Aix-en-Provence | Student Housing Options

The American College of the Mediterranean has different housing options available to both undergraduate and graduate students, including homestays with a local host or student residence apartments.

All undergraduate students must live with a homestay during their first year of study. After their first year, they can request an ACM-IAU student residence apartment or non-program housing upon approval.

All graduate program students, with the exception of those in the MA in Art History (MAAH) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) must reside in program housing for at least one semester. Language development coupled with a relationship with the local culture is critical to student success in all ACM programs. All recipients of Partner Pathway, Graduate Fellowship or Presidential scholars must live in program housing for the duration of their academic program.

HOUSING AVAILABILITY: Housing schedules are aligned with the ACM academic calendar. Students should be aware that they will need to vacate their housing during the December/January holiday period and at the conclusion of the Spring term in May. If a student is enrolled in a summer session, they will need to vacate their housing at the conclusion of that session in mid-July. Students participating in a J-Term program may resume their housing between the end of the J-Term and the beginning of the spring semester. Any exceptions to this policy will entail an additional housing cost for the student. Any student who would like to stay in a housing outside of the published academic calendar must contact the Student Life Team within one month of beginning their program.

ACM offers intersession luggage storage for returning students. However, we cannot be held responsible for any damage, loss or theft.

ACM has a strict no pet policy in all program housing options. Students may receive program housing accomodations for classified and documented Certified Service Animals.

If you have any questions, please contact ACM admissions at admissions@acmfrance.org.

Housing costs may be found on the Tuition & Fees page.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE HOUSING OPTIONS

ACM encourages students to live with a host family for at least one semester of their time in Aix-en-Provence.

TRADITIONAL HOMESTAY (with or without meals prepared by host)

The level of interaction between students and their homestay hosts varies on a case-by-case basis. The Student Life Team strives to match students with hosts who have similar expectations for engagement as they do. Depending on the level of autonomy you would like to have concerning meals and meal preparation, ACM offers two types of traditional homestay: with or without meals prepared by the host. For the option without meals, students will need to shop for and prepare their own meals.

All undergraduate students are required to live in a homestay during their first year of study, and all Master of French Studies (MAFS) graduate students are required to live in a homestay during their first semester of study.

Living in a homestay is a challenging yet enriching experience. There is an adaptation period to be expected while the hosts and the student get to know each other’s culture and living habits. Hosts are interested in sharing a cultural exchange with students, and our alumni consistently comment on the benefits of the experience.

Our hosts come from all backgrounds; some are families with children, others are single retirees. The nuclear family is not the norm.

Students in a traditional homestay with meals receive daily breakfast and six dinners per week. Breakfast is a typical French-style meal, and dinners vary by family, but students can be expected to be well-fed and are encouraged to communicate with their hosts about food preparation and planning as this can be a wonderful way to integrate into a French family! Students are responsible for their own lunches (daily) and for dinner one night per week (decided together by the student and the host). Students will have access to wifi in their homestay. Note that air conditioning is not common in homestays, so it should be an expectation that this will not be available. However, students may request a fan.

PLEASE NOTE: Homestay and student residence apartment schedules are aligned with the ACM academic calendar. Students should be aware that they will need to vacate their housing arrangements during the December/January holiday period and at the conclusion of the Spring term in May. If a student is enrolled in a summer session, they will need to vacate their housing arrangements at the conclusion of that session in mid-July.

Student Residence Apartments

Students in Student Residence Apartments (SRAs) will live in furnished communal residence halls with other ACM-IAU students and alongside local and international students studying in Aix-en-Provence. The SRAs are located throughout the city and are within convenient access to grocery stores, shops, restaurants, and pharmacies.

In an SRA, bedrooms are typically double or triple occupancy with the exception of ACM graduate students who will be placed in either studio apartments or shared apartments with a private bedroom. No meals are included with this housing option, therefore students are responsible for all meal costs and preparation. Students will have access to an equipped and shared kitchen, unless placed in a studio apartment. Students are responsible for all laundry costs, keeping their residence apartments clean and for all costs associated with cleaning and repairs. The SRAs include access to wifi, bed linens and towels, and will have shared laundry facilities or be within walking distance to a laundromat.

Non-program housing

Students interested in pursuing non-program housing must request this option with our admissions staff and submit the waiver form. In addition, although we can offer resources to support students, ACM is not responsible for assiting students in procuring non-program housing.

BARCELONA HOUSING OPTIONS

Students in the MA in International Education (MAIE), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and MA in Media Studies (MAMS) programs will spend their first semester at the ACM-IAU center in Barcelona, Spain. These students are required to live in shared ACM student apartments as described below:

Student Shared Apartments

Students in shared apartments will live in fully furnished accommodations located in traditional local buildings, alongside fellow ACM-IAU students and local neighbors. These apartments are situated throughout the city, with convenient access to grocery stores, shops, restaurants, pharmacies, and public transportation. It's important to note that using the metro, bus, or train is a common and essential part of daily life in Barcelona.

Bedrooms in student apartments are typically shared (double occupancy), with the exception of ACM graduate students, who will be placed in private rooms or, upon request, in shared rooms with a roommate. Meals are not included in student apartments, so students are responsible for their own meal planning and preparation. Each apartment includes a acess to an equipped and shared kitchen, shared living spaces, and a washing machine. Common areas are cleaned every two weeks, and maintenance is provided as needed. Additionally, apartments include Wi-Fi, bed linens, and towels.