This is not a normal travel question.
My son is planning on doing a study abroad for either one semester or a year, through his college in So. Cal. He is 20 and has traveled multiple times throughout Europe. He nixed the choices in Spain. Some were in Germany, England and 2 locations in France. One was Paris. One of the colleges that was included on this list was in Aix en Provence.
I have only traveled through there, and did not stop. But I told him that looks like a great location.
My question was if anyone has any experience in living, or going to school there and if they had an opinion to offer if they would recommend it or not as a good place to choose.
The classes are taught in English. It is the business college undergraduate, he is not 100% sure what he wants to do after getting a B.A.
Thanks
Posted by
Savannah, GA
1399 posts
Aix is a university city. And a lovely one. I hope he takes the time to learn French. Would be a shame to spend all that time in France and not learn it or meet the people.
Posted by
313 posts
I spent a week there in March 2024. Lovely city.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1380 posts
3ddana,
My husband has cousins who went to the university in Aix. It is a well-respected school and a great university town. He can spend weekends on some terrific day trips or overnight trips to so many Provencal towns. There are buses for traveling. Marseille is a quick bus ride as well, and there are the calanques for a boat trip. I hope he learns French, to expand his experiences. Lucky, lucky young man!
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10673 posts
Our son went to the Université d'Aix about 20 years ago. He loved it and has taken his family back to visit. Aix, as others have written, is a university town surrounded by beautiful countryside, villages, mountains and the sea. Paris is a sophisticated city with never ending activities and discoveries. Both have a student housing crisis. Without knowing the parameters of your program, it's difficult to say how encompassing it is, including housing, activities, onsite counseling, etc. There is a lot less hand-holding at a French university, in fact, no hand holding.
One or two semesters: having had a lot of contact with returning students, we noticed that those who went for a semester, which is actually only three months, had barely adjusted to the differences. Those who stayed the full academic year (9 months), adjusted, loved it and got a lot more out of the experience.
Posted by
Lancaster PA
265 posts
I will agree with Elizabeth but add that it is better to go abroad for only a semester than not at all. As a chemistry major, a semester was all I could spare and still graduate on time. It was the highlight of my college career.
Posted by
1 posts
I just finished 4 weeks of french language school at IS Aix en Provence. I am retired and so I am much older than your son. There were other geezers like me, but also many young university students. If your son is interested in learning the language, I would recommend this language school.
There is also a beautiful 50 meter swimming pool next door that I enjoyed using during my stay.
Good luck.
Posted by
977 posts
Elizabeth formerly Bets, My son and all his friends who are recent college grads, all attended various universities all over the US, and only were able to participate in study abroad programs that were a semester or less. I think that is more of the norm now; because that's all the time they can spare to fit into their US curriculum, and graduate on time. Our son did Ireland, and had a great experience.
3ddana, your son is going to have an amazing time! And most kids don't know what they want to do when they graduate. Our son is in a nice career that has nothing to do with his major. Your son studying abroad is opening up his horizons!
Posted by
OP
133 posts
I knew this would be a good site to ask about this. Thanks so much to all that took the time to help. I will pass along the info to him. Out of all the locations that I saw listed through his college, I figured this one would be the best.