Paris is France’s vibrant intersection of politics, fashion, business, arts, and science, boasting some of the most prominent universities, sporting events, opera companies, and museums in the world. The Brown in France Paris program offers direct enrollment at the University of Paris for upper-level students of French in a broad range of disciplines. A credit-bearing pro-seminar focusing on French language, culture, and society, various cultural activities and excursions, and an on-site orientation prepare students for their entry into the French university classroom and facilitates their integration into French society.

Cultural Activities

The program includes monthly social gatherings and cultural events (such as an opera performance, museum visits, concerts, or ballet). A three-day group excursion to a historically or culturally important region is also scheduled each semester. Within the framework of the pro-seminar each student designs an individual project of their choice and making, whose objective is to help them better understand French society. 

Academics

Note: For Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, students will be able to choose between Sorbonne Université Faculté des Lettres and Paris VIII.

The Sorbonne, founded in 1257 and the second oldest university in Europe, has evolved into fifteen different universities, including the following which are open to Brown program participants. Tutors are available throughout the year to help students improve their writing, prepare for oral presentations or make sure science basics are adequate.

• Sorbonne Université Faculté des Lettres provides opportunities in the arts and humanities.
• Paris VIII offers a wide range of courses in the humanities and social sciences, often from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Students are able to enroll at specialized schools, like l'École spéciale d'architecture (for architecture classes) or l'Institut catholique de Paris (for religious studies). 

Courses

Students studying abroad for the fall semester or spring semester are required to take the pro-seminar course (the equivalent of one (1) Brown course credit) and should plan to take university coursework totaling 24 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. Academic-year students are required to take the pro-seminar course, along with 24 ECTS during the fall semester; during the spring semester, full-year students will take 32 ECTS at the host university.

Required Course

Brown in Paris Pro-seminar 

This mandatory seminar is launched during orientation and continues weekly throughout the semester. The course aims to facilitate students' immersion in France and more particularly in Paris (academic, social, political, and cultural life) and to help students deepen their knowledge and understanding of French society. Students explore a theme or aspect of contemporary French society through an individual research project.

Elective Courses

Students choose four to six (typically five) courses at their host university, for a total of 24 ECTS. Actual course offerings often are not posted by host universities until just before the semester begins, and final course registration takes place in Paris. Because this is a direct enrollment program and specific courses may not be offered by the host institution each semester, students need to be flexible with their course selections.   

University Course Offerings

Program Calendar

Approximate dates are provided based on past programs; students should expect them to vary by year. Please refer to the program calendar for specific information about program dates.  Note: Students should not make travel plans during the orientation period or the weekend of the regional seminar.

• Fall semester: early September - third week of December
• Full-year: early September - late May
• Spring semester: early January - late May

Housing

Students may choose to be housed by the program or arrange housing independently (when eligible). The housing organized through the program, for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, is a room/apartment in a student residence, which has the following characteristics:

Students who choose this option rent a room or small apartment in a student residence.

• The common spaces (living room, library) are shared.
• The bathroom can be private or shared.
• The kitchen can be private or shared.
• Sheets may be provided.
• Towels are not provided.
• Rental insurance included.
• Meals are included at some student residences.
• Utilities included except wifi access.
• Security deposit and handling fees required in most cases.

The selection process begins with a detailed questionnaire about student housing needs and budget, which students are asked to complete after being admitted into the program. Each student then has an individual interview with the Associate Director in Paris, either via online video conferencing or in person on the Brown campus. The housing placement will then be communicated to the student several weeks before departure.

Eligible students may choose to arrange their own housing. They are responsible for all aspects of this process.  

The cut off date to request housing through the program is May 15th for the fall semester and November 15th for the spring semester. Any housing requests made after this date cannot be honored.

Students should report directly to their housing assignment upon arrival in Paris.

Eligibility and Requirements

The Brown in France program in Paris is open to Brown and visiting undergraduate students.  

Students must be in good academic standing and have completed FREN 0600/sixth-semester college-level French with a grade of B or higher before beginning their studies in France. Students are required to take at least one course in French the year before departure. Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to take a French course the semester preceding their study abroad experience.

Application Instructions

Apply by the deadline using Brown's online application system via the "apply now" and "return to application" buttons on the right side of this page.  Applications typically require faculty recommendations so it is important to begin the process early.

Related Files

• Brown in France Paris Calendar Fall 2023 (PDF)
• Brown in France Paris -- Info Session Slides (PDF)
• Brown in France Paris Calendar Spring 2023 - updated October 25, 2022 (PDF)

Related Links

• 2023/24 Estimated Program Costs
• Brown in France Paris -- Info Session Recording (video)