Helpful Information - Aix-en-Provence

IAU has created an Aix-en-Provence Guide to help students prepare for their studies in France.  Please take time to read through it before departure.

The following is information you may find helpful when preparing for study abroad. 
Health Insurance
Cell Phones
Computers and Internet
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
French Homestay
Weather
Vegan/Vegetarian Food Guide

Additionally, we find these Living in Provence and Study Hard Travel Smart websites very beneficial to review.

Health Insurance

Regardless of the coverage students may carry through a personal, family, or school policy, students are required to subscribe to the insurance coverage provided by IAU. The cost of the insurance coverage is included in the program fee. For semester students applying for a long stay student visa, your proof of insurance stating that you are covered for your semester in France will be sent to you by e-mail. Important: You will need this document when applying for your student visa. With this insurance, all medical-related expenses are paid out-of-pocket, and are reimbursed at a later date by check in US Dollars. 

Cell Phones

Please refer to IAU's Cell Phone Table for additional cell phone information. 

Computers and Internet

It is very useful and convenient to bring a laptop to France. IAU has wireless environments available Monday through Friday. In addition, you will have access to computers and a printer in Manning Hall. If you need to use the Internet later in the evening or on weekends, there are Internet cafes located in Aix. Please be aware that almost all hosts have WiFi (if they do not, they have ethernet cable access).

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program through U.S. State Department

We highly recommend that all students enroll in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before they leave for France. By enrolling in this system, the U.S. Embassy is able to keep you updated with important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency.

Housing Arrangements

Housing placement information will be sent to you via email 1-2 weeks before departure. You can learn more about IAU housing here. 

Students participating in the Early Start Program will be housed in the same housing arrangement for both the Early Start Program and the following semester.

If living with a host family, some students take a small gift for their host family. If your home city or state is famous for a certain product or craft, it would be nice for you to bring a sample for your host. They do not expect any gifts from you but would certainly enjoy a small souvenir with which to remember you by.

Weather

Review this website to see what the average temperatures are for your term abroad: Aix-en-Provence, France


Vegan/Vegetarian Food Guide in Aix

Do you live a vegan lifestyle and want to continue that lifestyle while abroad? Read this report put together by a Master's student at IAU's degree-granting branch, The American College of the Mediterranean, to learn about how exactly you can manage a vegan way of living in the south of France. She goes into great detail on what it means to be vegan in France, where to shop and where to eat, and how to translate and explain your food preferences in French! 

Vegan in Aix-en-Provence, by Leah Fayal