Options for Study
Housing and Meals
Academic Calendar
Costs
Credit Load
Libraries and Computers

Options for Study
The Avignon semester and academic year program, invites students to discover the richness and diversity of Avignon, Provence, France, France in Europe and beyond. Students select courses in archeology, art history, civilization, history, linguistics, literature, political science, philosophy, and visual arts. An internship in a local organization is a highly recommended part of the experience.

Fall or Spring semester students also have the option of enrolling in a course at l'Université d'Avignon, the local French University. For more information on this option, please visit our French courses for credit page.

Students may also study abroad for a six-week summer term in Avignon. Like the semester study abroad program, students choose courses that best fit their academic and personal interests. The normal academic summer schedule is two three-credit courses for the intensive six week term.

View the courses available for all terms on the programs page.

Housing and Meals
Students are generally individually housed in the homes of French hosts, though independent living arrangements can be made when necessary. Living in a French home is considered the best form of housing because it provides an immediate introduction to life in this new place. Hosts come from a cross-section of society; they belong to no particular professional or social milieu, but all are carefully chosen, inspected, and monitored, and many have hosted American students for several years. Students find that speaking French at home, along with their participation in local activities and events, as the largest factors in increasing their facility with the language.

Living in a French home is seen universally as an invaluable opportunity not found in many study abroad programs. Naturally, all students must accept the constraints and responsibilities that such arrangements entail. Whenever possible, IAU accommodates students' stated housing preferences.

Daily continental breakfasts and six evening meals per week are taken in the student's French home. Students are responsible for lunches. There is a multitude of affordable cafés, brasseries, boulangeries, small sandwich and grocery shops from which to choose. The Center also has in-house commodities available to students such as a refrigerator, cutlery, and china. Avignon opens its plentiful indoor central market, Les Halles, every morning. Many other food markets are available around town during the week. students can also bring in their own staple to create their own wonderful salads in the kitchen facilities available to them.

Le Centre d'Avignon, aware that local public transportation stops too early in the evening for students to enjoy a late movie, has made available a co-allocation taxi to students who live outside a perimeter roughly defined by the ancient city walls. Those students also receive a monthly bus pass enabling them to travel freely on the bus network.

Credit Load
Students in the Avignon semester study abroad program take five three-credit courses. They choose courses from advanced grammar, French or francophone literature, linguistics, political science, art history, civilization, philosophy, visual arts, and cinema.

Before departure from the United States, students must arrange credit transfer with their Dean or Department Head who must sign the Institute for American Universities Academic Approvals form signifying that work completed at IAU will receive credit toward the applicant's degree.

Students who are unable to make such an arrangement may apply to IAU through:

• Northern Illinois University - Sarah Casillas - 815-753-7399
• Eckerd College - Karen Honsinger - 727-864-8381
• Miami Dade College- Eva Fernandez - 305-237-3580
• Truman State University - Rosa Virginia Mendez - 660-785-4076

IAU recommends transfer credit with appropriate grades on the basis of three units per semester course (45 class hours or equivalent).

The Institute for American Universities issues an official, traditional American transcript with letter grades. Institute courses have been accepted for academic credit by over 700 North American institutions of higher learning since its founding in 1957.

Libraries and Computers
Avignon offers a spacious, open-access library complete with computers on its mezzanine level. The computers are equipped with high speed internet, and the entire building is wireless internet accessible, including a wireless printer.

Avignon students have borrowing privileges at the Avignon public library, and they have access to the library at the Université d'Avignon. Avignon students are encouraged to also visit the Jean Vilar library, specializing in theater.

Students with personal laptops can enjoy wireless internet in and around the Center, and can also use cybercafés in town.

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