Grades 9–12

Grades 6–8

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OXFORD ACADEMIA AT

The American University of Paris

Paris, France

July 3–16, 2026
July 17–30, 2026

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14 days

$8,690

Completing grades 9–12 (motivated rising 9th graders will also be considered)

10-12 students

Highlights

Live and study at prestigious American University of Paris, steps from iconic landmarks like the Seine and the Eiffel Tower
Learn from the guidance and expertise of distinguished faculty and explore your seminar subjects with the city as your lens
Experience Parisian culture from historic sites and world-class museums to markets, outdoor spaces, and phenomenal cuisine
Join a diverse group of motivated peers in a collaborative learning environment, partaking in debates, discussions, and hands-on learning
Gain knowledge, experience, and inspiration to accelerate your future path, following in the footsteps of world leaders, scientists, artists, and scholars

Esteemed Faculty & Staff

Each program is run by on-site Directors, Deans, Residential Life staff, and faculty. Expert guests and engaging speakers join frequently throughout the program.
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Exploration & Excursions

Musée d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Louvre Museum, and more!
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The American University of Paris

Experience the full scope of one of the world’s most intellectually stimulating cities. Students live and study at The American University of Paris, in the heart of the 7th arrondissement. Using the city as a classroom, students take advantage of all on offer in this global hub of arts, fashion, finance, cuisine, and diplomacy. Over the course of two or four weeks, students develop crucial skills to help them excel in future studies, gain insight into potential academic or career paths, and foster lifelong friendships along the way.

Academic Excellence

Students on our program experience the prestige of one of the oldest American educational institutions in Europe, and the first in France. World-class faculty teach rigorous seminars while taking advantage of all that this vibrant city has to offer. Seminar groups are small—students benefit from personalized instruction and groups often venture out to use Paris itself as a lens into their seminar topics. The depth of learning on Oxford Academia at The American University of Paris is unmatched by other summer programs: outside of seminar instruction, students explore subjects and ideas through our Guest Speaker Series, field visits, cultural experiences, and access to experts and industry professionals.

Vibrant & Supportive Community

Beyond the individualized support students receive from faculty in their seminars, Oxford Academia programs stand apart for the community we cultivate and the support every student receives during their experience. Our Residential Life team is much more robust than other summer programs because we recognize the importance of a supervised and structured learning and social environment. Deans, Student Deans, Junior Deans, and Health & Activity Coordinators live in the residences with students and focus solely on student life. They prioritize the well-being of each student from the moment they arrive, working proactively to ensure students are happy, comfortable, and safe while forming new friendships and making the most of their time on the program.

Growth & Outcomes

Oxford Academia at The American University of Paris serves as a springboard for students personally and academically, setting them on a course for success in university and beyond. Students pursue their interests, work with inspiring professionals, gain insight into future academic and career paths, and come away with the confidence and skillset to begin building their future. At the end of each session, each student receives a Certificate of Completion and a written evaluation from their major seminar faculty—as well as a new network of peers, professionals, and friends.

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Program Structure

After breakfast, students dive into their major seminar, which begins in classrooms, labs, or meeting spaces, then often ventures out to local historical sites or museums, or includes visits from guest experts. After lunch taken independently in small peer groups, students head to their minor seminars or afternoon activities. Afternoons and evenings offer opportunities to explore the city, pursue their interests through elective workshops, and take part in exciting extracurricular activities.

After dinner, students and faculty from all seminars convene for evening activities, which may include hearing a special guest speaker, taking in a play or concert, or attending a Q&A session on the college admissions process. Students spend a total of 30 hours in their major seminars and 10 hours in their minors, and receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the program.

Seminars

Students choose a major seminar and a minor seminar, and dive deep into their academic subjects. Major seminars meet six days a week for three hours in the university classrooms. Minor seminars meet three days a week for two hours. Begin with classroom discussions that frame your seminar concepts and identify key issues. Then take the learning beyond the classroom with site visits, meetings with experts, and guest lectures from distinguished academics and renowned scholars.

Seminar Offerings

Business & Entrepreneurship

Fashion Design & Culture

French Language: Conversation (Beginning French)

French Language: Streets of Paris (Advanced/Intermediate)

History of Art & Architecture: Paris

History of Paris

Paris & the Creative Imagination

Photography & Digital Storytelling: Paris

Outstanding Faculty & Experts

We are proud of the truly outstanding faculty and staff members who join students each summer in Oxford. They are Rhodes, Marshall, Gates, and British Academy scholars, with teaching posts at Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, The American University of Paris, Columbia, and other top institutions. In addition to seminar instruction, our faculty become mentors to students, pushing them to explore their interests, exposing them to new ideas, and often remaining in touch after the end of the summer.

In addition to the incredible faculty who teach seminars each summer, Oxford Academia programs feature guest speakers and experts who are leaders in their respective fields. Through evening lecture series and workshops with individual seminars, students enjoy unparalleled access to inspirational thought leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, political leaders, and historians.

Program Details

Accommodations & Meals

Our Paris programs are based at The American University of Paris, where seminars meet daily. Students and residential faculty stay together in single or double rooms in private university apartments in a beautifully renovated hôtel particulier on the Champs-Élysées, a short commute from campus or a second dorm in the exquisite Marché de Passy neighborhood. We begin each day with a French continental breakfast. Lunches are a combination of cafés, restaurants, and picnics. Students can buy picnic supplies in the Rue Cler market and eat under the Eiffel Tower, or grab a sandwich in a café in the Rue St. Dominique. Please note that lunches are not included in the tuition. Dinners are organized by the program at local restaurants.

Teaching Methodology

At Oxford Academia, learning is an immersive and transformative educational experience. We combine rigorous academics in the tradition of the Oxford-Cambridge tutorial system with hands-on exploration and cultural enrichment. Whether studying history, science, literature, or the arts, students have the opportunity to engage deeply with their passions while discovering new ones. Guided by expert faculty and surrounded by peers from around the world, students leave each program with a profound sense of achievement and inspiration. Click here to read more about Our Approach to Learning.

Final Projects, Certificates, & Evaluations

On the program’s final evening, all students present their Major seminar achievements and projects during a commencement event for all students, faculty, staff, and Directors. This celebratory evening includes presentations, a formal dinner, and culminating social events to celebrate with peers and new friends. During Commencement, each student is presented with an Oxford Academia Certificate of Completion in acknowledgment of their hard work and accomplishments, signed by the Program Director. A digital copy of the certificate is also available upon request after the program. Additionally, each student and their family will receive a personalized written report from their Major instructor in which the instructor summarizes the curriculum and content learned, and provides an individualized assessment of each student’s achievements, progress, and growth. The commencement events and instructor feedback serve to inspire and motivate students to continue their academic pursuits and encourage them to achieve their highest potential.

Weekend Excursions & Activities

On weekends, either with their seminar groups or on staff-led excursions, students have the opportunity to leave the city limits to visit the Palace of Versailles and wander its extensive gardens; to take in the stained glass of Chartres Cathedral with an art historian who has dedicated his career to a study of the stories depicted in the glass; take a guided bicycle trip along the quais of the Seine; or hike up the hill to take in sunset from Sacré-Coeur.

Travel Logistics

The program dates reflect the days that students commence, and consequently complete, travel to and from their program. For Paris, this assumes students will fly on an overnight flight to Europe.

Session 1:
July 3–overnight travel to program
July 4–program officially begins
July 16–program ends, onward travel home

Session 2:
July 17–overnight travel to program
July 18–program officially begins
July 30–program ends, onward travel home

Students are responsible for arranging travel to and from the program. For students wishing to travel accompanied by an Oxford Academia staff member, families may choose to book a ticket on an identified Escorted Flight from New York (JFK). Alternatively, families may book a different flight and arrive using our arrival and departure window guidelines. For students arriving at and departing from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport during the designated arrival window, Oxford Academia will arrange group transportation to/from their AUP residence. This fee is $65 each way.

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Musée d’Orsay

Take in famous works of art at the Musée d’Orsay, including paintings by Monet, van Gogh, Cézanne, and more.

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Visit the iconic Eiffel Tower and climb or lift to the observation take, taking in the views of the city.

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Palace of Versailles

Head out of the city to this UNESCO World Heritage site to experience the palace and its gardens, used by French royal families throughout the centuries.

“I loved all of the excursions, developed my understanding of French art, cuisine, and culture, and was able to practice making friends in a new social environment.”

“Our daughter felt welcomed, included and experienced a new level of independence. The curriculum and instructors were engaged and dynamic.”

“Our daughter loved the structure of the program, the seminar adventures each day, the evening activity options, and group dinners. Thanks for yet another amazing summer experience!”

Next Steps

Start your application, connect with us to choose the right program, or schedule a call with with Program Director Josh Harkins.