Aix-en-Provence, France
Aix is a university town a with large student population and is a major art and cultural site in the Provence region with concerts, festivals, museums, and a lively café life for students to explore and enjoy.
Although it has ancient roots, today Aix is a modern town with a diverse population. Provence, one of the most celebrated regions in France, is renowned for its Mediterranean cuisine, mild climate, and natural beauty that inspired painters like Cezanne and Van Gogh.
About the Program
Hobart and William Smith Colleges maintain an affiliation with IAU College, based in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. IAU College offers a variety of academic programs, including a program focused on art based at the Marchutz School of Art. The basic mission of the School is to help students develop their capacity to see, enabling them to look around their environment as well as within themselves until their artistic expression springs from a union of sight and insight - one of the major learning outcomes for all students.
Students paint and draw daily; they work from models, still-life, and landscapes. Visits to museums and regular written and reflective assignments are part of the curriculum. In addition, students will take one course in French language to enhance the cultural experience and facilitate full participation in the daily life of Provence.
Students will take a total of five courses: three core art courses, one IAU language course according to their level of proficiency, and one elective (from the IAU School of Humanities and Social Sciences or the School of Business and International Relations). Subject areas include: studio art and art history, French language, literature, and culture, anthropology, history, film studies, communication, political science, religious studies, and more.
For more detailed information on the Marchutz School curriculum and IAU College, students should visit IAU's Marchutz School website.
ACADEMIC FOCUS
This program is especially applicable for students who are majoring or minoring in studio art but who also wish to find inspiration in the beautiful Provence region and its culture while learning French. French majors (or advanced French speakers) who are more interested in linguistic or cultural immersion than in art should consider other French language program options that offer a full linguistic immersion experience.
This program is open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic and social standing with a minimum gpa of 2.5. Students must successfully complete (with a C– or better) at least one college-level French class and at least one (and preferably more) studio art course(s) prior to enrollment in the Marchutz program. Due to the challenging nature of study abroad, student academic and disciplinary records will be carefully screened.
Students will live in French homes, the best way to experience French daily life first-hand. Homestays are carefully arranged by the local housing coordinator who will make every effort to match students with hosts based upon their expressed preferences. Students will have breakfast daily and dinner six days a week at their homestay and can take lunch in local bistros or cafes.
IAU College staff organize an extensive calendar of activities and events, including weekend day trips to such places as the Matisse Museum in Nice, and the culturally diverse city of Marseille. Other excursions may include the nearby hill towns of St. Remy, Lacoste, the Picasso museum in Antibes, and Arles, a site favored by Van Gogh.
There is normally a longer excursion to Paris (fall semester) or Venice (spring semester) as well. Students will have ample opportunity to explore Provence and other regions of France during weekends and breaks.
Students will be charged standard HWS tuition and fees, room fees, a 2/3 board fee, and a $600 administrative fee. This will cover tuition for a five-course semester, health insurance, housing with partial board, and program-related activities and excursions. Students should plan to bring the remaining 1/3 board fee (about $1100) to cover meals not included.
Additional expenses not covered include airfare, books and course materials, visa, and personal expenses (laundry, entertainment, ground transportation and independent travel). We estimate airfare for this program at $1100-$1200 from the East Coast, books/course materials at $250, and visa-related expenses at approximately $230 (note that students are required to apply for their visa in person in New York City and will need to return there to pick up the visa—please budget accordingly, as these trips are not included in the $230 visa estimate.) It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of personal expenses because student spending habits differ considerably. We would suggest a minimum of $1,500 above and beyond meal expenses. However, students on a tight budget should be able to manage with less. If you are concerned about finances, we strongly encourage you to talk to the CGE staff who can offer information and advice based on your specific situation.
NOTE: IAU College has supplemental scholarships available to students who have been accepted to the Aix/Marchutz School program. Please see Amy Teel at the CGE for information on how to apply for these scholarships.
HWS students must complete all components of the Global Education application in order to be considered for admission to this program.
- This program is offered every semester.
- All components of the application must be submitted online by the published deadline. Specific deadline dates are set each semester and typically will be in late September/early October (for Fall programs) and late February/early March (for Spring programs).
Program Handbook
IMPORTANT: The handbook(s) below is/are the most recent handbook(s) published for this program. A new version, with updated information, will be made available each semester. Program participants will receive their updated handbook approximately 2-3 months prior to their program’s start date.
FALL HANDBOOK / SPRING HANDBOOK
Please DO NOT MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS until you have received final confirmation of the program start/finish dates for the specific semester you are attending. Dates included in versions of the program handbook intended for previous semesters do not necessarily apply to future programs.
NOTE: The information above is subject to change. Please see the CGE for more information.
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