CEA CAPA Education Abroad in French Riviera, France

Name: CEA CAPA Education Abroad in French Riviera, France
Brand: CEA CAPA Education Abroad
SKU: 16970
Rating: 4.92 (25 reviews)

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4.92 Rating

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Location

France

Term

Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter

Subject Areas

Accounting Art History Biology Business Chemistry Communications Computer Science Cultural Studies Economics Engineering English Environmental Studies Finance Humanities Information Technology International Business International Relations Liberal Arts Life Sciences Linguistics Literature Marketing Mathematics Physics Political Science Psychology Public Relations Social Sciences Sociology Web Design +20

Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, Work study, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

High School Diploma Associates Bachelors

Housing

Apartment Host Family

Language

English

Pricing

Price Details

Included: Personalized Pre-departure Advising; Tuition & Registration; Travel Medical Insurance; On-site Orientation; Housing; Volunteer Opportunities; On-site Staff Support; Excursions and Cultural Engagement; Host Institution Services & Amenities and more. Scholarships available.

What's Included

Some Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2023

Last Reviewed: Mar 19, 2024

Wish List

48 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

With its 300+ sunny days a year, world-class museums, galleries, and sandy beaches, the Côte d’Azur (literally “azure coast”) or “French Riviera,” as English speakers refer to it, affords 71 miles of Mediterranean coastline along the southeast corner of France. The region’s sub-tropical climate has drawn many famous visitors and expats, including Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, and Pablo Picasso.

There, you can immerse yourself in French language and culture at our partner university, the Centre International d'Antibes, or take science, engineering, or business courses in English at the Bachelors Program at SKEMA Business School. As it is home to the Cannes Film Festival, the French Riviera is a great location to engage in a hands-on internship during this world-famous event. Excursions to cities like Provence and Grasse will round out your experience abroad.

Interested? Click the “Visit Site” button to learn what’s waiting for you!

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Video and Photos

CEA Study Abroad Students on the French Riviera

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

CEA CAPA provides, in conjunction with Diversity Abroad, Destination Guides which provide resources and tips for Black/African-American students, Latinx students, Asian American students, and all other students of color.

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LGBTQIA+ Support

Through our personalized advising, CEA CAPA takes steps to understand the needs of a diversity of student identities like the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to diversity and identity training, CEA CAPA leadership engage in continuous department level project work to identify and revise policies and practices using the appropriate Justice, Equity, Diversity or Inclusion lens as a frame to reduce bias and barriers that impact students, faculty, and staff. CEA CAPA is intentional in elevating diverse student voices and providing a platform for a broad array of identities to share their experiences abroad. The CEA CAPA World Blog promotes stories and personal experiences from the perspectives of diverse student bloggers and vloggers.

Neurodivergent Support

CEA CAPA is willing and able to assist students with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Students are requested to disclose disabilities through the application health forms as part of their application and in discussion with their application advisor or program manager. The earlier CEA CAPA is made aware of learning or physical disabilities the better we can work with the student, institution, and overseas team to tailor an Individualized Education Program if necessary to support the student.

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Impact

Sustainability

CEA CAPA makes a conscious effort to create study abroad experiences that leave a positive impact on host communities. Each location implements a variety of strategies to support the local community and promote sustainability. Examples include:

Use of recycling bins in Study Center locations and in CEA CAPA housing

Signage in CEA CAPA housing urging students to limit water and electricity usage

Students are often given reusable bags and water bottles upon arrival to limit single plastic use

Students are provided with instructions for acquiring transportation passes to promote use of public transportation rather than taxis

Program Highlights

Hands-on learning experiences that transform the world abroad into a classroom
Personalized Pre-Departure Advising, including visa and immigration support
Courses offered in English that fulfill major and general graduation requirements
Comprehensive on-site support, including 24/7 emergency phone
Career workshops, Internships Abroad, and Alumni Ambassador positions

Program Reviews

4.92 Rating

based on 25 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

5 rating 92%
4 rating 8%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 3.95
Support 4.95
Fun 4.8
Housing 4.8
Safety 4.9

Good for Students, Photographers, Solo Travelers

Showing 17 - 24 of 25 reviews

I have traveled a lot. I was a professional skier traveling the world before going to college in Salt Lake City, Utah. I wanted to study abroad because I missed the exposures to the different cultures, the unique experiences that no one else will ever understand, and overcoming struggles with things you had taken for granted in the U.S. or learning new practices you like better.

Having some experience traveling my biggest worry was renting. Finding a spot to rent that would let me rent for just four months, and how would I find a roommate? Well, CEA fixed that problem for me by booking me an apartment with two roommates!

The added benefit for me was getting to go on many of the excursions CEA offered.

I didn't really think this trip would be life-changing for me, I have been to Europe a lot before, but this experience WAS life changing and I would recommend a study abroad with CEA to ANYONE.

What would you improve about this program?

I understand that there is one price which includes all excursions. If you can't attend an excursion you won't get any money returned. I understand the point is that a lot of students would want to back out to get money back, but I had prior engagements booked before I went to France which did not allow me to participate in some excursions. I wish there had been a way if you had a booked prior engagement you could use that money for a different excursion. For example, when my mom came we rented a car and went to Grasse and a two-hour drive to Aix-en-Provence because I knew I was missing those trips. it would have been nice if we could have had the money CEA saved from me not attending the other weekends and inserted that into our touring expenses.

Other than that I have loved my experience and would recommend it highly

you can read more about my experiences on the CEA MOJO site

Read my full story

CEA is an amazing company. I don't think that my time abroad would have been nearly as amazing without CEA. They handled all of the logistics for us. First, they provided housing and showed us around the town so we could get our bearings. My coordinator, Krisitin, was amazing. She taught us everything from how the buses work, where the best day trips are, where to buy groceries and how to fit in with locals. She is truly amazing!
We did so many excursions with CEA. They took us to places in southern France that are difficult to get to by public transportation. They provided us with a bus, food and a tour guide.
Seriously the best experience that I've ever had. I am SO thankful that I chose to study abroad with CEA.

What would you improve about this program?

The university that we attend is alright, but could be improved. It is a bit disorganized, but it is really amazing to be able to go to classes with people form so many different countries. The students in my international business course represent over 15 countries - it is so amazing!

Spending four months in the city of Antibes on the French Riviera was one of the best experiences of my life! Antibes is a small town between Nice and Cannes and located right on the beach- so the location cannot get any better. The people are friendly and the food is absolutely delicious. Living in Antibes made it very easy to travel because there is a train station located in the middle of town, and only about a 20 minute train ride to the Nice airport. Because of that I was able to travel to ten different countries. I highly recommend the French Riviera program because it has an amazing staff, the program is smaller so you really get to know everyone, great living conditions, and the location is amazing. I would do anything to go back!

My experience studying abroad in the French Riviera with CEA exceeded my expectations in so many ways. Many students study abroad in big cities in Europe but my favorite part of this program was getting to live in the little seaside town of Antibes. I feel like I really got to know this little town and make it home for a few months. The best part is that Nice is only 20 minutes away by train and has everything a big city has to offer including an international airport so that it is easy and cheap to travel all over Europe on the weekends! The excursions that CEA provides are so fun and enable you to see things in the Riviera that you would never see otherwise and really helped me understand the culture! The CEA staff is incredibly helpful. Other students at our school who studied abroad without CEA were so jealous I f all the support and perks we had as CEA students! I can't say enough to describe how wonderful this program is! My daily life included runs by the sea, hanging out on the beach with friends, and trying new gelato and coffee shops.

Living in Antibes on the Riviera for 4 months was unbelievable. The town is beautiful, quaint, and easy to find your way around. There are many great places to eat as well. It is very close to the airport and train station which makes traveling anywhere in Europe extremely easy. CEA's onsite staff are wonderful and always asking what they can do to make your experience the best it can be. Wonderful place to study!

CEA was the best choice for my study abroad experience. The onsite staff was such a big reason why I chose the program. They (Kristin and Sylvia) helped with any and all of our questions and took us on trips all around the Riviera so that we got to really experience and see the area. Waking up each morning and seeing the Mediterranean Sea out my window was something so special and surreal. Antibes is an incredible city to live in and CEA was so incredibly helpful in making sure of that.

I was lucky enough to manage my class schedule into two days, therefore I traveled almost every weekend domestically and every other week to another country. Friends I made are the ones who made my time special. Classes in Skema was not challenging but it was very easy to fall off track because the teaching style is different than the U.S, especially the lecture duration.
The accommodation was great, location was great, we got many field trips to experience local culture and interact with locals and of course food!

While I was abroad I took: Physics I (with lab), Chemistry I (with lab), Marketing Principles, and Management Information Systems.

Physics I was my hardest course. There were only problem-solving questions on the exams and quizzes, with no multiple choice.

My other three classes were reasonably paced, and the exam material was fairly predictable. They challenged me to master the material and work as a team on projects. I estimate that these three classes were easier than they would have been at my home university in the U.S.

My Physics lab met every other week, and my Chemistry lab was done on an independently chosen schedule (which was very convenient). Physics and Chemistry lectures meet twice a week, whereas my other classes met only once. All of my teachers were willing to help and available outside of class.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose to study abroad with CEA French Riviera because of how highly recommended the program was. Everything from school schedules to housing to public transportation was taken care of by the specialists at CEA, which I knew would make the transition to a foreign country much easier. They also partner with SKEMA Business School which was fully accredited toward my home university. I was able to attend a university that specialized in my specific major and earn the credits I needed to stay on track with my four-year plan at Cedarville.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

CEA assisted me with the Visa process by informing me of the steps I needed to take and when so I can get my Visa on time. They completely set up the housing for all of us and assigned each of us roommates based on a survey of our preferences. Once we got to France, the site specialist sat down with each of us individually to talk about our class schedules and adjust them accordingly. CEA also coordinated multiple day trips for our group where we went to nearby cities and learn about the culture and history of them.

My university, Cedarville, had different presentations for all the students studying abroad to give us tips on how to deal with culture shock, how to get the best deals traveling, and get the most out of our experience abroad.

I had to organize my Visa appointment on my own, which I think almost everyone does anyway. I also had to organize my own spring break and weekend trips. Other than personal travels and activities, most things were organized for me, or I was assisted in organizing.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I wish I would have known how culture shocked I'd be by my fellow American students. I grew up in a very Baptist community and attend a strict Christian college, so being around the major drinking culture for the first time was quite shocking.

However, I could not be more thankful for the opportunities I had in France to become more open minded of not just another country's culture, but of another worldview's culture.

Because my faith is so important to me, it is the main thing that stuck out while I was so far removed from my comfort zone. Advice I have for others who are devoted to faith or religion would be to get plugged in. I found an amazing church that translated in both French and English where I was able to get connected with people from all over the world. This kept me grounded and allowed for me to get cultural experience without having to compromise my personal convictions. Do not let fears of discomfort, uncertainty, or anxiety keep you from experiencing one of the greatest gifts: a broader perspective of this planet and its beautiful people.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The classes at SKEMA Business School are set up differently than my classes in America in that each class is only once a week for three hours. I had classes every morning, Monday-Thursday. I usually got done with class around 11 AM, so the rest of my day was free to study, grocery shop, go to the beach, hike around the Cap d'Antibes, and hang out with friends. I also had every Friday off which allowed for a longer weekend to travel around Europe.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going to France was that I didn't know any French. Although the school I would be attending had English speaking classes, I wasn't sure how I was going to communicate with waiters and waitresses, grocery clerks, or anyone outside of school. However, once I finally got there, I found out that many people in Europe speak more than one language. More often than not, they know enough English to communicate. For those with whom I didn't share a common language, we communicated through gestures, charades, and facial expressions.

Sometimes we never got to the point of fully understanding each other, and sometimes I ordered the wrong thing, but in the end it didn't matter. Every baby step toward learning a new language and every successful interaction is a small victory. I no longer look at it as a language barrier, but an opportunity to grow in my overall communication skills.

What did you miss about the US while you were away? Now that you’re home, what do you miss about southern France?

While I was in France, I missed random things. I missed my friends from my home university the most, but that was to be expected. I also really missed American-Mexican food. For some reason, the French do not eat Mexican food. Their grocery stores have a limited supplies for making anything Mexican, and what they do have is overpriced. Also, where I was living was a small city, so there was minimal green spaces and never the smell of a back yard BBQ which is the epitome of the American suburbs I grew up in.

Now that I'm back in the US, I miss all the things that I took for granted. I miss the small city! I miss being able to walk five minutes down the road to grab my groceries for the week, or go to the beach, or out for dinner with friends. I loved that everything was walkable. Surprisingly, I miss public transportation probably because I didn't have to pay for gas, and being able to hop on a train to Monaco for the day was a plus. Lastly, I miss the friends that I made overseas. My heart is spread throughout the world after meeting so many new people, and it was an adjustment going from seeing them every day to being back in the US.

Jamie Crane-Mauzy

2017 Alum

Cailyn Katsev

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Kristin Kerr

Program

CEA CAPA Education Abroad in French Riviera, France

Job Title

Director of the CEA French Riviera Program

Kristin Kerr is Director of the CEA French Riviera Program in Antibes, France. A native of Leipzig, in the former East Germany, Kristin has lived and worked in France, Germany, England, Poland and Canada. Today, she lives in the scenic Mediterannian village of Theoule-sur-mer in the Esterel Mountains, between Cannes and St. Tropez. Kristin is a graduate of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and has worked in the Study Abroad industry for almost 20 years. She is fluent in English, French and German.

antibes

What position do you hold at CEA? What has been your career path so far?

Kristin: I am CEA Program Director running the French Riviera program in Antibes, Southern France. I myself studied French for a year in Cannes while working as an au pair. I then obtained a Masters degree in German language and Literature from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, where I studied for 4 years.

Prior to working for CEA, I worked as Program Planner for an American organization specializing in educational tours of Europe for high school students. As Program Director for AIFS in Paris, Cannes and Krakow, I had full responsibility for coordinating study abroad programs in these locations and have worked directly with thousands of students from the US.

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Kristin: As a child I grew up « behind the wall » in Leipzig, East Germany. As soon as travel restrictions were lifted in my country I embarked on an Educational Tour of Spain which greatly influenced me to work in the Study Abroad industry.

cannes film festival

To move forward with my career, I knew I had to master several foreign languages, since the German language is not widely spoken or understood in Europe as a whole.

I worked as an au pair in Cannes for a year to master the French language. I was then fluent enough to study for a 4-year degree at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis. I then lived in London for 3 years and became fluent in English. I never looked back from that point and I have worked in Study Abroad for almost 20 years.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the CEA team.

Kristin: In May every year, I am thrilled to offer CEA students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to intern at the largest media event in the world after the Olympic Games – the Cannes International Film Festival. Since working in 1996 as an intern myself with David Cronenberg and the cast of his movie « Crash » as well as American Hollywood legend Tony Curtis, I have been involved with the Festival for almost 20 years.

Every year, there are many great opportunities for CEA students to work with/for some of America’s top-rated entertainment shows such as “Entertainment Tonight”. This opportunity has taught them the logistics of behind the scenes work in addition to communication skills vital to working on a global level. While on assignments, it is not uncommon for students to brush shoulders with the likes of Harrison Ford, James Franco or Nicole Kidmann.

berlin wall

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

Kristin: Fully understanding and speaking the language of any country is vital to connect with its people and brings you huge benefits. I have lived and worked in France, Germany, UK, Canada and Poland and I have witnessed first hand how you can immerse yourself more fully into daily life if you are able to hold a meaningful conversation in the host language.

Language fluency helps you to understand mentalities and it open many doors. Even trying to say just a few words will help to gain the trust of local people, they will appreciate your efforts and help you to make further progress. Speaking the local language will help you to establish meaningful friendships with locals, cultural immersion will be easier and you will have a more enriching experience in general.

The experience of living in different countries and speaking different languages also opens many doors in the global job market. Companies appreciate staff who can communicate with and understand the particularities of their international partners.

Location

Location:

France

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

59 F / 21 F

Apr-Jun

77 F / 36 F

Jul-Sep

82 F / 46 F

Oct-Dec

72 F / 25 F

Airports:

Paris Charles de Gaulle

( CDG )

Nice

( NCE )

Lyon Saint Exupéry

( LYS )

Whether you are looking to learn the language of love, ski in the French Alps, indulge in incredible food, or unwind by the French Riviera, this country has plenty to keep you busy. While traveling in France, you will see a large variety of different lifestyles, accents, and delicacies from region to region.

About CEA CAPA Education Abroad

With 22 destinations across 13 countries, CEA CAPA Education Abroad offers an ideal balance of academics, internships, and adventure to more than 4,000 students each year. Click on “Visit Site” to explore our study and internship opportunities and find out just out how far international education can take you. Why study abroad or complete an...

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Alumni Interviews

Katie Huyser

Why did you choose this program?

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

What did you miss about the US while you were away? Now that you’re home, what do you miss about southern France?

Staff Interviews

Kristin Kerr

What position do you hold at CEA? What has been your career path so far?

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the CEA team.

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?