Wellesley-in-Aix 

Bienvenue!

For more than 40 years, Wellesley has welcomed students to Aix-en-Provence. The Wellesley-in-Aix (WIA) program is designed to immerse students academically, linguistically and culturally in a vibrant, student-friendly city located in one of the most beautiful regions in France.

About the Program

Aix-en-Provence boasts a student population of over 40,000 enrolled mainly at Aix-Marseille Université, France's largest university. Aix is big enough to offer a variety of cultural activities, architectural sites and culinary delights yet small enough that students get to know the city well and engage with students and other locals in informal settings.

Wellesley-in-Aix provides opportunities to experience French student culture and daily life through direct enrollment in French institutions, homestays, volunteer opportunities and other activities. In keeping with your goal of improving your French skills, all communication with WIA onsite staff, partners and hosts occurs exclusively in French. Whether conversing with host family members at mealtimes, taking notes in university courses or taking cooking, yoga or dance classes in French, or joining a local club sports team or volunteering at a local elementary school, you will acquire new frames of reference and learn to express yourself in a variety of contexts and ways that go beyond classroom learning. The ability to step outside one’s own culture, understand other perspectives and communicate in a language other than English is not only personally rewarding but also professionally valuable in today's world.

Thanks to its small size and experienced onsite staff, Wellesley-in-Aix offers individual assistance in the form of academic advising and tutorials, health and safety advice, cultural tips and suggestions for meeting locals, exploring the region, and finding extra-curricular activities. As you will often hear us say in Aix, Profitez-en!