Study Abroad | Paris

Housing

Homestay

The best way to learn French, gain a unique and personal insight into French culture and integrate into the local community.

• Double room
• Shared bathroom
• Breakfast every day plus one meal a week
• Access to kitchen in the evening to prepare dinner
• Single room supplement: $700 Fall 2025/Spring 2026

Students are invited to various group meals.

Internet access is included in all AIFS Abroad housing in Paris.

Please note that full year students are responsible for their own housing during the intersession break.

TRANSPORTATION

All students should expect to use the Paris public transport system on a daily basis. The Paris Metro system is one of the most efficient underground train systems in the world. Generally students can expect to commute 30 to 45 minutes between home and the location of their classes, this is normal in Paris.

City Facts

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, Saint Chapelle, La Madeleine, Notre Dame Cathedral), Palais Garnier Opera House, Louvre Pyramid and Eiffel Tower.

Site Staff

AIFS Abroad in Paris Director, January Term Program

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’ll 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. My door is always open to meet you.

AIFS Abroad in Paris Co-Director, January Term Program

Jane Downs

As a French and British national, I have lived in Paris for almost three decades. With Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Cambridge University in the UK, and an additional Master’s in Art History, I love making the most of the city’s cultural offer –its wealth of art and history are endlessly interesting. When not in museums, I can be found strolling through a park or up to my elbows in pottery clay!

Having first come to France as a high school student, I lived for 2 years with a French family. It was an experience that prepared me well for welcoming study abroad students and helping them navigate their stay overseas. I am sure that you will have an enriching, life-changing experience, acquiring not only a wealth of new skills, but also a new second home, in the city of light.

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

Cultural Activities

In addition to excursions a cultural calendar of weekly activities and social events is included in your program fee. These activities will include both typical tourist sites and attractions and lesser-known visits which take advantage of the expert knowledge of our local AIFS Abroad staff and give you a more authentic and insightful view of French life. Typical activities, tours and visits may include:

• Monet’s garden in Giverny
• The beautiful Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte
• Walking tour of Montmartre district
• Marmottan – Monet Museum
• Rodin Museum
• Holocaust Museum
• Orangerie Museum
• Picasso Museum
• Paris Opera House
• Paris Mosque
• Edith Piaf Museum
• Attending a ballet performance
• Classical concerts and theater performances

You may be asked to pay a small supplementary fee for some events.

A cooking courses is also available for an extra fee.

Volunteering Opportunities

AIFS Abroad can help you to arrange local volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Les Restos du Coeur where volunteer students distribute food parcels and hot meals to homeless people in Paris; Emmaüs which develops literacy programs and provides leisure activities for disadvantaged children in Paris; Secours Populaire a charity which provides access to health facilities, education and food for those in need. 

For more information contact the AIFS Abroad Program Advisor.