When most people think of Paris, they think of iconic sights, like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe. These sites are important emblems of France’s history, but today Paris is one of the most important business, financial, and political centers of the world. It has one of the highest GDPs of any city in the world, and is home to Fortune Global 500 companies that specialize in insurance, banking, and energy.
Paris is also known as the fashion capital of the world, hosting designers such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, and many more. Enjoy all that Paris has to offer while studying Business and International Affairs in the City of Light.
The Business & International Affairs Program offers IES Abroad courses taught by faculty from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. The program also offers spring students the option to take English-taught courses with French and international students at Novancia, the premier business school founded by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Enjoy field study trips within Paris, and excursions to important cities such as Geneva and Brussels. Or, gain valuable experience through a business-focused internship. With course offerings in English and French, and French language study, the IES Abroad Business & International Affairs Program is a unique experience for study abroad in Paris.
Paris will also be your classroom. Imagine studying for an exam on the lawns near the Eiffel Tower, taking in the beauty of the art at the Musée d’Orsay, or strolling along the River Seine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Welcome to study abroad!
We want you to feel at home in France, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Paris. Most students live in French homes with host families to get a taste for what Parisian life is really like. The IES Abroad staff also keeps you and your fellow students informed of affordable local activities and events happening in Paris.
These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the highest quality academic and cultural experience abroad possible.
We offer unique courses that explore International Business, Political Science, French language, and more through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You take 15–19 credit hours per semester; all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified.
Based on the semester you go abroad, your qualifications for taking Business courses, and your language level, your academic experience may include the following required and optional components:
Fall Semester
Additional limited options for students with advanced French:
Spring Semester
Enrollment Guidelines When planning your term abroad, please note the following guidelines regarding specific courses:
IES Abroad French Language Courses The IES Abroad program begins with one week of intensive language classes. You continue your language instruction for the remainder of the semester for a total of either 6 credits for Beginning language students (FR 101i) or 4 credits for Intermediate and Advanced French language students (FR 201, FR 301, FR 303, FR 352, FR 401).
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
Institut Catholique de Pariswww.icp.fr If you have taken at least four or more semesters of college-level French, you may be able to supplement your IES Abroad courses with French-taught courses at the Institut Catholique de Paris.
Founded in 1875 for the purpose of religious training, the Institut Catholique is a respected private university offering courses primarily in the humanities and social sciences. Though the University still has Catholic affiliations, classes are open to all students and are not religiously-biased.
With some 15,000 students enrolled each year, the Institut Catholique has a low professor-to-student ratio, providing you with an opportunity for interaction with both French students and professors.
Courses Courses at the Institut Catholique de Paris are usually worth 3 credits. You can select from French-taught courses in the following disciplines:
Location & Commute Time Located in the 6th arrondissement, the Institut Catholique de Paris is about 15 minutes from the IES Abroad Paris Business & International Affairs Center by metro, or about 30 minutes by foot. Consult the Paris Metro Map for more information.
Novancia Business School Pariswww.novancia.fr In 2011, two major business schools in Paris, Negocia and Advancia, combined to form Novancia—Paris’ newest business school specializing in entrepreneurship and commerce. Novancia is a member of AACSB International. The school has strong ties to the business world of Paris and many of its instructors have years of practical business experience. Novancia students have many opportunities to participate in practical activities that expose them to the exciting reality of international business.
Click here to take a virtual tour of the school's impressive new facilities.
Courses The spring semester program at Novancia offers a wide range of Bachelor’s-level, English-taught courses to IES Abroad students. Courses are held once or twice a week for three hours or more, and students must take this into account when scheduling other courses. Individual courses may have pre-requisites that must be fulfilled in order to enroll in the course.
At Novancia, you will be integrated with French and international students. You will be expected to do a large amount of independent work. Formal syllabi may not be available, and you must be ready to ask for clarification on assignments and exams.
Possible course offerings include:
Location Novancia is located in Montparnasse, near the IES Abroad Center. Novancia is a member of AACSB International, and is undergoing the process of AACSB accreditation.
While adding study abroad to your resume is impressive enough, adding an international internship is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive job market. An internship provides an invaluable cultural experience, and helps you develop professional and personal skills.
The internship is complemented by a required seminar that offers contextual support to your practical work experience in the French setting.
Internships are available for students with advanced French language abilities. All IES Abroad internships are supervised and offered as academic options earning IES Abroad credit.
Placement Examples:
Field study trips are organized to complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of French culture and society. Participation is based on course registration. In the past, students have visited:
See the Field Trips tab for durations and possible activities.
Field study visits in and around Paris may include:
Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Paris, it will feel like home.
Homestays - Located throughout Paris and in the well-regarded adjacent suburbs, each household hosts one or two students (each student has a private room). Breakfast is provided daily and you share three evening meals per week with your hosts. You may take other meals in student cafeterias or local cafés. Commuting times to the IES Abroad Center range from 20 minutes to 50 minutes.
Apartments - A limited number of placements in apartments are available in the 14th arrondissement. The apartment building houses other IES Abroad students and local residents (non-students), and can be a good match for more independent students. You are housed in single apartments with private bathrooms and small kitchenettes. An IES Abroad Resident Assistant is on-site, and apartments are equipped with wireless Internet access. No meals are provided in this housing option - you may cook your own meals or eat at inexpensive restaurants in the area. The building is a 20-minute walk, three metro stops, or one direct bus ride from the IES Abroad Paris BIA Center. This housing option is available for an additional fee.
Part of making you feel at home in Paris is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, your housing that is well-located and comfortable, or field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
The program begins with a two-day orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Paris BIA staff, your fellow students, and the city of Paris, and covers important topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety.
CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
A bus tour of the city or a boat tour on the Seine is included in orientation. Orientation begins in Paris and continues in Normandy for fall students, and in Chartres for spring students. Following orientation, you engage in a week-long language-intensive program that prepares you for life in France and that includes field study visits to help you to discover the city.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Paris through our cultural events, such as:
Although your adventure begins in Paris, our field trips take you to other great cities in France to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Paris. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Past destinations are listed below.
Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte 1 Day Tour these beautiful châteaux, located only an hour from Paris.
Normandy 2 Days | Fall orientation As part of fall orientation, discover the landing sites of World War II and the American cemetery at Colleville, and learn more about this important historical period at the Caen Peace Memorial.
Chartres and Château de Versailles
2 Days | Spring orientation As part of spring orientation, discover the medieval city of Chartres with its magnificent Gothic cathedral that dates back to the 12th century, and the royal Château of Versailles in Ile de France. Enjoy a guided visit of the Sun King’s famous château, and tour the magnificent gardens and fountains.
Field Study Field study trips are also organized to complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of French culture and society. Participation is based on course registration. Past field study excursions are listed below.
Brussels 1 Day Visit the European Commission or European Parliament, and other institutions such as the Committee of Regions.
Geneva 1 Day Visit international NGOs such as the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the United Nations, or the World Trade Organization.
The Champagne Region 1 Day Visit two different Champagne producers and learn how Champagne is made at both a large cooperative and a small family-owned farm.
Note: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and length of stay may vary according to term and availability.
The IES Abroad Paris Business & International Affairs Center is located strategically in proximity to the Center’s partner institutions, IES Abroad housing, and all of the amenities that the city of Paris has to offer, including French and ethnic restaurants, theatres, shopping, and cafés.
Features include:
Nathalie Lenfant IES Abroad Paris BIA Center Director
Nathalie Lenfant has been with IES Abroad Paris since 1998. She was named Associate Director of the Paris French Studies program in 2002, and became the Director of the Paris Business and International Affairs program when it opened in 2007. She holds a Licence degree in English with a specialization in American Civilization from the University of Poitiers, as well as a certificate in translation and interpretation. She has a graduate degree from the Ecole Supérieure de Traducteur Interprète et Commerce Extérieur and from the Catholic University of Lille. During her studies, she spent a year as a foreign exchange student in Richmond, Virginia and a summer at Oregon State University. Prior to joining IES, Mme. Lenfant worked at the French National Office of AFS (American Field Service) as a regional coordinator of volunteering and as a coordinator of housing, intercultural training, and student activities.
IES Abroad Staff Amanda MurphyAcademic Coordinator
Peggy SchwobStudent Services Coordinator
Céline ChataingHousing Coordinator
Faculty Students taking courses at Novancia will be taught by Novancia faculty.
IES Abroad Faculty Anne Catherine AbecassisArt and Art History PhD in Art History, Paris IV-Sorbonne; Maitrise d'Histoire de l'Art, Universite de Paris I; MA in Art History, Universite de Montreal; DEA d'Histoire de l'Art, Universite de Paris I
Alvaro ArtigasPolitical Science PhD in Comparative Politics, Sciences Po Paris; B.A.in Political Science, MA in Comparative Politics
Brigitte BeauzamyInternational Relations and Management PhD in Sociology, EHESS Paris; MA in Sociology of Organizations, University of Paris IX Dauphine
David BeytelmannInternational Relations PhD, Ecole Normale Superieure, Lyon; DEA in Political Philosophy, Universite de Paris X-Nanterre; MA in Political Philosophy, Universite de Paris X-Nanterre
Christopher BrennanHistory PhD International History, London School of Economics, Master of Slavonic Studies, Oriel College, University of Oxford. BA Modern Languages, University of Bristol.
Mary de GendreGlobal Marketing MBA, University of Massachussets, Amherst, MA. BA College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, MA. Professeur Ecole Superieure de Commerce Exterieure (ESCE)
Michele Grandmangin-VainseineFrenchDiplôme de Didactique des langues, Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle, Paris-III, Maîtrise de Lettres modernes, Paris-III
Mariam HabibiPolitical Science PhD and DEA in 20th Century History, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris; MA in Contemporary English and European History, University of London; BA in Economics and Politics, University of Lancaster
Won KimGlobal Marketing PhD Candidate - University of Paris 8, Performing Arts. Masters, Theater Department, University of Paris 8. Marketing professor, INSEEC MBA at IPAG Paris
Baptiste LebretonFrench Language Master 2 FLE, Universite de Nantes; Master 1 FLE, Universite de Nantes; MA de Francais Langue Etrangere, Universite de Nantes; MA d'Information Communication, Universite de Nantes
Mariana LosadaPolitical Science PhD en Science Politique, Sciences Po Paris
Claire MiquelFrench Language DEA in Art History and Literature
Robert OlorenshawMarketing PhD, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (Paris); Bachelor of Philosophy, University of York; Bachelor of Arts, University of Warwick
Dominique Taffin-JouhaudFrench Language DESS in Translation, University of Paris III
Joav TokerPolitical Science, Communications B.A. l’Université Hébraïque de Jérusalem: Sciences Politiques et Sociales; M.I.A. Columbia University, NY; PhD in progress
Truc Long Vô TrânBusiness French Maîtrise de Français Langue Étrangère Licence de Sciences du Langage, Université Paris III-Sorbonne Nouvelle
Mathieu ZagrodzkiPolitical Science PhD en Science Politique, CEVIPOF, IEP de Paris
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