Paris Academia

The American University of Paris is a vibrant urban campus, nestled in the heart of Paris’ 7th arrondissement. Some buildings overlook the Seine on the Quai d’Orsay, while others are tucked into the quiet St. Dominique neighborhood a few blocks away, between the Invalides and the Champ de Mars and Eiffel Tower. A mix of elegant historic structures and modern, state-of-the-art facilities, students are immersed in university life and inspired by the full Parisian experience.

As one of the oldest American educational institutions in Europe, and the first in France, the American University of Paris is the ideal location to pursue academics and the arts in one of the world’s most intellectually stimulating cities. This summer, students will find inspiration in Paris’ vibrant social and cultural scene, following in the footsteps of world leaders, scientists, artists, and researchers—on the banks of the Seine, in the Musée d’Orsay up the street, at La Bourse, the French stock exchange, and more.

Each day features a combination of seminars, hands-on activities and workshops, lab time, guest speakers, community meeting, and unstructured time for socializing and reflection. Part of the Paris Academia experience includes commuting with friends and instructors to and from campus, a 20-minute walk or short bus ride, immersing students in an urban existence in the charming and richly historic heart of Paris.

After breakfast, depending on the day, seminar learning may begin in classrooms, labs, or meeting spaces. After lunch taken independently in small peer groups, seminars continue. Afternoons and evenings offer opportunities for students to explore Paris and their interests beyond seminar topics through elective workshops, take part in exciting extracurricular activities, or work on their independent projects.

After dinner, students and instructors from all seminars convene for evening activities, which may include programming such as a keynote address, taking in a local play or concert, or an activity such as strolling the streets of Paris or a night visit to a museum. On the final days of the program, students focus on completing their independent projects, which they then present to the program community.

On weekends, either with their seminar groups or on staff-led excursions, students have the opportunity to leave the city limits to visit Versailles Castle 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.

Paris Academia is 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.