3 Program Dates
Your arrival date is most likely August 20, but this date will be confirmed in May. Other dates on the following calendar give an approximate indication of when certain academic activities take place.
The Faculty Director (FD) will consult the academic calendars of Aix-Marseille University and Sciences Po-Aix, as they become available, prepare a final calendar for program students, and distribute it during the latter part of the Cours Intensif. You are required to remain in Aix until the conclusion of the semester. Do not finalize any travel plans for your return to the U.S. before you have all the dates of your final exams (and make-up exams for Sciences Po). Unlike in the U.S., French professors do not usually change exam dates to accommodate students. Failing to take exams will affect your grade.
Program Calendar 2025-2026
More information on dates to be released as it becomes available.
| August 20 | Arrival date, afternoon – between 2:00 pm and before 6:00 pmsandwiches served; welcome talk |
| August 21 | Morning : guided tour of Aix Afternoon : Housing meeting and apartment visits; cell phone purchase |
| August 22 | 2:00 pm : Administrative meeting. Move into apartments. |
| August 25-29 | Intensive course – Cours intensif for all students |
| September 1-5 | Intensive course – Cours intensif for AMU and SUL Students |
| End of August | Meeting on cultural differences with Franco-American psychologist |
| End of August | Meeting organized by Sciences Po for all their foreign students |
| End of August | Academic Meetings for Sciences Po students |
| End of August | Plaquettes (course info) will be available on the internet and in the program office for preliminary selection of courses at UniversitéAdvising conferences to be held with FD regarding selection of courses for Sciences Po and Université students. |
| September 1 | Sciences Po courses begin |
| Early September | Academic Meetings for AMU and SUL students |
| September 8 | AMU and SUL courses begin (need to be confirmed) |
| Mid or End of September | Drop-Add Deadline (check your home university rules) |
| November 1 | Holiday – Toussaint |
| November 11 | Holiday – Armistice 1918 |
| Mid December | Exam period at Sciences Po |
| Mid December | Advising conferences with FD regarding selection for second semester courses for year students. |
| Mid- December -Early January | Exam period at Université (dates to be confirmed)Plan on staying in Aix until mid-January to make sure you can take all exams as needed. |
| December 21 – January 4 | Winter Break |
| January 5 – 17 | Exam period at UniversitéPlan on staying in Aix until mid-January to make sure you can take all exams as needed. |
| January 19 | 2nd semester starts at Sciences Po, Université, SUL and APA (needs to be confirmed) |
| Early-February | Drop-add deadline for all courses (to be announced) |
| End of February | One-week break at Sciences Po/ AMU (to be announced) |
| Mid April | Spring break at Sciences Po/ AMU (to be announced) |
| Early to Mid May | Final examinations at AMU (to be announced) |
| May 1 | Holiday – International Labor Day |
| May 8 | Holiday – Armistice 1945 |
| May 14 | Holiday – Ascension Day |
| Mid May -End of May | Final Examinations at Science Po (to be announced) |
| Mid June – End of June | Make-up examinations at Sciences Po |
Plan on staying in Aix until the end of your exams or make-up exams as needed.
The vacation periods may vary from one institution to another, and you will need to check them carefully at the FAC ALLSH/AMU, SUL and at Sciences Po, as well as with your professors. When a legal holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, many people at public and private institutions and businesses include Friday or Monday as part of the holiday in order to make a long weekend (called faire le pont).
You should check with your professors if their classes will meet on such days. If class meetings are canceled due to holidays, strikes or absence of the professor, there will usually be extra make-up sessions at the end of the semester.
Students need to consult with the professor and watch bulletin boards so as not to miss make-up classes. Plan to stay until the end of the exam period so as not to jeopardize your academic work.