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Arles Summer - Study in Provence
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
IES Abroad Arles courses are designed to help you discover the rich cultural history of Arles and the region as well as the role of immigrant communicaties in the south of France. Courses are supplemented by extensive visits to local and regional festivals, museums, and events centered on the themes of photography, art history, and immigration. Students can opt to take French to hone their French language skills. Students are required to take two courses, for a total of six credits, during their term in Arles.
Courses
Courses are taught at the IES Abroad Center by local faculty.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 320 - 19th Century Art: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism | Summer | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR 301 - Topics In Advanced French Grammar And Culture | Summer | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT 250 - Introduction to French Literature | Summer | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG 320 - History Of Photography In France | Summer | French | 3 |
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Arles, our field trips take you outside the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country and beyond. These trips are subsidized by IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations.
Avignon
Discover this illustrious historic town with a guided tour and a visit to the impressive Palais des Papes (audio tour included). Stroll through the medieval streets and be surprised by theater artists crowding the streets to give previews of the plays they'll perform during the world famous theater festival in the month of July.
Aix-en-Provence
Start the day with a visit to the impressive Granet Museum for fine arts and then experience the real Provençal lifestyle wandering through the maze of colorful streets full of local boutiques, the squares with fresh food markets and countless refreshing fountains. You can also visit the magnificent cathedral Saint-Sauveur and the house where Cézanne worked and lived.
Les Baux-de-Provence and Pont du Gard
In the morning, enjoy a visit with audio guide to the impressive castle of Les Baux-de-Provence, perched high on a rock, with incredible views over the Provençal countryside. After lunch, travel to Pont du Gard for the mind-boggling experience of sunbathing under a huge Roman aqueduct to cool down in the shallow river underneath.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
IES Abroad Arles organizes course-related excursions that complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to your general knowledge of French culture and society.
Course-related trips include visits to photography exhibitions of the Rencontres d'Arles, places that Van Gogh painted and historical key sites in and around Arles.
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Arles is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it’s the orientation program that prepares you for what’s ahead, your housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
Orientation
Your program begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Orientation continues once you arrive abroad and introduces you to the IES Abroad Arles staff, your fellow students, and the city of Arles. During the first week of the program, you will begin your language learning experience and participate in activities to meet and bond with others at the same language level.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that will allow you to truly immerse yourself in local culture. Our goal is that when you leave Arles, it will feel like home.
Homestay - You will live with a local family in a homestay. Host families provide breakfast daily and dinner three times a week. IES Abroad provides three language lunches with faculty and staff each week.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Practice speaking French during language-intensive lunches with IES Abroad professors and staff.
Get to Know Your New City
Festival Season
Check out the various summer festivals in Arles including Les Rencontres d’Arles, an annual international photography festival, and Les Suds, a week of live concerts all over town.
Lunchtime Language Learning
Perfect your French skills with professors and IES Abroad staff at a local restaurant during language-intensive lunches.
Get a Taste of Provence
Enjoy the Mediterranean-influenced cuisine full of seafood, herbs, goat cheeses, and olive oil with specialties like ratatouille and truffle omelets.
Engage in Art
Explore Arles' beautiful historical architecture and artistic influences, as the town is known for its ties to artists including Picasso, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, who painted many sites that can still be visited.
Explore the Surrounding Area
Venture outside of Arles to sites like the Pont du Gard, Les Baux de Provence, and Avignon, home to an annual summer theater festival.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
| Term | Tuition | Housing | Insurance | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2022 | $6,186 | $1,752 | $135 |
$8,073 |
Scholarships & Aid
Featured Scholarships
Summer Need-Based Financial Aid
Open to students who apply to and attend an IES Abroad or IES Internships summer program.
Criteria reviewed to determine award:
- Level of financial need as determined from infromation provided on the application. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients.
- IES Abroad program location.
- IES Abroad membership status of home campus
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
While in Arles, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our IES Abroad Arles Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your French experience. The IES Abroad Arles Center is located in the center of Arles near the Théâtre d’Arles.
Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.
- Take your IES Abroad courses and get projects done in the multimedia Center space
- Stay connected using the high-speed WiFi
- Soak up some sun in the large outdoor courtyard, which features lush greenery, tables & chairs, and is host to evening events
Our Staff
Hester Davies
Center Director
Originally from the Netherlands, Hester has been a long-time resident of Arles. She earned her Master's degree in French language and literature from the University of Amsterdam and during her undergraduate years was an exchange student at the University of Lyon and in Annecy. She is passionate about travel and exchange and is particularly eager to share her knowledge and appreciation of Arles with future IES students.
Faculty
Aurore Valade
Artist Aurore Valade works closely with her subjects so that the images portray a painstakingly planned and very personal split second of the subjects’ lives. The effect makes each photo look more like a tiny movie than a mere snapshot. In 2018, Aurore Valade had her work exhibited in the prestigious Rencontres d’Arles—a world-famous photography festival held in Arles every summer. The exhibition, Aurore Valade: Révoltes Intimes (Intimate Revolts), depicts individuals who dedicate their lives to a cause. Each photo portrays a subject (and sometimes their families) in their own homes, surrounded by their own belongings—all of which have been carefully selected and arranged to provide an intimate look into the life and work of the subject. The vivid photos are often, at the same time, celebratory, deeply thoughtful, and uplifting. Read more about Intimate Revolts in the New York Times, The Guardian, and the Internazionale (Italian).
We are proud to have Aurore Valade as a member of our faculty in Arles. She teaches History of Photography in France.
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!
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