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Study Abroad | Paris

France | Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne | Summer 2024
A group of students in Paris.
A student in Paris.

Select Your Program Option:

  • Summer 2024

Overview

Spend a summer in the charming and sophisticated city of Paris, France with AIFS! Study French language at the prestigious Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS).  Located in the 7th district, commonly referred to as a “beau quartier”, the CCFS are close to Rodin and d’Orsay museums, the UNESCO headquarters, many embassies and official buildings. 

Students taking French Language Session 1 can combine the program with the French Language Session 2 or with the French Culture Session 2.

Students taking French Language Session 2 can take the French Language Session 2 course only.

What’s Included

The AIFS inclusive program fee includes all of the great features below in addition to many pre-departure, on-site and upon-return services to help students make the most of their time abroad.

Review Our Policies
  • Tuition

    Up to 6 semester credits depending on program selection

  • Courses

    Courses offered in French language (credit from CCFS) and Paris art history (credit from Fairfield University)

  • Housing

    in a double room in a Parisian homestay. Additional housing options are available, see Optional Components for more details

  • Meals

    Breakfast every day in your homestay

  • Cultural & Social Activities

    Sightseeing in Paris, visits to museums and monuments, walking tours, trips outside Paris, a Bateaux-Mouches boat trip as well as group dinners

  • On-Site Program Director

    to help with any questions or advice you may need throughout the program

  • Health & Safety

    24/7 emergency support and comprehensive insurance
  • Personal/Professional Development

    Access to the renowned Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment and alumni network
  • Green Initiative

Additional Options & Opportunities

  • AIFS Flight Package

    Round-trip flights from 25 U.S. gateways

    Airport transfers to and from campus

  • Optional Excursions

    Châteaux of the Loire Valley (Session 1, 2 days)

    Normandy and Brittany (Session 2, 2 days)

  • Housing Supplement

    Single room in a homestay including daily breakfast

    Student Residence including daily breakfast or daily breakfast stipend

Program Details: Study Abroad | Paris French Language + French Culture

Dates

May 30, 2024July 25, 2024

Term

Summer

Institution

Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne

Application Deadline

April 1, 2024

Inclusive Fees

$10,440

Eligibility

Open to High School Graduate, First Year, Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Minimum of 2.0 GPA

Additional requirements may vary by course selection. See Academic section below.

Visa Requirements

A visa may be required for this program. Please contact your advisor or log into your portal for more information.

Areas of Interest

  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Fine Arts
  • Foreign Language
  • French Language
  • Non-Credit (Enrichment)

Global Themes

  • Language, History and Culture
Learn More About Global Themes

Academics

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

French Language courses are taught at the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS) dating back to 1919. The CCFS has the status of a private institution for the teaching of French as a foreign language. The prestige of the Sorbonne is matched by few educational institutions. A centralized institution from its foundation until 1968, the Sorbonne is now one of the dozen or so independent units of the University of Paris.

The culture course is taught in English at the AIFS Study Center with credit awarded by Fairfield University. In 2020 Fairfield and AIFS partnered to develop a school of record relationship that will allow academic credit to be available for both Fairfield and non-Fairfield students. Course syllabi and faculty credentials are reviewed and approved by Fairfield University.

The AIFS Study Center is located in the 5th arrondissement, directly opposite Jussieu Metro station. It is nestled between the ancient Latin quarter with all its bookshops and cafés – and the botanical gardens. With a fully equipped classroom and student lounge, the study center offers students the opportunity to learn about French language and culture in a friendly, supportive space that is just a stone’s throw from main attractions such as Notre Dame cathedral or the Pantheon.

  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Fine Arts
  • Foreign Language
  • French Language
  • Non-Credit (Enrichment)

French language study is offered at all levels from Beginner to Advanced/Superior, enabling students to communicate effectively in both written and spoken French. Through classes in grammar and French life, students learn to express themselves in most everyday situations.
The course consists of 2 hours of class per day Monday to Friday plus 10 hours of phonetics in Session 1 and 10 hours of phonetics in Session 2. Each session for this program carries 3 credits.

Placement is determined by a test taken prior to arrival in Paris and an oral test taken upon arrival, regardless of previous French study.

Consecutive sessions can be combined for a longer stay and more credits.

Session 1 French Language can be combined with French Culture Session 2 enabling students to take a course (taught in English) in French fashion for 3 credits. The culture course is taught at the AIFS Study Center in Paris with credit awarded by Fairfield University.

View All Courses For French Language + French Culture
An aerial view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

Living Abroad

Homestay

Parisian homestay carefully selected by the local staff

  • Double room
  • Shared bathroom
  • Typical French breakfast every day
  • Single room in a homestay for a supplemental fee of $245 for Session 1 or Session 2 and $490 for Sessions 1 + 2 combined.

Optional Student Residence

A single or double room in a centrally-located student residence with international students:

  • Typical French breakfast every day or daily breakfast stipend
  • Session 1 or Session 2: $795; Sessions 1 + 2 Combined : $1350

Food

Paris is famous for its restaurants and haute cuisine, food meticulously prepared and artfully presented. Thanks to immigration, every French regional cuisine and almost every national cuisine in the world can be found in Paris; the city has more than 9,000 restaurants. In addition to restaurants, the café concept arrived in Paris in the 17th century. Since then, Parisian cafés have been considered centers for the city’s political and cultural life.

Fashion

Since the 19th century, Paris has competed for the title of Fashion Capital of the World, particularly when it comes to haute couture, clothing hand-made for special clients. Some of the largest fashion houses and designers call Paris home including Dior, Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, and Christian Lacroix. The city also plays hosts to two Fashion Weeks, held in January and July. 

Architecture

The city owes its style to its aligned street-fronts, distinctive cream-grey “Paris stone” building decoration, aligned top-floor balconies, and tree-lined boulevards. Amazingly, Paris has never been destroyed by catastrophe or war and has preserved even its earliest history, including many famous landmarks and buildings. Parisian architecture is best highlighted in the city’s churches (Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, Sainte Chapelle, La Madeleine, Notre Dame Cathedral), Palais Garnier Opera House, Louvre Pyramid and Eiffel Tower.

AIFS in Paris Director, Summer Program

Danica Debizet headshot.

Danica Debizet

Bonjour! “Hello” in French, one of the four languages I am fluent in, along with English, German and Slovak. You have quite the experience awaiting you in Paris; from the cultural activities offered, the number of museums to visit and the various people you will meet, it is sure to be an amazing time.

I studied for three separate MA degrees in Paris and Grenoble and have lived in four different countries. I consider myself a “global citizen” and am looking forward to helping you to adjust to your time abroad. As your Program Director, I am here to advise, listen, help and encourage you to make your stay in Paris a wonderful experience that you will always remember.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of French culture, a wide range of cultural activities and excursions are included in your program fee. The AIFS team organizes a variety of activities which usually include:

  • Sightseeing in Paris
  • Welcome and farewell dinners in typical French restaurants
  • Walking tours of the Marais district, Montmartre, Père Lachaise cemetery, the Paris Opéra area and the Left Bank

Visits to:

  • Rodin Museum
  • Cluny Museum
  • Orangerie Museum
  • Holocaust Memorial
  • Picasso Museum
  • The Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was held during the Revolution)
  • The Paris Mosque
  • Sainte-Chapelle
  • Bateaux-Mouches boat trip along the River Seine

Half-day trips outside of Paris such as:

  • Giverny
  • Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte
  • Versailles

Students taking more than one session will go on the included day trips only once and the program fee reflects that.

A non-credit cultural course in French Cuisine is also available for an extra fee. Please note that some schedule conflicts between cultural activities and certain classes may be unavoidable.

Excursions

This program offers a range of day trips and excursions that will take you outside Paris and deepen your social, historical and cultural understanding of France. Previous excursions have included:

Normandy, France.

Normandy and Brittany

Visit the Peace Memorial, several D-Day sites, St. Malo and Mont Saint-Michel. Includes round-trip transportation, accommodations, breakfast and all entrance fees.
*Minimum enrollment of 15 students is required for this excursion to run.

  • France
  • 2 Days
  • $495
An aerial view of Châteaux of the Loire Valley.

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

Visits and entrances to the city of Blois, Château of Chambord, wine cellar in Vouvray, Châteaux of Azay-le-Rideau and Chenonceau. Includes round-trip transportation, accommodations, breakfast and all entrance fees. 
* Minimum enrollment of 15 students is required for the excursion to run. 

  • France
  • 2 Days
  • $495
Barcelona,Spain
A group of happy students at a carnival.
A view of Prague.

Social identity & access

One of the best things you can do before departure is enter into the journey knowing that your time abroad will be unique to this experience. The resources, community, and support available to you when abroad will likely be different as well. In order to help you prepare for your experience, we have compiled many resources about social identity and access in specific locations abroad. Your program staff will also provide you with more details pre-departure and during orientation.

Learn more

Important Dates & Deadlines

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Open

Dates & Deadlines

Details

  • Early Application Deadline*
  • Application Deadline
    April 1, 2024
  • Deposit Deadline
    April 10, 2024
  • Scholarship Deadline
    March 1, 2024
  • Visa Deadline****
  • Optional Departure Flight from US***
    May 29, 2024
  • Program Begins
    May 30, 2024
  • Program Ends
    July 25, 2024
  • Optional Return Flight to US***
    July 25, 2024
  • *** Included for students on AIFS flight package.
  • **** AIFS Abroad offers visa processing services to applicants who enroll into the program by this date. All other applicants who enroll after this date will be responsible for securing their own visa with guidance from AIFS Abroad.

Optional Flight Package

Students can select an optional transportation package for all AIFS programs. Students who choose to book their own flights should meet up with group at the program location and will need to make their own ground transportation arrangements.

Below are fees by departure city based on average historical costs and subject to change. If you select this option on your application, the total flight package price will be confirmed in your account 6 months prior to departure. (Program fee is guaranteed.)

Depature City

Fee

  • Atlanta
    $2,040
  • Boston
    $1,960
  • Buffalo
    $1,980
  • Charlotte
    $2,180
  • Chicago
    $2,140
  • Cincinnati
    $2,220
  • Columbus
    $2,020
  • Dallas
    $2,240
  • Denver
    $2,420
  • Des Moines
    $2,160
  • Detroit
    $2,160
  • Houston
    $2,180
  • Los Angeles
    $2,020
  • Miami
    $2,140
  • Minneapolis
    $2,080
  • New York
    $1,820
  • Newark
    $1,420
  • Orlando
    $2,080
  • Philadelphia
    $2,080
  • Phoenix
    $2,280
  • Pittsburgh
    $1,960
  • Raleigh/Durham
    $2,120
  • San Francisco
    $2,060
  • Seattle
    $2,320
  • St. Louis
    $1,760
  • Washington/Dulles
    $1,720
  • View more View less

See what others are saying

Two students walking in a field.

Ready to Study Abroad in Paris?

For more dates or questions, contact your program consultant:
(203) 399-5163 or email: aifsabroad@aifs.com