Study Abroad Programs in Nice, France

This trip truly changed my perspective on the world around me. I now am well informed on circular economy and the importance of keeping a sustainable lifestyle. I also have made many friends and connections that I will keep for the rest of my life.

My daughter made wonderful friends and laughed a lot. Thank you to Arthur, it was an amazing experience that she will absolutely treasure! Great program with excellent communication between Arthur and the parents!

Our expectations were exceeded by Abbey Road. This is a very well run program, and our daughter had an experience she will cherish forever. In her own words... "Going on exchange with Abbey Road was one of the best decisions I've ever made and ended up being the highlight of my summer. I formed many lifelong friendships, significantly improved my French-speaking skills through engaging conversations and immersive classes, and gained a deeper understanding of the culture through the fun excursions."

My daughters participated in this program and had an incredible time. The program offered the right balance of supervision and independence. The experience was incredible, from the food to the field trips. Most of all they appreciated the opportunity to get to know the beautiful city of Nice. The staff took great care to make sure everyone had a wonderful time and remained safe.

My daughter loved her experience in Nice. From a parent perspective the staff and activities offered were above and beyond our expectations. Thanks for providing care and give attention to all kids needs and interests.

I can’t begin to describe the tremendous experience I had during my four weeks with Abbey Road in Nice, France. The program is run by extremely remarkable people who love working with kids and try their hardest to accommodate every need for every student. My favorite part of the program is that they really focus on learning through immersion. Instead of sitting in a desk with a textbook and worksheet to fill out, every morning, they take you out to a cafe or a park and have you learn by playing fun games in French. I had fears that I’d come to France only to be given long lectures by teachers who only wanted to make a quick buck over the summer, and I’m very glad to say I was completely wrong. Every lesson, every class day, every teacher has a fun lesson prepared which teaches the students just as much if not more than what we would’ve learned if we were stuck in a classroom. By providing interactive lessons and genuinely fun lessons, I was motivated to learn and looked foreword to class every day Tied for my favorite thing about Abbey Road, are the fun activities they provide for the students in the afternoon and evening. I did more fun things in four weeks than I think I did in the past four years. Bowling, Parasaling, Karaoke, tubing, many many fascinating museums, tons and tons of beach visits and uncountable other fun things. Im not even beginning to talk about the weekend day trips which really deserve their own little section. Every day when I went to bed I’d reflect on all the things I had done just that same day and never cease to be amazed with all I had done. It’s very nice knowing than almost all activities are optional and if you’re too tired to go out you can always chose to take a breather. The freedom to do what you want is with you. That said, I highly recommend you take advantage of what Abbey Road provides. Lastly, I must note, the entire time I was with Abbey Road, I had to appreciate that I was actually living on the French Riviera, Abbey Road gave me the chance to live the best life I’ve ever lived. I had so much fun meeting new people, exploring interesting places, and do fun things with my new friends. If you are a parent and are looking for an abroad program for your kid, or if you’re a student looking for yourself, I highly highly recommend Abbey Road. You won’t regret it. P.S. (Arthur is great)

Had such a great time!! Unfortunately I decided to come during the highest temperatures recorded in Europe but I had a great time regardless and made lots of friends. The amount of freedom is awesome and it’s such a cool experience I’ll remember forever. Do not hesitate to apply!!

I had so much fun seeing France for the first time and being able to not only explore Nice but other beautiful islands and cities as well. The beaches and small streets were so cool and I had a great time!

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 went to Nice, France with Abbey Road for a month-long program and had the time of my life. I was fully immersed into the French language with fun language classes in the mornings and cultural immersion in the afternoons, visiting museums and cafes. I met the most amazing people on this trip and saw the most amazing places all along the Cote d'Azur. This was the best experience of my life so far and I cannot recommend it enough.

I have to say this was a fantastic experience for my son. He loved every minute. In fact, he was only supposed to stay three weeks, but instead, he wanted to stay another week (a bargain) because he met fabulous friends, was able to see historic locations, and learn from terrific professors and teachers. He learned more French in four weeks than he had learned in the past several years of classroom instruction. Truly, we were impressed. Well done! I have nothing negative to say about the program at all.

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!

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.

This summer I spent 40 days crossing the Atlantic ocean with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. The passion and energy that the Sea|Mester crew brought to S/Y Argo is what made my trip so special. I highly recommend any Sea|Mester program to anyone who loves to explore, sail, or wants to push themselves to do something simply extraordinary.