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Study Abroad | Paris

France | Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne | Spring 2025
A student skating boarding near the Eiffel Tower.
Girls posing in Versailles.

Select Your Program Option:

  • Spring 2025

  • Fall 2025

  • Spring 2026

FALL 2025 APP FEE DISCOUNT

Save $100 when you apply to a Fall 2025 program by 5/1 with code FALLSAVE100. Terms & conditions apply.

Overview

Spend a semester or academic year in the enchanting city of Paris, France, with AIFS! Choose from a variety of course options at the prestigious Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS). Located in the 17th arrondissement, in the North-West of the city, this part of Paris is famous for its elegant, treelined avenues and the beautiful, English style Parc Monceau.

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 16 semester credits depending on program selection

  • Courses

    Wide variety of courses available; taught in English and French

  • Housing

    Parisian homestay

  • Meals

    Daily breakfast plus one meal a week in the homestay. Students are invited to various group meals during the program

  • Excursions & Day Trips

    Such as visits to the Palace of Versailles, Monet’s garden in Giverny and the Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte

  • Cultural & Social Activities

    A wide range of AIFS-organized cultural activities and social events to enrich your experience

  • 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

    Normandy and Brittany (2 days)

  • Housing Supplements

    Homestay single room

Program Details: Study Abroad | Paris French Language and Culture

Program is closed

Dates

January 16, 2025May 17, 2025

Term

Spring

Institution

Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne

Application Deadline

October 7, 2024

Inclusive Fees

$17,490

**Please note, pricing for Early Start session options has not been finalized for Fall 2025/ Spring 2026.

Eligibility

Open to First Year, Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Minimum of 2.5 GPA

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

Visa Requirements

The French government requires U.S. students to obtain a valid visa for their period of study in France. AIFS will provide guidelines to assist you with the visa application process.

Academic Interest

  • Architecture
  • Area Studies
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Cultural Studies
  • Foreign Language
  • French Language
  • History
  • Sociology
  • Visual and Performing Arts

Academics

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

The prestige of the Sorbonne is matched by few educational institutions. Dating back to 1919, the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS) has the status of a private institution for the teaching of French as a foreign language.

The CCFS offers classes in French to all levels, from beginners, to teachers of French as a foreign language, and everyone in between. There are also lecture courses and seminars on French Civilization offered to AIFS students in French and in English. 

  • Architecture
  • Area Studies
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Cultural Studies
  • Foreign Language
  • French Language
  • History
  • Sociology
  • Visual and Performing Arts

All students are required to take a French language course. French is available from Beginner through Superior level and all courses include a phonetics component. The appropriate course level is determined by a placement test taken online prior to departure from the U.S. 

Semester program students take additional electives taught in English or French (depending on their language level).

French classes meet for 2 hours per day Monday through Friday for 12 weeks and phonetics for an hour per day Monday through Friday for 6 weeks for a total of 150 contact hours recommended for 10 semester credits. 

Students can either take two electives taught in English (each elective meets for 45 contact hours and carries a recommended 3 semester credits) or they can take an elective taught in English plus a 1-credit French History and Culture lecture course taught in French. Students may select up to 3 of these 1-credit electives, subject to any schedule conflicts. 

The minimum semester course load is 12 credits and the maximum course load is 16 credits. 16 credits is a very heavy load and AIFS recommends students take a maximum of 14 credits. 

All students are required to take a French language course. French is available from Beginner through Superior level and all courses include a phonetics component. The appropriate course level is determined by a placement test taken online prior to departure from the U.S. 

Semester program students take additional electives taught in English or French (depending on their language level). See below for more detail. 

French classes meet for 2 hours per day Monday through Friday for 12 weeks and phonetics for an hour per day Monday through Friday for 6 weeks for a total of 150 contact hours recommended for 10 semester credits. 

Students can either take two electives taught in English (each elective meets for 45 contact hours and carries a recommended 3 semester credits) or they can take an elective taught in English plus a 1-credit French History and Culture lecture course taught in French. Students may select up to 3 of these 1-credit electives, subject to any schedule conflicts. 

The minimum semester course load is 12 credits and the maximum course load is 16 credits. 16 credits is a very heavy load and AIFS recommends students take a maximum of 14 credits. 

View All Courses For French Language and Culture
Devan Instagram Takeover

A DAY IN THE LIFE
paris

Meet Devan, a college student from Rowan University who took over the AIFS Abroad Instagram story recently to answer questions about what it’s like to study abroad in Paris, France during fall semester! Watch as Devan highlights what a typical day in the life looks like there.

A group of students on bicycles.

Living Abroad

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: $700 Fall 2025/Spring 2026

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.

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.

AIFS in Paris Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

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

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

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.

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.  

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:

*Please note optional excursion fees may change slightly depending on the term. Fee will be shown at time of application.

Palace of Versailles.

Palace of Versailles

Tour the magnificent and historically significant Palace of Versailles. Includes entrance fees.

  • France
  • Half Day
  • Included in Program Fee
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.

  • France
  • 2 Days
  • Estimated fee: $345*
Barcelona,Spain
A group of happy students at a carnival.
A view of Prague.

Cultural Resources

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 the General Cultural Resources and Site Specific Cultural Resources for you to review. Your program staff will also provide you with more details during pre-departure and orientation.

Learn more

Important Dates & Deadlines

Request Info

Closed

Program is closed

Dates & Deadlines

Details

  • Early Application Deadline*
  • Application Deadline
    October 7, 2024
  • Deposit Deadline
    October 15, 2024
  • Scholarship Deadline
    October 7, 2024
  • Visa Deadline****
  • Balance of Fees Payment Deadline
    November 15, 2024
  • Optional Departure Flight from US***
    January 15, 2025
  • Program Begins
    January 16, 2025
  • Program Ends
    May 17, 2025
  • Optional Return Flight to US***
    May 17, 2025
  • *** 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

Participants can select an optional transportation package for all AIFS Abroad programs that includes a round-trip flight from 25 U.S gateways and airport transfers to and from campus. Participants who choose to book their own flights will be responsible for connecting with the group at the program location and will need to make their own ground transportation arrangements from the airport.

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 approximately one month prior to departure. Your program fee is guaranteed, and the optional flight package is an additional fee. Please note that once we have finalized the pricing for your flights the cost may change, and you will be responsible for making the additional payment if you want to participate in the flight package. Your program advisor will be in touch should there be any changes in the price of your flights.

Depature City

Fee

  • Atlanta
    $1,940
  • Boston
    $1,900
  • Buffalo
    $1,940
  • Charlotte
    $2,000
  • Chicago
    $2,080
  • Cincinnati
    $1,980
  • Columbus
    $2,000
  • Dallas
    $2,120
  • Denver
    $2,160
  • Des Moines
    $2,080
  • Detroit
    $2,020
  • Houston
    $2,080
  • Los Angeles
    $1,980
  • Miami
    $2,000
  • Minneapolis
    $2,140
  • New York
    $1,880
  • Newark
    $1,900
  • Orlando
    $2,040
  • Philadelphia
    $1,980
  • Phoenix
    $2,120
  • Pittsburgh
    $2,040
  • Raleigh/Durham
    $2,040
  • San Francisco
    $2,100
  • Seattle
    $2,120
  • St. Louis
    $2,100
  • Washington/Dulles
    $1,960
  • 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