Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Immersion in Aix February 27, 2026

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2026 to 12/20/2026 with

Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely. Learned not just French but problem-solving and my communication I think has improved as a whole.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were less rigorous than what I’m used to at Wellesley, but there were lots of opportunities to improve my French language skills, so it was still very intellectually demanding as an experience overall.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very supportive and kind and welcoming.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family and I did not match very well, but I was very grateful to be moved into a student accommodation which was more agreeable for the rest of the semester.

* Food:

Expensive but very high quality.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It is difficult to socialize with French students, and it felt like there was a pretty big divide between local and international students, but I appreciated the efforts of WIA to immerse us in French tradition and culture as a program through excursions and group meals.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

WIA assisted me as much as possible. The problem is more so the French system, as it is more difficult to reimburse appointments with insurance back home.

* Safety:

Safe but with limitations (not a good idea to go out alone at night, etc.)

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

So much support, so many resources — just THE perfect environment to learn French.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Between 5 and 2.5. Aix is very expensive — especially even staples like fresh groceries.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 70 euro weekly
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? It’s really hard to avoid because prices are universally high, but maybe try to buy things at Intermarché or LIDL which tend to be cheaper (and farther away).

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

As much as humanly possible !

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 333
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Talk, write, think in the target language. Consume as much content as possible (google searches, news articles). Then take a break at night (after 10pm), talk English, relax, so you’ll be ready to start French again in the morning.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Great for learning French
* What could be improved?
  • Opportunities to interact directly with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Locals don’t mind that you have an accent or make grammatical mistakes, and they’re likely very happy to hear you learn the language … don’t be afraid to speak!

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Provence through literature and film
Course Department: WIA in-house program
Instructor: Errecade
Instruction Language: French
Comments: I loved this class so much. I learned a lot about Provence’s literary canon and all the perceptions of the region in comparison to Paris. The professor was very knowledgeable and passionate. I participated even more than I would normally at Wellesley because it felt like a very comfortable learning environment. We were assessed through participation, homework and exams
Credit Transfer Issues: No problems