Political Science & Politics Study Abroad Programs in Nice, France

Choosing to spend a semester abroad was one of the best decisions of my life! It can seem daunting and scary sometimes, but it's so worth it! AIFS is unique in that it incorporates travel opportunities and excursions during the semester, which truly immerses you in the culture and helps you to feel more comfortable with traveling abroad. I really enjoyed my French language course, and my French skills increased exponentially. I felt like I was able to easily balance my classes and exploring, and my roommates and I traveled almost every weekend. Cannes is a fantastic location because of its stunning views and proximity to the airport. Our program director was incredibly helpful, knowledgable about the area, and always prioritized us having a positive abroad experience. I made lifelong friends and met so many people from across the globe. I learned so much about myself and different cultures, and my outlook on life changed for the better. If you have the opportunity to study abroad, 100% do it!

I chose to go abroad with AIFS Abroad because they had a specific program that I really wanted to do. This was the Cannes Extended Spring Semester Study Abroad & Internship program. While abroad, I had great support from AIFS Abroad staff, in particular my program director, Aude Romens, who made herself available to help myself and other students with whatever we needed help with. She worked hands-on with us to guide us through program excursions to local cities (and countries) such as Nice, Monaco, and Grasse, as well as taking us on longer trips to Paris and Florence, Italy. For housing, I had my own room and had the best view ever, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. I had the opportunity to have cool experiences in my classes, such as creating a short film for my film class and putting on a play, all in French! I made some of the greatest friends abroad, who I still talk to today. My program consisted of about 25 people, so the group became a very tight-knit group of people, which was great as we did all the activities and excursions together. This experience allowed me to grow my French language skills and also allowed me to participate in an internship during the Cannes Film Festival. I’d recommend AIFS Abroad to students who really want to make the most out of their experience abroad. They provide you with all the resources you need to not only survive but thrive abroad.

studying abroad with AIFS Abroad helped me grow personally and professionally—I developed confidence, adaptability, and skills that will carry into my career. I’d recommend AIFS Abroad to anyone looking for not just an academic program, but a complete experience that combines education, culture, and personal growth.

The experience of studying and interning in Cannes, France was life changing. The city of Cannes is beautiful, and Campus International de Cannes is less than a five-minute walk from the beach. On campus, there is also a terrace where students like to sit and chat, play games, and relax while looking at the view of the Mediterranean Sea. Apart from the views, the school's professors helped me improve all across the board. My grammatical and oral skills majorly improved. I now feel a lot more confident speaking to native speakers and having conversations about all sorts of topics. The immersion with the people in the city also helped with my progression. I would use concepts we learned in class with the everyday people I interacted with in the city, which was very helpful. Moreover, on campus we had our program coordinator who was a great support for anything we needed or for general advice about living in France. We went on excursions with her, which took us to every region of France, and allowed us to see parts of the country which are less explored by tourists. Just a couple of the places we visited include Avignon, The Verdon Gorge, and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, all of which were amazing experiences. Additionally, I was able to intern at the Cannes Film Festival Immersive Competition. Here, I was able to work with French natives in guiding the festival attendees through VR experiences and network with a wide variety of film professionals. Cannes lights up during the festival; it is extremely cool to see the range of people it attracts to promote and appreciate the art of film. If you are looking to be immersed in the French culture and take part in the experience that is the Cannes Film Festival, this program would be great for you!

My semester abroad met its expectations. The location was stunning, the program director professors were friendly, and there was plenty of flexibility allowing me to travel to other countries, a major “plus” for someone who had never been to Europe before! Cannes is a quaint little town that absolutely transforms into a hustling city come the annual film festival. It was interesting to get to know Cannes so well during its “off season” before the film festival kicked off. Overall, it was amazing.

I loved going abroad with AIFS! The campus is so close to downtown and a block away from the beach. We had so many planned activities and excursions that were super fun. Our director was so supportive and helpful with anything we needed during our stay.

My experience abroad has been so meaningful that I have decided to pursue graduate school in France! The trajectory of my life really has changed, and I am so excited to return to France. I studied abroad with IES Nice in the fall of 2021 after the spring program was canceled because of COVID, and I am really glad that I went during the fall. The sunny weather and laidback Nicoise attitude make the experience feel like a 4-month vacation, especially in early fall when there are still summer tourists. The weather was in the upper 70s until mid-October, and I found myself taking short trips to nearby beach towns on days I didn't have class. The classes were moderately difficult, especially if you take a few at SKEMA Business School, but none were too hard. The IES classes are located in the city center, and SKEMA is about a 45 min bus ride away in Sophia Antipolis—a bit of a trek and sometimes there are transportation strikes (this is normal for French cities). Still, it's hard to complain when you get to ride along the Mediterranean Sea during your commute. The location of this program is really ideal if you're planning to study in Europe. Nice is a train away from Italy (you can go for dinner and be back by 11 pm), so the cuisine and architecture are beautifully Italian-influenced. Traveling to other European countries is easy since the tram leads directly to Nice's own airport, so no need for an expensive Uber ride. As for housing, IES found me a gorgeous top-floor apartment with a terrace, a 25 min walk from the beach. I also lived across the street from a bakery and got more lemon meringue tarts and pain au chocolat than I have ever eaten in my entire life. I have no regrets. The staff is very helpful as well! When I got sick and let the program director know, she quickly dropped off a COVID test at my apartment and the student affairs coordinator helped me schedule a doctor's visit with an English-speaking doctor. The student affairs coordinator also plans the excursions such as visiting local historical villages with a tour guide, meeting with French students our age, and attending a cooking class to learn how to make Nicoise dishes. Regarding the cost of living, my spending was on the higher end because I wanted to try a lot of new foods, experiences, and travel to other countries/cities. However, it really is up to you how much you spend per week because I think you can get a lot out of Nice without spending much. Groceries were about the same as in the U.S., museums are free for students, the walk to the beach is free, and the train rides to nearby towns are only 2-5 euros. Prices do get higher when it comes to restaurants, bars, and clubs because Nice does attract a lot of tourists, especially in the late summer if you are studying there in the fall. For daily life tips, try to buy groceries and limit eating out to the weekends. You can also pack your lunch instead of buying! My advice if you're planning to study with IES Abroad Nice: go on as many excursions as possible and practice your French with locals! :) It's easy to stick with the Americans in your group, but Nice is a very international city so don't be afraid to meet new people.

I have always wanted to study abroad in France, and when the opportunity presented itself to study on the French Riviera, there was no way I could pass that up! This was going to be the longest time that I spent away from all of my family and friends, so obviously I was a bit nervous before leaving. The IES Abroad staff truly made it feel like home, and my roommates (and I even went random!) were so amazing to have as a support system throughout the two months. From pre-planned trips with the program to option events like cooking lessons to travelling around Europe with some of my now best friends, I could truly not imagine a better experience (other than not leaving two months early due to COVID.) Living in Nice was a crazy amazing experience considering it was much warmer than where I go to college (Indiana University) and I lived a 10 minute walk away from the beach! My favorite activities while I was there were going running by the water, finding a new meal to cook with my roomies, and just walking around to explore all of the nooks and crannies of beautiful Nice. If you have to chance to study abroad here - take the opportunity and quick!

Studying abroad in France absolutely changed my life. I had French classes until noon every day, then optional seminar classes that were once a week for around 3 hours at a time. Once I was done with classes for the day, I could spend the rest of the day at the beach, talking with the locals and hanging out with my classmates. The beach was a two minute walk from the campus, so not only was I hearing the waves at night from my dorm room, but I was also able to walk down to the beach at any time to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and crystal Mediterranean waters. When I wasn't studying for my classes, I was practicing my French with my classmates who also lived in the dorms, as well as members of the staff. They were from all kinds of different countries, so sometimes speaking French was a must! Everyone that lived on campus or worked for the campus were part of the best part of this experience. The staff were super welcoming and made me feel like I was at home, especially our program director, Sandrine. She is absolutely amazing! She took us on tons of excursions all around France that really helped made me fall in love with French culture and the language. We tried so many foods, saw so many museums, and went to so many cities that I really felt like I got to see France while I was studying. It was really nice to have such a lovely guide while we were there, as well. She was always there if we needed anything and answered every question I could ever have. The most amazing thing about this experience was that I got to learn a new language, take classes, travel around Europe, see France, and so much more, all while earning school credits! It didn't at all feel like school because most of my studies were learning about the country I was living in, so I was really excited to do the work--even though there wasn't much of it! My teachers knew that we wanted to spend lots of time exploring, so I didn't have a lot of homework either. It was such an incredible experience. A huge thank you to AIFS for making this process super easy, affordable, and letting me focus on having the time of my life!

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!

This experience has been one of the best ones in my entire life. This program was absolutely amazing. It provided me with everything that I needed, go housing, amazing academics, and many excursions that really enriched my study abroad experience. One of the best parts about the program was our director, Sandrine Passeron. She played a huge role in helping us adjust to French life while providing us with many amazing opportunities to interact with French natives and to become enveloped in French culture. The campus itself is an international campus, meaning that there are students from all around the world who attend classes and live on campus. It was ana amazing way to meet people from all over the world. The campus is located right next to the beach, which was a huge plus. The classes were very useful in strengthening French language skills and increasing understanding of French culture. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad in France.

This experience was truly amazing, not only because of the beauty of the area but because of all the wonderful things I learned. I never expected to learn as much French as I did and to learn so much about Frances culture. I think that studying abroad is essential because if helps you understand another culture, but also it helps you look at your own culture more critically. I wish I could do it again and I hope that everyone deciding to study abroad looks at the program AIFS. I would’ve never gotten to see all the amazing places and to do the things I did without being in the program that I was in.

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.

Cannes gets the reputation for being a very ritzy and upscale place, however when studying abroad there for four months I found that there was a lot more to the city and the things that the community provides for young people like myself. I was also pleasantly surprised at how many people spoke French with me even when they heard my accent and how friendly they were. At College International de Cannes I found that there was also a lot of diversity in the people that came there. Students from all over the world coming to learn french gave me the opportunity to learn about not only the culture in Cannes, but make some worldly connections.

AIFS pre-departure assistance was somewhat lacking, but upon arrival in Cannes, that was quickly forgotten. Cannes is a gem in the crown of the Côte d'Azur, and the AIFS program based out of the Campus International de Cannes was great. The program director, Sandrine, is wonderful and goes above and beyond to organize group activities and assist individual students with their plans for the semester. The cost of living—and especially dining—in Cannes is higher than I imagined, but it's possible to find more affordable options outside of the main touristy part of town. The bus system and trains provide easy access to nearby cities. The best part, unsurprisingly, was the gorgeous beach.