Paris Summer - Internship | IES Internships

Why Paris?

Intern in one of the world's highest regarded cities for culture and international business. With its grand boulevards, world-famous monuments, unparalleled literary and artistic history, and its simple joie de vivre, Paris is a city that will change you forever. The Paris of today is a multifaceted and multicultural metropolis that offers a doorway to the cultures of the world.

Your Internship

Our program guarantees* an internship placement to help you develop professional skills that will jump-start your career and make you more attractive to employers in today’s competitive job market. IES Internships’ unpaid, academic internships have placed Paris interns in fields such as the arts, business, and tourism, while also showing them the sights and sounds of France. Before you depart, we work with you to fine-tune your résumé, perfect your cover letter, hone your networking and interviewing skills, and prepare you to work in a new cultural environment. You’ll intern at a local business or organization where you’ll work at least 25 hours per week.

You will also enroll in a required 3- or 6-credit academic internship seminar with other IES interns, where you’ll gain context for the internship placement by examining cultural issues in the workplace. An optional 3-credit language course is also offered, the placement for which is determined by online and on-site language assessment.

With IES Internships’ dedicated staff and international connections, you can be sure that you’ll have an internship that meets your goals. You’ll learn, and learn to stand out.

PLACEMENT EXAMPLES:

Past students have interned in placements like the examples listed below. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive. We encourage students of all majors to apply.

International nonprofit headquartered in Paris seeking to improve the health of low to middle income populations around the world
Contemporary art gallery located in the heart of Paris that exhibits furniture, decorative objects, sculptures and wall hangings (to mention a few)*
Mature startup in the health field working to develop and grow their platform connecting doctors in France and Belgium*
Film organization that screens French movies with English subtitles for the international community in Paris
Nonprofit organization working directly with the women in Africa to bring to light their talents in creating handmade products
Nonprofit organization striving to fight for the rights of unaccompanied minors worldwide
Guided tour company that focuses on the haute couture aspects of Paris (fashion, art, food)*
International nonprofit committed to helping the most vulnerable children long-term by fighting the structural causes of poverty*
Event planning platform created to connect people, build community for attendees and exhibitors, and increase revenue
Startup online database for international archival footage

*Advanced level of French language required

Don’t see what you're looking for? Just talk to your IES Internships Representative—new internships are always being added!

Daily Life

Get to know the City of Light on a personal scale—from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame to your favorite boulangerie (bakery) or bookstore: this magnificent city will become your second homewhen you intern in Paris. Walk or take the bus through the city’s vibrant streets, or hop on the Métro to get to work. Lunchtime means quiche or a sandwich au jambon in a nearby café, followed by an espresso or tea. Spend your free time getting to know Paris and its surroundings through IES Abroad-organized cultural events and optional field trips to places like Giverny and Reims.

$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

Learn more

Academics

Before you go, we work with you to fine-tune your résumé, perfect your cover letter, and hone your communication and interview skills as we prepare you for working in a new cultural environment. You’ll be guaranteed a placement at a local business or organization that fits your professional interests.

Academic Seminar
While working in Paris, you will enroll in a required 3- or 6-credit academic internship seminar with other IES interns, where you’ll gain context for your internship placement by examining cultural issues
in the workplace. Topics covered include:

Understanding workplace culture
Improving communication
Strengthening work attitude and aptitude
Navigating issues, challenges, and opportunities so you can succeed on the job in Paris and when you return home

You may also enroll in an optional 3-credit French language course taught at the Center.

Personalized Placements
Your internship coordinator will work with you to find a placement in the field of your choice. We’ve placed past interns at companies and organizations in the following fields:

Business Development
Marketing
Media & Communications
Non-Governmental Organizations
Social Organizations
Start-ups
Tourism

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.

French Language
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
FR 221 - French for Professions: Novice Abroad I-III	Summer	French	3
FR 321 - French for Professions: Emerging Independent Abroad I-III	Summer	French	3

Internship Seminar
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IN 395 - Leading Across Cultures: Internship Seminar	Summer	English	3
IN 395 - Leading Across Cultures: Internship Seminar	Summer	English	6

Field Trips & Events

Although your adventure begins in Paris, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. All field trips are optional for Internship students and you share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations:

Giverny
1 Day
Visit artist Claude Monet’s home in the beautiful village of Giverny, and walk through the spectacular gardens that gave him so much inspiration. Monet’s water lily paintings and many others were painted here.

Reims
1 Day
Take a guided tour of the Cathédrale Notre Dame, and visit a Champagne producer for a tour, to learn how the wine is made, and to enjoy a tasting.

IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.

Daily Life

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 fell prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or networking and social events with Paris professionals - we're all about our student services. This is just one of the fields we're known for.

Orientation

The staff at our Paris Center will welcome you for a 2-day orientation. This includes an introduction to the city including housing, commuting, and professional and cultural expectations. The Paris Center is your central place for instruction, support, and meeting other interns.

Housing

We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which 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 - Live in a French homestay in the city of Paris or its surrounding banlieues (suburbs). Breakfast daily and three evening meals per week are provided.

Apartments - A limited number of shared apartments are available for an additional fee. Apartments include kitchen facilities. Meals are not included. Internet is available.

International House - A very limited number of single rooms with private bathrooms are available at a foyer managed by a Catholic association. Female students of all religious backgrounds are welcome to apply, but students must have an intermediate or advanced level of French. Students have access to a common kitchen, lounge, and laundry room. Meals are not included.

Get to Know Your New City

Get More Monet For Your Money!

Spend all the time you want in the many museums of Paris like the Musée d’Orsay with cheap ticket prices thanks to your IES Abroad student card.

Bask in the Good Life at the Place des Vosges

This stately square features arched arcades, and gorgeous 17th- and 18th-century apartment buildings surrounding an immaculate garden. Grab a cup of coffee, have a seat on a bench, and take in the surroundings.

Picnic by the Seine

Watch boats and share brie on baguettes with friends, then dance while live bands play on the river banks.

Explore the Parc de la Villette

This massive park is home to a canal, themed gardens, museums, a cinema, and large architectural sculptures.

Encore! Encore! Enjoy the Theatre

Experience ballet and opera performances under a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall at the Palais Garnier opera house.

Program Cost

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.

Term: Summer 2020
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Summer 2020 3 Credits	$4,385	$2,220	$135	$6,740
Summer 2020 6 Credits	$5,285	$2,220	$135	$7,640

Scholarships & Aid

Program-Specific Scholarships

Summer Need-Based Financial Aid

Up to $1,000

Open to students who apply to and attend an IES Abroad or IES Internships summer program.

Criteria reviewed to determine award:

Level of financial need as determined from infromation provided on the application. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients.
IES Abroad program location.
IES Abroad membership status of home campus

Summer Social Impact Internship Scholarship

Up to 100% of room and board costs based on financial need + $1000 travel grant

The Summer Social Impact Internship Scholarship was initiated by the Hemera Foundation, whose mission is to foster basic human goodness in individuals and society. This Scholarship, which will be sustained through a foundation collaborative, aims to inspire students to make a social impact through summer internships within philanthropic or direct service/social service organizations.

Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs

Learn More

$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

Learn more

Our Center

The IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center is located on a bustling market street near the Cimetière du Montparnasse. The area is filled with restaurants, food shops, boutiques, and cafés.

Features include:

High-speed Internet, WiFi, and printer access
Classrooms
Student foyer
Library
Garden

Our Staff

Scott Lyngaas, Ph.D.

Center Director

Dr. Scott Lyngaas has been the IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center Director since 2014. Scott came to IES Abroad from Beloit College, where he was Associate Dean and Associate Professor of French. He received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he wrote his dissertation on Francophone historical fiction. Dr. Lyngaas previously served as the Resident Director of study abroad programs in both Brussels and Paris.