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 every evening to prepare dinner
• Single room supplement $400 Spring 2023 Semester; $TBA Fall 2023 and beyond

Students are invited to various group meals

Internet access is included in all AIFS 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 in Paris Resident Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

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 Resident 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 office is located right in the heart of the city and my door is always open.

The Resident 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 staff and give you a more authentic and insightful view of French life. Typical activities, tours and visits 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 area
• 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.

Wine appreciation and cooking courses are also available for an extra fee.

Volunteering Opportunities

AIFS 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 AIFS Program Advisor.