Study Abroad in Paris...
There simply is no place like Paris. You've read about it before, you've marveled at it in the movies. Proust and Hemingway's characters made it their own, and Audrey Hepburn's Sabrina was changed forever by its charm. Studying abroad in Paris will give you the chance to experience the legendary capital for yourself.
With over 600,000 students enrolled in higher education, Paris boasts the largest concentration of university students in Europe. Known as grands etablissements, Paris' 17 prestigious public universities were once part of the University of Paris. Today, the schools are autonomous, each specializing in designated fields. The Parisian private universities, too, provide excellent academic opportunities. These grandes écoles include École Normale Supérieure and a number of well-known engineering institutions such as École Polytechnique, Écoledes Mines, Écoledes Ponts et Chaussées, and École Centrale. Additionally, students have the opportunity to study at The American University of Paris, the oldest American institution of higher learning in Europe.
This incredible richness of learning opportunities makes for a lively and engaging student culture throughout the city, with no shortage of cafes and the city's world-famous cinema, fashion, shopping, music and art scenes. There's no better way to start a morning than with a fresh baguette or croissant.
Architecture students will find Paris' cosmopolitan allure is due in no small part to Baron Haussmann's enormous urbanization project, begun in 1952. In one of the most daring architectural projects of its time, Haussmann leveled the city and fashioned the renowned tree-lined boulevards, extensive gardens and stone buildings for which Paris is famous today. With the accessible Métro, the flaneur-friendly Champs-Élysées and Avenue Montaigne, and the peaceful escape of Bois de Vincennes park, Haussmann's well-planned city continues to awe its visitors. And what is a discussion of Paris architecture without mentioning the Eiffel Tower? Completed in 1889, the tower still symbolizes the forward-looking nature of the French Republic, and the role it played in the advancement of engineering and city planning.
Paris got its name from the tribe of Celtic Gauls, known as the Parisii, who founded the city near the end of the 3rd century BC. Students interested in studying European history will be fascinated by the study of Paris during the Middle Ages. During this time, the city was enclosed on both banks of the Seine, construction began on the Notre-Dame Cathedral and The Sorbonne opened its doors. After ceding control of the city to the English following the Hundred Years War, the French reclaimed the city in 1437. Paris' role in the French Revolution is equally engaging, especially the events leading up to the famous Storming of the Bastille -- commemorated each year on July 14th, known as Bastille Day or Fê te de la Fédération.
Though clearly famous for its history, Paris today serves also as an important political and economic hub. The government ministries, the residences of both the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister and the country's highest courts are located in this capital city, providing political science majors numerous opportunities to learn about French politics. Additionally, with a GDP of $595.3 billion, Paris has one of the largest economies in the world, often said to rank behind only Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Osaka and London.
Students interested in the arts will find no shortage of masterpieces to admire. Long a center for European art, Paris has been home to Russian composer Stravinski and Spanish painters Picasso and Dalí, not to mention iconic French artists such as Degas, Cézanne, Rodin, and Monet. With the Louvre, Musée Picasso, Musée Rodin, Musée du Monparnasse, Musée Cluny and Musée d'Orsay at their fingertips, as well as the Musée National d'Art Moderne, housed in the distinctive Centre Georges Pompidou, students who live in and around Paris can delight in having time to explore these world-famous museums at their leisure.
As evidenced by its layout, its architecture, its culture and its museums, Paris' past is an integral part of its present. It's no wonder people from all over the world are drawn to the City of Light. Students who have the chance to study in Paris will find, as Hemingway said, "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."
ONLINE RESOURCES
EduFrance - Education en France:
http://www.edufrance.fr/en/
Université Paris Sorbonne-Paris IV:
http://www.paris4.sorbonne.fr/en/sommaire.php3
American University Paris:
http://www.aup.fr/
City of Paris:
http://www.v1.paris.fr/EN/
Paris Tourism Bureau:
http://www.parisinfo.com/en/
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program:
http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program:
http://www.iie.org/NSEP
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