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Wellesley-in-Aix

STUDY ABROAD IN

2017-18 A note from the Director

Bienvenue à Wellesley-in-Aix! members at mealtimes, taking notes 2017-18 will mark Wellesley’s 37th in university courses or taking year in France and we look forward cooking, yoga or dance classes in to welcoming you soon to Aix-en- French, you will acquire new frames Provence! The WIA of reference and learn to express program is designed yourself in a variety of contexts to immerse students and ways that go beyond classroom academically, learning. The ability to step outside linguistically and one’s own culture, understand other culturally in a perspectives and communicate in a vibrant, student- language other than English is not “This is a phenomenal only personally rewarding but also program. It gave me enough friendly city located support to immerse myself in in one of the most beautiful regions professionally valuable in today’s French culture without in France. world. smothering me with too much handholding.” Aix-en-Provence boasts a student Thanks to its small size and population of over 40,000 enrolled experienced onsite staff, Wellesley- mainly at Aix-Marseille Université, in-Aix offers individual assistance France’s largest university. Aix is big in the form of academic advising enough to offer a variety of cultural and tutorials, health and safety activities, architectural sites and advice, cultural tips and suggestions culinary delights yet small enough for meeting locals, exploring the for you to get to know the city well region, and finding extra-curricular and engage with students and other activities. As you will often hear us locals in informal settings. say in Aix, Profitez-en!

Wellesley-in-Aix provides If you have further questions, feel opportunities to experience free to contact us! French student culture and daily life through direct enrollment in French institutions, homestays, volunteer opportunities and other activities. In keeping with your goal Monique Fecteau, PhD of improving your French skills, all Resident Director, WIA communication with WIA onsite staff, partners and hosts occurs exclusively in French. Whether conversing with host family WIA at a Glance Aix-en-Provence

STUDENTS 20-25 per semester; women and men. Full-year or single-semester options. Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors with post-intermediate skills. CALENDAR Full Year: late August - mid May Fall Semester: late August - mid January Spring Semester: early January - mid May LOCATION Aix lies in the heart of Provence, in southern France, 25 miles north of Marseille and the Mediterranean coast. Wellesley-in-Aix participants PARTNER Aix-Marseille University generally appreciate the informal Aix is located approximately 30 INSTITUTIONS - Aix nature and openness of the kilometers north of Marseille and the Homestays. Residence halls and shared Provençal people; the relaxed pace HOUSING Mediterranean coast. The region is apartments subject to availability. of daily life in Aix; and proximity to famous for its Gallo-Roman ruins, major sites, such as the spectacular FEES (2016-17) $31,812 per semester, includes pre- picturesque hillside villages, beautiful coastal cliffs or calanques between session in , all tuition & academic fees, full abbeys, and lively markets. Its natural Marseille and Cassis, the Roman room & board, program activities & trips, well- beauty and pleasant climate make it arenas in Arles and Orange, and equipped program center. an ideal location for hiking and other World Heritage sites like Avignon. Round trip US-France travel stipend, visa outdoor activities. Aix lies at the foot OTHER COSTS The sunny climate and easy access expenses, individual cultural allowance, local of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, INCLUDED to Spain, Italy and North Africa also transportation passes, rail pass for discounted immortalized by Paul Cézanne, a make southern France a desirable train travel in France. native of Aix. The population of Aix place to live and provides an is close to 145,000. PRE- 5-6 semesters college French or the equivalent interesting contrast to Paris and the REQUISITES (FREN 210 or 211 for Wellesley applicants); north. 3.0 GPA in French courses and overall APPLICATION Fall/Full Year: March 1 DEADLINES Spring: October 1 Late applications are considered. FIELDS OF Humanities: Art History, Cinema, History, STUDY Linguistics, Literature, Literary Studies, Music, Philosophy, Religion Social Sciences: Africana Studies, Anthropology, Economics, , Mediterranean Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, , Psychology, Sociology Sciences: Biology, Neuroscience, etc. or combine AMU and IEP courses. Pre-Departure Advising Sciences Po also offers a year-long Orientation The Academic Program WIA staff in the U.S. provide program that culminates in a special assistance throughout the All Wellesley-in-Aix students are certificate or “Certificat d’études application process and pre- enrolled at Aix-Marseille University politiques” (CEP). departure period: explaining transfer (AMU) and/or the Institut d’Etudes credit and financial aid, facilitating Politiques (Sciences Po-Aix). Aix- Two WIA courses are also offered in student visas, providing travel and Marseille University is the largest translation and academic writing/ other information, and organizing university in France and second methodology. Students typically pre-departure meetings on the only to the in the enroll in four courses per semester campus. Students areas of French literature, history, and earn four units (16 credit hours) who cannot attend meetings may linguistics and neuroscience, for of Wellesley credit. request individual info sessions via example. AMU also houses the Skype, phone or in person. Center for Mediterranean Studies, Depending upon enrollments, WIA sessions with the Resident Director among other research centers. may offer enhanced matriculation Orientation in Paris on living in France. courses or bi-monthly group Each student organizes her/his own tutorials with AMU or Sciences While in Paris, students are housed program of study in consultation Po professors who meet with WIA in shared rooms in a centrally with the Resident Director, who students and provide additional located residence-hotel on the banks assists students in identifying methodological support and of the Seine. Rooms are equipped relevant courses in the humanities, assignments for extra credit. with kitchenettes and Internet social sciences or science divisions. A WIA tutor is also available access, and students receive a stipend Students majoring in political by appointment to work with to cover meals, laundry and local science, economics, history or individual students or small groups transportation. international relations may either on their academic writing and enroll full-time at Sciences-Po Aix presentation skills. The program begins with a pre- Orientation in Aix session in Paris, which allows Orientation continues in Aix students to become acquainted and and focuses on academic aspects, to discover France’s political and local culture and institutions, and cultural capital via guided museum student life. The program includes visits and neighborhood walks with information sessions on the French an art historian and occasional trips university system and course to other sites near Paris, such as selection process, visits to AMU and Versailles or Giverny, Monet’s home. Sciences Po, and individual advising The pre-session in Paris also includes sessions with the Director. Other a few group meals, a theater outing activities include a walking tour or concert, a mini-seminar on of Aix, day trips to Marseille and cultural difference led by a faculty Cassis, a market outing, and guided member from Wellesley’s French museum visits. department, and information The Cultural Program Aix is a city rich in literary, cultural and artistic events. Aix’s annual summer opera festival attracts distinguished performers and international audiences. The Grand Théâtre de Provence features opera performances, concerts, and classical films from all over the world. In and contemporary plays throughout addition to its cultural and artistic the year, and the Pavillon Noir scene, Aix and the surrounding houses choreographer Anjelin region offer many opportunities for Preljocaj’s ballet troupe. The annual outdoor activities, e.g., hiking, rock Festival Tous Courts competition in climbing, and kayaking. December brings together producers and aficionados of short feature WIA participants enjoy exploring nearby cities and regions accessible Porquerolles, Avignon and les Baux by train or bus, such as Marseille, de Provence, the villages of Gordes “I made a discovery I want to share Nice, , , and and Roussillon, and the Montagne with my successors: people in Aix . Each semester, the Sainte-Victoire. Students are also are just like us, only a little more program organizes a weekend trip encouraged to take advantage of formal. So be BOLD! The French to a nearby region as well as a few trips organized by Sciences Po or are like éclairs. They can be resis- day trips in Provence and other other student groups. tant and intimidating on the out- group activities. Destinations side, but they’re soft and sweet in have included Lyon, Arles and Individual cultural stipends allow the middle.” the Camargue, the island of WIA students to be reimbursed for activities of their choice in French, club memberships that In recent years, WIA students foster interaction with locals, sports have been selected to assist with teams, cooking or photography Aix’s annual short-film festival classes. Participating in a chorus or in December, the Festival Tous orchestra, doing volunteer work, or Courts, or have volunteered with taking pottery or drawing classes are the local Red Cross, for example. great ways to meet On-site staff can offer guidance and to improve your language to students interested in pursuing fluency while doing something you their own volunteer and internship enjoy or learning a new skill. opportunities. Housing, Meals & Student Services Transportation program tutor, and speak with staff. Group tutorials, occasional lectures, All housing is organized and and group meetings are held in the managed by the program. Students common room. fill out a questionnaire and final placements are confirmed upon students’ arrival in France. The majority of WIA participants opt to live in homestays and highly Centre Wellesley recommend this option, which The WIA program is headquartered provides daily interaction and A limited number of apartments is in a converted villa located in a conversation with French hosts. All also available by request. These may residential area about a 10-minute hosts are carefully selected by on-site include a studio (for one person) walk from the town center. It is On-Site Staff staff. or a 2-room apartment shared open during regular business hours, The Wellesley-in-Aix staff includes with another WIA student. All and onsite staff are available daily. a full-time permanent resident include a fully-equipped kitchen director and a program assistant and WiFi. Dishes, sheets, and The center includes a small who are available to assist students towels are provided by the program, library and large common room, with academic, administrative and but students are responsible for a computer room with printers, practical matters. The resident cooking meals, doing laundry (in a fully-equipped kitchen, and an director is the primary emergency laundromats) and cleaning the outdoor terrace for student use. Free contact person, handles all academic apartments. WiFi is available at the center and issues, and acts as the liaison between in the outdoor area. Students may the WIA program and university All students receive a monthly drop by at their convenience to pick partners in Aix as well as with the Students in homestays have their allowance for lunches. Students up mail, eat lunch, use the library or French Department and Office of own rooms, WiFi, and daily living in apartments or the residence printers, work with the International Study at Wellesley. breakfast and most evening meals hall receive extra funds for food, and provided. cleaning supplies, laundry costs, etc. The program provides bus passes WIA has a very limited number of to all students regardless of where single rooms in a private student they live, and reimburses occasional residence hall for French students taxis for students who live farther in central Aix. These rooms are away from the city center as well as equipped with a private bathroom transportation costs to get to classes and kitchenette and WiFi. WIA in Marseille. provides linens, cooking utensils and dishes. We cannot guarantee this option to all interested students, however. Admission Pre-Requisites The program is open to college sophomores, juniors and seniors with a solid background in French. The pre-requisites are 5-6 semesters of college French, a B average in French and a 3.0 GPA overall.

All students take a mandatory French test during the first week in “The Wellesley-in-Aix program provided an incredible Aix in order to evaluate their skills opportunity to engage with the world through and readiness to take university language and inter-cultural understanding. My courses. Students who do not meet language abilities increased exponentially and I was the minimal level requirement able to live, study, and work in a new community Who Should Apply? (B2 in the Common European Framework) must take the WIA and immerse myself in the French language and the Students from all disciplines, course on academic writing skills beauty of Provence. Ultimately my language improved including the sciences, are welcome. and methodology in Aix. enough to work with the French Red Cross which While many students declare challenged me to learn in an entirely new way. I would French as a major, this is not a Applications are available at www. strongly encourage any language learners to take the requirement: the majority come wellesley.edu/aix. Deadlines are next step and study abroad with Wellesley-in-Aix." from a broad range of academic March 1 for fall/full year and disciplines, including anthropology, October 1 for spring semester. art history, international relations, language studies, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Numerous courses in Aix may count toward these majors.

In recent years, participants have included students from Amherst, Brandeis, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Hamilton, Harvard, Haverford, Princeton, Swarthmore, Tufts, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale. Fees & Financial Aid Payment of Fees The comprehensive fee for 2016-17 A non-refundable deposit of $500 is $31,812 per semester. is due upon acceptance. Students participating in the full-year or Program Fee Includes: fall-only programs may use either Travel stipend for round-trip flight the semester payment plan or an to/from Paris; 2-week orientation in installment plan. The first semester Paris and Aix; transfer between Paris payment is due before August 1 and and Aix-en-Provence; educational the spring semester payment is due and administrative fees; food and before January 1. • Wellesley-in-Aix is located in Aix-en-Provence, a lively, lodging from the departure date to charming city of 145,000 inhabitants located in southern the end of the academic year; group For more information about the France within easy distance of the Mediterranean coast and activities (including excursions & semester payment plan please France’s second largest metropolis, Marseille. cultural events); reimbursement for contact Wellesley Student Financial visa application fees. Services at (781) 283-2456. • Wellesley-in-Aix is an immersion program designed for For information regarding the students in the humanities and social sciences with solid Fee Does Not Include: installment payment plan contact French skills who wish to increase their mastery of the Vacation travel; medical or dental Tuition Management Services at language and knowledge of French culture via direct insurance; health services; books & (800)722-4867 or on the web at enrollment in the French university system and a homestay supplies; personal expenses. www.afford.com. option.

Health Insurance Financial Aid • WIA students enroll at Aix-Marseille University (AMU), the Health insurance coverage is Wellesley students enrolled in the largest public university in France or at . required. Participants will be program are eligible to transfer Two special program courses in translation and academic automatically billed for Wellesley all of their Wellesley College writing skills are also offered each semester, as well as group College’s insurance covering study financial aid, except for work-study tutorials. abroad, but they may waive it funds which are replaced by an and use their own so long as the optional loan. Students from other • All courses are in French, and students are expected to alternative is comparable to institutions should check with communicate in French with WIA staff and other participants. the Wellesley coverage and covers their study abroad or financial aid medical expenses abroad. Students office to determine whether their in Aix are also covered automatically institutional aid applies. Wellesley- by the college’s supplemental in-Aix has limited scholarship emergency medical assistance and funding available to qualified evacuation/repatriation insurance. students from other institutions. Students seeking financial assistance should include a letter of request with their admission application. “I learned in Aix that speaking French -- what I did back home -- is not the same thing as being a speaker of French, being able to interact fully and deeply with people Wellesley-in-Aix whose only lan- Wellesley College guage is French. It 106 Central Street was a revelation. I will never think of Wellesley, MA 02481 ‘other’ and ‘other- Tel: 781-283-2320 ness’ in the same E-mail: [email protected] way.” www.wellesley.edu/aix