Aix-en-Provence is a small, classically Provencal town, famous for being home to Paul Cézanne and Émile Zola. For those who want to focus on French language and culture, the Service Universitaire du Français Langue Étrangère (SUFLE) provides courses starting at the beginner level.
Founded in 1409, Aix-Marseille is a multidisciplinary university offering a wide range of studies and more than 200 degrees. Aix-Marseille enrolls 72,000 students including 10,000 international students.
This program would be suitable for students that are ready to be abroad, but would still like some of the academic services that a U.S. college provides. It is a good choice for someone that is a world traveler OR has never left their hometown.
Learn more about the Aix-Marseille University here! Read the ISEP Country Handbook to learn more about visa requirements, educational system, and culture.
Eligibility | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:
Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information). |
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Location | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Aix-Marseille Université is situated on two main campuses in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. The towns are 30 km apart and are connected by a shuttle service (approx. a 20 minutes’ bus ride). These two lively towns are one hour by plane and three hours by TGV train from Paris. To learn more about the visa process for this country, please visit the ISEP Country Handbook for France. |
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Academics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The French Language & Culture program is an excellent option for students at all French language levels! Students take courses alongside other international students at their language level. This fully immersive program focuses on French conversation and phonetics and also gives students the opportunity to participate in thematic workshops such as: Business French, French History, French Cinema, etc. Each semester offers 20 hours of class per week, allowing students to obtain an Aix-Marseille University Diploma (D.U. of French Language & Culture) and 30 ECTS credits per semester. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Course descriptions are listed below by language level. Please use the following links: Program Organization By Semester and LevelCourse descriptions by Language Level:
Course descriptions SM1 Level A1 Course descriptions SM1 Level A2 Course descriptions SM1 Level B1 Course descriptions SM1 Level B1+ Course descriptions SM1 Level B2,B2+ Course descriptions SM2 Level A1 Course descriptions SM2 Level A2 Course descriptions SM2 Level B1 Course descriptions SM2 Level B2 Course descriptions SM2 Level C1 Course descriptions SM1 Level B1+ ENGLISH VERSION Course descriptions SM1 Level B1 ENGLISH VERSION Course descriptions SM1 Level A2 ENGLISH VERSION Course descriptions SM1 Level A1 ENGLISH VERSION
France operates on the ECTS credit System. ECTS credits take into account the total student workload per class or degree program. 30 ECTS credits is equivalent to a full semester for French students. ISEP students may not be expected to take as many credits. In programs that utilize only ECTS credits: Students must take 27 ECTS credits to earn 4 Lake Forest credits, or 20.5 ECTS credits to earn 3 Lake Forest credits. Some programs in France use contact hours instead of (or in addition to) ECTS credits. In these cases, it is recommended to use the system that most benefits the students. One formula to determine number of Lake Forest credits is: (Weekly Hours in Class X Weeks in Term)/42 To earn 4 Lake Forest credits, students must take 168 total contact hours.
To Earn 3 Lake Forest credits, students must take 126 total contact hours.
Full Year or semester enrollment in French language and literature studies at the SUFLE (Service Universitaire du Français Langue Étrangère) The French Language & Culture program is an excellent option for students at all French language levels! Students take courses alongside other international students at their language level. This fully immersive program focuses on French conversation and phonetics and also gives students the opportunity to participate in thematic workshops such as Business French, French History, French Cinema, etc. Each semester offers 20 hours of class per week, allowing students to obtain an Aix-Marseille University Diploma (D.U. of French Language & Culture) and 30 ECTS credits per semester.
The actual number of hours in a class varies according to the department or subject and the amount of work expected of students outside of class. Courses usually meet 1-2 hours each week, meaning you will probably be taking a higher number of courses than at home. Most current ISEP students in France are taking 12-15 units per semester. For information on what academic life is like in France, please click here. Please review the ISEP country handbook for more information on the education system. |
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Student Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ORIENTATION
The International Relations Office will establish links with academic tutors. Individual interviews with the person responsible for the international relations in each department is planned upon the student’s arrival. Students will receive assistance in opening a bank account and requesting a housing allowance (CAF) and their residence permit. Orientation also includes a tour of campus and of local shops and is when students will purchase a bus pass. The students will be welcomed by the International Relations Office. Students are strongly encouraged to arrive during the week and during office hours. An arrival form will be sent to every student prior to their departure. It should be completed and sent back to the host institution before the required deadline so that arrangements can be made to meet the arriving student at the airport or at Aix-en-Provence TGV station. STUDENT ACTIVITIES
International students have many opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities as there are more than 50 student organizations available in Aix and Marseille. |
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Housing and Meals | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ISEP students live in single-occupancy rooms in residence halls and receive a stipend for meals. Halls of residence are mixed. |
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Financial Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange includes orientation, on-site director, college fees, housing, and the equivalent of 19/meals per week. Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2019/Spring 2020 programs:
Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of March 2019. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change. You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution. Deposits to other programs, if required, are paid by the student to the host program, and will appear as a credit on your study abroad term bill from the College. Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices. Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.
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