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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: 4.88 (52 reviews)

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CEA CAPA Education Abroad

4.88 (52 reviews)

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CEA CAPA Education Abroad in French Riviera, France

CEA CAPA Education Abroad

4.88 · 52 reviews

Community Choice Award Winner

Location

France

Term

Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter

Subject Areas

Accounting 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 +19

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: Sep 29, 2025

Last Reviewed: Jun 02, 2026

Wish List

57 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 or French Riviera 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 with courses at the CEA CAPA Center or during the semesters take science, engineering, or business courses in English at SKEMA Business School. 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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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers a supportive, well-organized experience in the charming town of Antibes with easy access to travel across Europe.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

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

4.88 Rating

based on 52 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

5 rating 88.46%
4 rating 11.54%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 3.8
Support 4.85
Fun 4.8
Housing 4.7
Safety 4.8

Good for Students, Photographers, Adventure travelers

Showing 1 - 8 of 52 reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience during the CEA CAPA French Riviera program! Our cohort was fairly small, around 30-40 people, so we all became friendly with each other quickly, and I made amazing friends during my time abroad. We were all assigned private student apartments across the city of Antibes; I was very happy with mine! I only had one flatmate, but it can range from 1-3 flatmates from my understanding. My building was secure with the exterior door fob-locked, but we were all in different buildings, so specifics likely vary.

CEA CAPA staff were friendly and made themselves available 24/7 for any questions or concerns. They always provided support when needed, and planned great excursions to Nice, Monaco, Grasse, and more!

Antibes is a beautiful city tucked between Cannes and Nice, so there is plenty to do in the area, and Nice has a well-connected airport for easy, cheap travel. Overall, I would highly recommend this program!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would be more methodical in my travel planning to maximize my time. My program was a bit less than 4 months long, which seems like plenty of time, but I still didn't get to visit all the places I wanted to go.

Pros

Easy access to airport
24/7 CEA CAPA support
Engaging excursions

Apartment kitchen and bathroom entrance.

I had a blast learning about cultures and making friends it was my first time leaving the country. I am grateful for the staff for the support and fun trips. The south of France is high in culture, and low in tourists. It is beautiful and close to a really helpful airport. I miss being there, the train can get you to Italy plus various spots in France. The city doesn't get boring. There is music, beaches, and artworks. The people are super friendly and accommodating, most spoke english too which helped!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I did it my senior fall, so I would go back and do it sooner, so I had more time to explore as a student in following semesters

Pros

trips
meeting people from different states
support contacts

Cons

I had the best time studying abroad with CEA CAPA! The antibes program was smaller which was nice because I met life-long friends. Additionally, since it was small the staff got to know all of us personally. The smaller program had benefits such as the excursions but we were placed in an international school instead of a CEA CAPA school. I enjoyed that but think it is good for people to know before arriving. The host city it small and beautiful and just a short train ride from big cities like Nice or Cannes, get to experience the small town charm of the south of france but still have the opportunity for faster pace activities/night life.

CEA CAPA emphasizes the connection between support and independence. The program provides a multitude of resources while creating an environment where students feel comfortable immersing themselves in a culture. I appreciated this most because CEA CAPA was always available when needed; it also encouraged students to engage with new cultures and experiences. I also appreciated how the program is structured to promote global awareness while still prioritizing student well-being. I was able to grow as an individual while still feeling supported throughout the program. I appreciated this because it made my experience incredibly impactful.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

The most surprising thing I did was go parasailing on the coast of Nice! I did not think I would ever do something this far out of my comfort zone, but it was so much fun!

Pros

Housing
Support on site in host city
Excursions

Best month of my life, genuinely such a good support staff, activities and different voyages. I'd do it again a million times. The different structures of day trips and activities kept me looking forward to different activities while still giving us the freedom to go and explore on our own. The classes and teachers are amazing, and you can get moved up every week which really opens up the opportunities to meet new people outside of CEA which was so fun. Especially since the classes are only in the morning, we spent the afternoons going to different towns and taking advamtange of Antibes.

What was your funniest moment?

We went inter-tubing in the open ocean on one of our free days and went flying 5 meters in the air!

Pros

Strong education
Fun
Good staff

Cons

No AC (normal though)

I absolutely loved my experience studying abroad in the French Riviera. The CEA CAPA on sight staff were very helpful and nice. They hosted many excursions and get togethers for us students (like dessert taste testings, cooking classes, etc.). I stayed in Antibes, France, which is a smaller city outside of Nice. It was super walkable and beautiful! There were also daily markets that I loved looking through and delicious restaurants and cafés that I kept on returning back to! My favorite thing were the walks & runs I would take by the sea (which I did multiple times a day. I couldn't get enough!). The water was gorgeous, & I loved laying out by the beach when the weather was warm. I felt very safe in the city and the people living there were very nice. I loved how the French Riviera was quiet and calm. It wasn't a bustling city, but I never got bored and always had something to do!

I was nervous going into this program, because Antibes is a small city and a unique location for study abroad, but I could't be happier that I chose CEA French Riviera. As soon as I got off the van in Antibes, I fell in love with beauty of the city. It's big enough to have all the amenities you would want: restaurants, bars, even a couple of museums, but it's small enough that you can walk anywhere, feel like part of the community, and easily explore without feeling overwhelmed. That why Im happy I chose Antibes over a big city; while a bustling city like London or Paris is amazing to visit, Antibes is a much nicer place to live. The staff at CEA were extremely helpful with any questions and concerns I had. They had an orientation in the beginning that made it easy to get to know everyone, and free excursions throughout the semester where we could participate in fun and unique activities as a group, like perfume making in Grasse and a three course pasta lunch in northern Italy. Overall I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad, especially those who are looking for a small city and want to travel while abroad.

Living in the French Riviera was an unreal experience, and I was so grateful for the opportunity to embark on such a journey. I lived in the Old Town of Antibes which felt like I was living in the setting of Beauty and the Beast. I lived so close to the water, which was less than a 5 minute walk to the beach. Buying groceries were a lot cheaper than where I live in NY, so it was not too hard to budget. I feel so connected to that city and want to take everyone I know there. It is a very relaxing place, which is very different from NY life. Seeing everyone having a two hour lunch was very shocking at the beginning because it seemed lazy, but by the end it became nice to see people fully enjoying their life.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

I was really nervous to go to France because I have never been fully alone in a foreign country. All of a sudden it felt like I was making a huge mistake and I started panicking in the airport, but I knew it was too late to turn back. I felt so uneasy and started calling my friends, asking them if it was a mistake. Even throughout the plan ride, it didn't feel right and I felt like I was a little kid lost. When we landed in the Nice Airport, it was one of the most breathtaking views. I looked at my plane window and in an instant, all my fears were left me. Seeing that view was the confirmation that this was where I belonged.

Pros

The city of Antibes is very walkable.
The location is so beautiful.
The housing is good.

Cons

The School is very far away from the town you live in.
The classes we take are 3 hours long and there in a two hour break for lunch, meaning you have school for 8 hours straight if you have two classes a day.
Some of the teachers did not seem too well educated, or if they were, they did not seem to smart.

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...

CEA CAPA Education Abroad in French Riviera, France

CEA CAPA Education Abroad in French Riviera, France