Wellesley-in-Aix

Bienvenue à Wellesley-in-Aix!

For over 40 years, Wellesley has welcomed students to Aix-en-Provence. The Wellesley-in-Aix (WIA) program is designed to immerse students academically, linguistically and culturally in a vibrant, student-friendly city located in one of the most beautiful regions in France.

Aix-en-Provence boasts a student population of over 40,000 enrolled mainly at Aix-Marseille Université, France's largest university. Aix is big enough to offer a variety of cultural activities, architectural sites and culinary delights yet small enough to get to know the city well and engage with students and other locals in informal settings.

Wellesley-in-Aix provides opportunities to experience French student culture and daily life through direct enrollment in French institutions, homestays, volunteer opportunities and other activities. In keeping with your goal of improving your French skills, all communication with WIA onsite staff, partners and hosts occurs exclusively in French. Whether conversing with host family members at mealtimes, taking notes in university courses or taking cooking, yoga or dance classes in French, you will acquire new frames of reference and learn to express yourself in a variety of contexts and ways that go beyond classroom learning. The ability to step outside one’s own culture, understand other perspectives and communicate in a language other than English is not only personally rewarding but also professionally valuable in today's world.

Thanks to its small size and experienced onsite staff, Wellesley-in-Aix offers individual assistance in the form of academic advising and tutorials, health and safety advice, cultural tips and suggestions for meeting locals, exploring the region, and finding extra-curricular activities. As you will often hear us say in Aix, Profitez-en!

If you have further questions, feel free to contact us!

Monique Fecteau, Resident Director in Aix
Hélène Bilis, Campus Director

See slides from our Fall 2023 Info Session

At a Glance

Students: 12-15 students per semester, women and men. Applications are accepted from both Wellesley and non-Wellesley students. Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors with post-intermediate French language skills.
Calendar:

Full year: late August to late May / early June
Fall semester: late August to mid-January
Spring semester: early January to late May


*Motivated Wellesley students may start their fall semester early with a three-week intensive language and culture course in August in Bordeaux (by nomination only - details here)*

Location: Aix lies in the heart of Provence, in southern France, 25 miles north of Marseille and the Mediterranean coast.
Partner Institutions: Aix-Marseille University, Sciences-Po Aix
Housing: Homestays. Singles in a private residence hall in central Aix (per availability).
Cost: Wellesley Comprehensive Fee. Includes orientation, all tuition & academic fees, full room & board, a travel stipend, local transportation, visa expenses, program activities & trips, individual cultural allowance, rail pass for discounted train travel in France, well-equipped program center. Financial aid for Wellesley students is fully transferrable and the Expected Family Contribution will remain constant.
Pre-Requisites: 5-6 semesters of college-level French (any course from French 210 or above satisfies the minimum requirement for Wellesley College students). Students must be enrolled in a French course in the semester prior to studying abroad. 3.0 GPA in French courses and overall.
Language of Instruction: French
Application Deadlines: Fall and Full Year: March 1st
Spring: October 1st
Late applications may be considered.
Fields of Study: Humanities: Art History, Cinema, History, Linguistics, Literature, Literary Studies, Music, Philosophy, Religion
Social Sciences: Africana Studies, Anthropology, Economics, International Relations, Mediterranean Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
Full Course Load: 4 credits per semester
Program Guide: 

Read before applying:

Student Guide

Application Instructions: See instructions
Contact: wia@wellesley.edu

 

For more information, check out this video featuring the faculty director and a recent Wellesley-in-Aix alumna. And to follow along with the program in progress, see the Wellesley-in-Aix Instagram.