How to Apply
How to Apply
Who Should Apply?
We welcome applications from well-prepared students who have completed the equivalent of at least 5 semesters of college-level French, including at least one French course in the semester immediately prior to the semester or year abroad. Students must have a demonstrated interest in France and French-speaking cultures and be eager to meet the challenges of studying alongside French peers. Students applying from other institutions should consult their academic advisors or contact Wellesley’s Campus Director in the French and Francophone Studies department to determine equivalencies. The program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Students from all disciplines are welcome. While many WIA students declare French as a major, this is not a requirement: the majority come from a broad range of academic disciplines, including anthropology, art history, international relations, language studies, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Numerous courses in Aix may count toward these majors.
In recent years, participants have included students from Amherst, Bowdoin, Brandeis, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Grinnell, Hamilton, Harvard, Haverford, Princeton, Swarthmore, Tufts, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale.
All students take a mandatory French test during the first week in Aix in order to evaluate their skills and readiness to take university courses. Students who do not meet the minimum level requirement (B2 in the Common European Framework) must take the WIA course on academic writing skills and methodology in Aix.
DEADLINES
Fall and Full-Year Applications - March 1st
Spring Applications - October 1st
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
At the time of applying, all students should hold a valid passport. If you do not currently have a passport, you should plan to apply for one ASAP.
Wellesley Students:
Non-Wellesley Students:
Official Transcript (email to oisapplications@wellesley.edu)
A student withdrawing from the program after arrival must give written notice to the resident director. Living quarters must be vacated within one week of notice and left in clean condition.
Students will receive no credit for their coursework if they withdraw from the program before the end of the academic term.
Additional deadlines:
Full-year program : In the event of withdrawal between the last day of spring semester classes at Wellesley College and the August departure for France, 25% of the full-year comprehensive fee will be retained . Between the August departure for France and the last day of fall classes, 50% of the fee will be retained. After November 1st, there will be an additional cancellation fee of $3,000.
If a student completes fall semester after having notified the program before October 15 of his or her intention to withdraw from spring semester, there is no penalty.
Fall semester program : In the event of withdrawal between the last day of classes of the spring semester and the August departure for France, 25% of the fall comprehensive fee will be retained . If the students withdraws between the August departure for France and the last day of orientation, 50% of the fee will be retained. If the student withdraws after the last day of orientation, no refunds are given.
Spring semester program : In the event of withdrawal between the last day of classes of the fall semester and the departure for France, 25% of the comprehensive fee will be retained . If the students withdraws between the departure for France and the last day of orientation, 50% of the fee will be retained. If the students withdraws after the last day of orientation no refunds are given.
The above deadlines may be subject to change.