Miami Herbert Business School’s French Riviera program will return in summer 2026 after a successful launch last year that drew wide interest from students across disciplines. The four-week program, based in Antibes, combines classroom learning with consulting projects for French companies.
In 2025, students partnered with insurance firm GIEPS to address generational workplace challenges and presented professional recommendations. Applications are now open for the 2026 program, which runs May 18-June 13.
Open to all University of Miami undergraduates, the program attracts students from a variety of majors while maintaining its business foundation through the core organizational behavior courses (MGT 304 and MGT 307). The 2025 cohort included students in business, premed, prelaw, communications, and marine biology, creating cross-disciplinary learning opportunities.
Antibes was chosen strategically for its proximity to Sophia Antipolis, often called the “French Silicon Valley.” The location provides access to multinational corporations, startups, and research institutions. Students also participate in weekly company visits and guest lectures on topics related to the French business environment.
"This program blends academic learning with cultural immersion," says program lead Marina McCarthy, associate professor of professional practice at Miami Herbert. "Students live in the community, cook, shop, and explore, while also engaging in company visits, guest lectures, and hands-on projects. It gives them the chance to fulfill a core requirement while experiencing global business in a truly transformative way."
Beyond academics, the curriculum is structured to allow for personal exploration. The program includes organized trips to Paris, Monaco, and Aix-en-Provence. In addition, students have the opportunity and flexibility to travel to destinations like Ibiza, Nice, and St. Tropez, taking advantage of the region's excellent train connections. Planned cultural activities, such as a local cooking class, are also woven into the schedule to ensure a deep immersion into French life.
"I've learned so much about French culture and work life, and I've also created such incredible connections with people I would have never met anywhere else," said Georgia Anne Apazidis, a psychology and criminology major in the 2025 program. "If I were giving advice to someone considering studying abroad, I would tell them to do it."
This opportunity is designed not only to earn credits but to build a global perspective, enhance résumés, and create lifelong memories.
The program runs May 18 through June 13, 2026, and is limited to 15 students. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2026.
To learn more about studying abroad in Antibes, France, contact associate professor of professional practice Marina McCarthy at marina.mccarthy@miami.edu. Additional information can be found here.
