American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)
Paris, France
Paris is one of the most well known cities in the world and is home to countless historical monuments and museums. It also has a rich past full of writers, artists and musicians. Names associated with Paris read like a history of the 18th-20th century Western world, having drawn intellectuals, free-thinkers, artists and revolutionaries from Benjamin Franklin, Rousseau and Voltaire, to Gertrude Stein, Sartre and James Joyce. Paris is a trendy, fast-paced yet romantic city enjoyed by citizens from around the world.
In Paris you can see European art films, obscure originals or Hollywood classics at cinemas throughout the city. You can also find some of the finest cuisine in the world at Parisian restaurants, or eat crêpes bought from small street vendors. You can buy jewelry in Montmartre or second-hand books at Shakespeare and Co. on the Left Bank, where writers from America and England have gathered since the 1920s.
University of Paris
The prestige of the Sorbonne is matched by few educational institutions. Founded in the Middle Ages, the University of Paris was a centralized institution until 1968 when it was divided into more than a dozen independent parts. It draws more than 100,000 students from around the world. AIFS students attend the “new” University of the Sorbonne housed on the same site it has occupied for more than 700 years.
Founded in 1253 by Robert de Sorbon as a college for 16 poor students, it has since become one of the world’s most famous universities. AIFS students attend courses offered by the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne designed especially for foreign students. First offered in 1919, these courses in French language and culture have attracted more than 500,000 students from more than 100 nations. Sorbonne courses are located throughout the center of Paris. Students at AIFS Paris also can study at one of five affiliated institutions. Study political science at the American University of Paris or learn about the origins of Impressionism at the University of London Institute in Paris. Other courses offered include Studio Art, Introduction to French Cinema and Music.
Included in AIFS program fee:
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Tuition, housing and some meals
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2-week French language orientation in Cannes
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Round trip flight from New York *
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Cultural activities
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3-day London stopover before program
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Services of a pre-departure Student Advisory Center and an on-site Resident Director
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Phone card on arrival to call the U.S.
*Supplement applies from 26 U.S. cities
Academics
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Academic year, fall or spring semester, fall quarter, summer
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Open to college freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors
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No previous French language study required
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Most courses are taken at the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne. Advanced level students may enroll in regular Cours de Civilisation Française lecture courses for foreigners
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Advanced courses for students in international commerce or economics available from the Sorbonne/Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris
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2-week language preparation and orientation at the Collège International de Cannes (30 hours of intensive language study, equivalent to two credits. Transcript from the Collège) on the French Riviera
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Transcripts issued by the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne and the Académie de Port Royal, American University of Paris, University of London Institute in Paris, Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode and Schola Cantorum
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Student visa required. Must be obtained before departing the U.S.
Housing and meals
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In Cannes, housing in dorms with all meals
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In Paris, students live in a Parisian home and receive daily breakfast. Optional meal plans are available
Cultural activities
www.aifsabroad.com
*Source: American Institute for Foreign Study 2005-6 Academic Year/Semester catalog