A semester in Paris is always a good choice! January 21, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic rigor of the courses at this university is well below the rigor of my home university, but that is not why I chose this program. I chose this program because it allowed me to live in Paris and take courses taught in both French (my minor) and English. There were also ample academic resources for students should they struggle with a class, whether that be peer tutors, office hours with professors, or library access.

On-site administration of your program

The administration at the college is very helpful/responsive, and they are English speakers. They know the common questions American students have when moving abroad and are able to assist you with every step of the process. I had a lot of questions for them, and they were always timely with their responses, even over the summer before my enrollment.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in university housing (called “Annonciation”) and it was good, but expensive for the amount of space we had. I had a single room with an en-suite bathroom. The rooms were cleaned once a week by a cleaning crew, and they came with a single bed (smaller than a twin), desk, cooking equipment, sheets, and a towel. The university did a good job of providing students with the living essentials they would need to move abroad and not buy an entirely new apartment when they arrived. The room was ~100 square feet, so they are small. However, the location makes up for it. This housing was located on a market street, meaning that there are grocery vendors lined down the pedestrian rode. Also, my room had a partial Eiffel Tower view, which was amazing. You are about a 25-35 minute walk to campus, with easy access to the Metro. The kitchen is communal and in the basement, which is not ideal, but it is workable as you are given cooking equipment. Overall, I don’t regret living in this housing, it is just expensive for the size.

There is no dining plan at AUP, so you are responsible for your own eating. Groceries in France are less expensive than in the US, but you buy smaller quantities of food that go bad quicker, so you have to shop more often. The restaurants near my housing were expensive (~20 euros per plate), but you can find cheap student options across the city, you just have to be willing to travel to them. Paris is one of the culinary capitals of the world, so there are excellent restaurants, and I chose to eat out more often than I do in the US to try the food. This meant that my food budget was larger than some of my friends’ who exclusively cooked for themselves.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt that I was very integrated into Parisian culture, but this was because of my own efforts. It is not a requirement to speak French in Paris, but it definitely helps. I speak very good French, so I was able to easily converse with the people around me. I also chose to frequent certain places near my residence, which allowed me to become friendly with my local baker and the proprietor of the café down the road, for example. This is not something that all of my friends did, so they were less integrated into the culture; the option is there if you make the effort.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any issues, but there is no health service within the university system. You are directed to International SOS, which will help you make an appointment/answer your questions. I did not have to use this, but I knew people who did and they had very mixed experiences with some finding it more helpful than others.

Paris is a major metropolitan area, but compared to the US, I found it to be much safer. I felt very safe there, even walking around at night as a woman. As long as you know where you are, you should be okay. That is not to say that I always felt safe, but I did feel safer in Paris than I do most of the time in the US. There is a noticeable police presence, especially around more touristy areas, and I lived in a particularly safe/residential area.

I absolutely would choose the same program. I had an amazing time living in Paris, it is the best city in the world. There are so many opportunities there, and the city is a wonderful, beautiful place. I had the freedom to travel, to immerse myself in French culture, and to breath in a way that I don’t at my home university. It was a great moment to study different subjects without the added pressure of grades counting towards my GPA. I absolutely recommend this program for students looking to have a very fun semester in a city full of opportunity.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Paris is a very expensive city because you will always be paying to do whatever it is you’re doing in Paris. I had a larger budget than some of my other friends, but we all noticed that it was hard to live on a student’s budget in the city because of how expensive food/activities are there. Moreover, the euro was much stronger than the dollar while I was abroad, which meant that I would always be paying more than I thought when the conversion was made by my bank. I also did a LOT of traveling while I was abroad, which meant that my weekly costs were quite high.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I specifically chose to take French classes that encouraged interaction outside of the classroom with the language, but this is not mandatory for the program. I was there to learn/practice French, which I did primarily on my own, outside of university system. However, I also had friends in the same program who did not (and still do not) speak any French, and they still had an excellent experience. The university neither requires nor encourages speaking/learning French, but the French program does.

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• Dorm

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• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans
• International Students

• The friends I made
• Living in central Paris
• The freedom to travel

• more options for student housing
• Budget friendly options for students

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