Paris: Intermediate French

The Paris: Intermediate French program allows students to complete the second-year French language sequence over the course of the summer in an immersive French environment. Students enroll in three classes – FREN 20100, FREN 20200, FREN 20300 – that will advance them into higher-level French coursework.

In addition to classroom instruction, the program features a number of excursions to sites of considerable historic and cultural interest both within and in the vicinity of Paris. The French capital and its environs offer numerous opportunities to connect readings, discussions, and lectures with France’s past and present, and it is assumed that students will use their free time to explore this remarkable city apart from program-organized outings.

Faculty who teach on this program rotate from year to year. The faculty roster is designated by the program faculty director.

Headquarters for the College’s study abroad programs in Paris is the University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center in Paris, the University’s teaching and research hub in Europe. Since 2003, the Center has been home to a growing array of the College’s hallmark Study Abroad programs and has supported our community of students, faculty, alumni, and partners from around the world. Designed by Studio Gang, the new Center features state-of-the-art classrooms, offices, event and reception spaces, and gathering areas for students, among other features.

Students in the Intermediate French in Paris program are housed in a residence hall within the Cité Internationale Universitaire (Cité). The Cité, a park-like residential complex in the fourteenth arrondissement, is the international student campus in Paris, though French students also live there. Students reside in single rooms with a private bath and have access to Cité facilities, including a library, theater, laundry, and athletic facilities. Students will have access to common kitchens in the residence halls and can purchase inexpensive meals at the Cité’s restaurant universitaire.

It is important to recognize the cultural context of student housing in France and understand that the amenities of dormitory facilities may vary. Although some of these differences may take some getting used to, remember that cultural differences extend to all aspects of your experience abroad. Having realistic expectations for your term in Paris will help you approach the study abroad experience with a positive attitude.

Participants in the Intermediate French program are registered as full-time summer quarter students. They take and receive credit for three courses:

• FREN 20100 Language, History, and Culture I
• FREN 20200 Language, History, and Culture II
• FREN 20300 Language, History, and Culture III

Summer course titles, units of credit, and grades are placed on the College transcript. Successful completion of these courses qualifies students to advance to FREN 20500 Ecrire en Français, a foundational course for both the Major and Minor in French and Francophone students.

Intermediate French program students pay the regular tuition (at the reduced summer rate) for three courses, a program fee, and a nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee. The tuition and program fee are paid in conformity with the home campus payment schedule, and a deposit toward the nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee is submitted when accepting a place in a program. Precise figures for the Paris program during the 2024-2025 year are listed below:

Summer tuition for three courses

Study abroad administrative fee: $675

Paris Intermediate French program fee: $4,600

Previous program participants report spending in the range of $200 to $250 per week on meals and incidentals while on the program, though frugal students may spend less, and others could spend much more. Bear in mind that the cost of living in Paris is relatively high and that, while it is possible to live frugally, it is also possible to run short of money if you are unwary. It is therefore essential to budget your funds, distributing your resources so that they last for the duration of the program. If you are planning to travel before or after the program or on weekends, you should budget accordingly.

Students retain their University financial aid eligibility for this program. Participants in this program are eligible for need-based financial aid, following the procedure described on the Summer and September Aid page of the Financial Aid website. Students seeking need-based financial aid for this program should talk to the Financial Aid office for further instructions. For more information about financial aid resources, please see our general Tuition, Fees, and Funding section.

Paris Intermediate French students are also eligible to apply for the College’s Foreign Language Acquisition Grant (FLAG), which supports Summer language study.

The Intermediate French program is open to University of Chicago undergraduate students only. Applications from outside the University are not accepted.

This program is designed for undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing who have completed at least one year of work at Chicago and who, by the time of the program’s start, will have had at least one year of college-level French (through FREN 10300) or who demonstrate a comparable competence by examination. While the program stipulates no minimum grade-point average, an applicant’s transcript should demonstrate that they are a serious student who will make the most of this opportunity.

Each application is examined on the basis of the student’s scholastic record and personal statement. If you are interested in applying for this program please fill out the online application.

To discuss the Paris: Intermediate French program and the possibility of participating, please contact Kevin Gatter.