sizes, this was something I appreciated. The classes also offered excursions; I went to the cinema with my French class to watch a movie and went to the World Trade Organization Headquarters in Geneva with my Market Trends and Economics class. I learned a lot about the policies that France and the European Union implement; a lot of the material presented in my classes as well as the presentations I completed impressed employers when doing internship interviews. My study abroad experience only grew my identity as a global citizen and shaped my ability to communicate across different cultures, which in an increasingly connected world is important. My decision to immerse myself as much as possible refined my French and by the end of the five months, I was confident and it was easy to carry on discussions in French. I highly recommend this program to others who are interested in learning about the facets of French culture and are studying business or international affairs because the knowledge you acquire is invaluable and will aid you in the future. I also recommend doing a homestay - it was probably one of the best decisions I made while abroad.

During the summer of 2017 I had the opportunity to participate in two intensive, 300 level museology / art history courses in Paris, Rome, and Madrid. I studied with European professors and experts in their respective fields. We visited the most prestigious museums and archaeological sites in Europe, along with many museums I would classify as hidden gems. I learned how each city is a museum in and of itself, and how to view the display of cultural heritage with a critical eye. My study abroad experience exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I was surprised at how fluidly we were integrated into the neighborhoods where we lived in in each city. Even though we were only in each city for about 2 weeks, it truly felt like I was moving out of my own apartment each time we left to travel to the next city. I feel like I have a connection to these residential neighborhoods that I probably would never have encountered had I traveled to the city on my own as a tourist. As someone who aspires to work with art and cultural heritage for the rest of my life, this experience opened my eyes to the function of these objects in our society. Despite my own interest in the subject, everyone I was with on this program had a different reason for being there. I believe that anyone could benefit from and enjoy this program, and encourage you to consider it.

The IES Abroad Nice experience is one-of-a-kind. There is beauty everywhere in Nice, all the way from the iconic coastline to the colorful historic buildings to the panoramic views. The IES program is very well organized, with IES directors and coordinators that care deeply about the progress of students during their time abroad. The academics are excellent, with completely devoted and knowledgeable professors with a lot of experience in their subject fields. IES has a solid reputation for its academics, so credits should be easily transferred to college transcripts. The program has home-stay as one of the housing options, which allows a full immersion to the French culture and way of life. The program also organizes many trips throughout the semester, which allows easy exploration of so many places within the French Riviera, as well as others farther away, like Corsica and cities in Italy. At the same time, it is easy to travel independently to other cities while in Nice, given that both the train station and airport are close to the city center, and easy to find. While in Nice during the weekends, one can easily explore great museums, travel to nearby cities like Cannes and Monaco, and enjoy good nightlife. Students are very open to make new friends in Nice, and it is almost guaranteed that lifelong friendships will be made.

There are no words to express how grateful I am for my experiences abroad. I attended SKEMA business school and I was the first IES student to do so. Therefore, I lived in Nice for two weeks with a host family in order to attend orientation and get to know the other IES students. This was a wonderful thing that IES did for me because I was able to quickly make friends as well as culturally immerse myself through my host family. The IES program in Nice is fairly new and the staff was open to our ideas and suggestions. They quickly became like family to us as students. The city of Nice offers so much. It's a perfect French city, rich in culture and small enough to feel like home but big enough to keep you busy exploring. The views are stunning and the entire French Riviera becomes your playground thanks to the wonderful public transportation systems. I moved to Antibes in September in order to start school at SKEMA. IES helped me connect with SKEMA alumni in order to feel more comfortable in my new home. It was great because I had my best friends 25 minutes away in Nice and I had more best friends 10 minutes away in Antibes. SKEMA was also wonderful. Although the education system and styles of teaching may differ from what you are used to, there are many amazing professors who are willing to help and get to know you. Also, the students are very friendly and even have a buddy program in order to make the exchange students feel more comfortable. SKEMA has a huge exchange program so I was able to create friendships with students from all over the world that I will cherish forever. All in all, my experience with IES Abroad was one of the best experiences of my entire life and I grew as a person and learned about myself and the French culture. I was also able to visit many countries and meet some of my best friends. I would recommend this program to any individuals who are willing to go out of their comfort zone for the best experience possible.

Studying abroad in Arles was an experience I will never forget! Every day was a new adventure and I loved every minute of it! The town is small but lively! Arles is full of history, festivals (photography, music, and cultural), and wonderfully kind people! Living with a host family was one of the highlights of my trip! I was able to connect with my family and completely immerse myself in the culture. Through my host family, I attended community events, met many of their friends, and explored the town. The classes, professors, and program administrators are great! I always had people to turn to for help and advice when I needed it. The program is run smoothly and efficiently, offering all the support you may need and more. You are encouraged to speak French all the time, which was at first challenging for me, but helped me to improve! I loved travelling to nearby cities (with the program or by the easy train system) and exploring what the south of France, Provence, has to offer. The area is beautiful and history is around every corner. Yet, every day, even the days full of class in my home city Arles, was an adventure. Some of my favorite memories are conversations I had with shopkeepers, my host family, or other kind citizens of Arles. Everyone has something to teach you! I gained an appreciation for the French culture, but also my own culture. I hope to return someday, because Arles, my favorite cafes and bookstores, and all the people I met there will always have a special place in my heart!