Intern in one of the world's highest regarded cities for culture and international business. 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 a leisurely espresso or tea.
An IES internship develops your professional skills, your ability to communicate across cultures, and provides substantive work experience to jump-start your career in today’s competitive job market. You'll be guaranteed an unpaid placement at a local business or organization, where you'll work for at least 25 hours a week. You also will enroll in a required 3- or 6-credit academic internship seminar with other IES interns, where you’ll learn about a variety of local business settings and opportunities.
Before you depart, 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.
Spend your free time checking neighborhoods off your to-explore list: The Marais, the Latin Quarter, Montmartre, and more all await. Save time for field trips outside the city to places like Giverny and Reims.
PLACEMENT EXAMPLES: Past students have interned in the fields listed below. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive. We encourage students of all majors to apply.
Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Internships Representative—new internships are always being added!
After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.
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 include:
You may also enroll in an optional 3-credit French language course taught at the Center.
This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.
Internship Seminar
French
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.
Part of making you feel at home in Paris is doing our best to help you fell 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.
The staff at our Paris Center will welcome you for a 3-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.
You can participate in field trips and extracurricular activities in and around Paris, and cultural activities at the IES Paris Center.
All field trips are optional for Internship students and additional costs apply. These trips are academic, not solely touristic, in nature. Potential destinations include:
About the Center
The IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center is located on a bustling market street near the Cimetière du Montparnasse. A thriving business district, the area is filled with restaurants, food shops, boutiques, and cafés.
Features include:
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.
IES Abroad Staff
Olivia AuzouAcademic and International Exchange Coordinator
Celine ChataingHousing Coordinator
Seth FisherStudent Affairs Coordinator
Darcy SmithInternship Coordinator
What is it really like to live in Paris? Check out our virtual tour of all the places you’ll come to know and love when you study abroad there—GO!
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