Location

Nice, France

Program Description

This 6-credit, 4-week program is open to all undergraduate students who wish to experience the French Riviera while taking cultural and artistic classes. Based in the beautiful city of Nice, hub of the French Riviera by the Mediterranean sea, the program offers on site-classes complemented by homestay with host families.

This May-June session takes place at the Alliance Française, a world-renowned institution specializing in programs for foreigners. The Alliance offers a safe and comfortable learning environment in a private, new facility with air-conditioned smart classrooms. French language and cultural classes are offered at all level (from beginners to advanced).

Students interested in completing their GenEd credits can also take a HUM 251 class, taught in English and especially crafted around the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the region (Provence-Côte d'Azur), where in the 20th-Century many artists found inspiration: international painters (Cézanne, Chagall, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso), writers (Fitzgerald, Hemingway), as well as American jazz performers and dancers.

The food of Provence is an integral part of the experience with wine and food tastings with a visit to a local confectionary/chocolate factory in the mountains! Cultural visits also include participating in the traditional game of pétanque, discovering the city of Grasse, home of the French perfume industry, enjoying the world-famous city of Monaco and its Oceanographic museum, exploring the Picasso museum in Antibes and learning about the Belle-Epoque at the Villa Rothschild with its nine different themed gardens and decorated with olive trees, roses, waterfalls, ponds and musical fountains.

Check out the program video here!

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Location Description

Sports and outdoors enthusiasts will appreciate the area's legendary beaches, and the Mediterranean waterfront with paths on which to walk, run or ride a bike by the sea. Other possible activities include hiking, snorkeling, canyoning, hand-gliding or rafting. The Alliance Française, where classes are held, is only 10 minutes away from either the train station or the Promenade des Anglais (sea front).

While in the city of Nice during their free time, students will be able to enjoy the many free museums of the city, discover the outdoors food and flower markets and many more cultural activities such as the popular Cannes Film Festival, free summer festivities and Grand Prix de Monaco (racing cars)!

Students will also have the opportunity to travel to the glamorous city of Cannes (the world-famous movie festival is held in May), as well as Saint Tropez, or France’s second largest city, Marseille, only 2 hours away by train. The city offers great transportation services such as trains, buses, tramways, city bikes and Uber service.

Director

Dorothée Polanz | polanzdx@jmu.edu | Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Accommodations

Students stay with host families in furnished apartments and houses with internet access and laundry facilities. Each student can be placed individually in a family (private room) or placed with another student from the program in the same room. All host families are carefully selected by the Alliance française de Nice, and reside in the vicinity of the school, right at the center of the town. We do our very best to accommodate student's lifestyle or health-related requests such as nonsmoking environments or special dietary needs. Students will fill out a questionnaire to ensure that they are matched with the best family for them.

Students will be given breakfast and dinner in their host family accommodations. Students are invited to a group lunch in a friendly and authentic local restaurant once a week and should plan to spend their own money the rest of the week to cover the cost of lunch.

Additional Items to Consider

No visa required.

Students should plan to arrive on Friday the 19th (May) in the afternoon. Program ends on Friday the 16th (June) and students may leave the next day.

Only 4 miles away from the town center, Nice’s international airport provides direct flights from/to the US and numerous major airports worldwide and is the second largest airport in France, with direct flights to many European cities. On the following websites, you will find useful information about coming to Nice:
- Nice area visitors bureau: en.nicetourisme.com
- French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Campus France Agency for foreign students: campusfrance.org

FURTHER DETAILED PRACTICAL INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO ENROLLED STUDENTS AT THE ORIENTATION SESSIONS IN THE SPRING.

COVID-19 Location Information:

Each country has different requirements upon entry with regard to COVID-19. Please check this website for the most up-to-date information on what is required for the country (or countries) that are part of this program. Please note that this changes often, so we encourage you to check back frequently.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Some French is recommended. Talk with the director directly for questions.

All undergraduate levels welcomed

Open to all majors