Wellesley-in-Aix STUDY ABROAD IN FRANCE 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 French language 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 Sciences Po - 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 Paris, 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, International Relations, Mediterranean Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, 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 University of Paris in the enroll in four courses per semester Wellesley College 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, Lyon, Grenoble, and and Roussillon, and the Montagne with my successors: people in Aix Montpellier. 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