Paris

The Paris Field Study and Internship Program is a French-language program centered on a full-time internship or research placement as the means for linguistic immersion, cross-cultural learning, a better understanding of a chosen subject, and personal growth.

Group of students outside the IFE Center in Bastille

Incredible personal, academic, and professional transformation in France: If I could relive my semester with IFE, I would do so immediately!

Jack. French

Workshop at the IFE center on Theater and Body Expression

THE FOUNDATIONS OF FRENCH POLITICS, POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS, YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Through this course students grasp fundamental notions of French society today by studying the roots and the development of the main institutions and ideas that structure political life in France. The course also extends this analysis to France’s international policies, past and present, focusing on several key themes.

For more than two centuries, France has constructed its political identity through continuous, ongoing modification of its institutions and a broad variety of forms of political experimentation. This grand-scale political laboratory has forged unique forms of political behavior and doctrines, many of whose influence has extended well beyond the borders of France.

(Syllabus)

STRUCTURE, TRANSFORMATION AND CRISES IN FRENCH SOCIETY

The course equips students with a simple sociological toolkit to grasp French society and the main issues crucial for France today, regardless of the student's concentration. Students also acquire a basic understanding of French society from a cultural perspective since culture and cultural policy are central social elements. Topics include social stratification and transformations in the welfare state, to the rise of spatial segregation, to the question of the "destiny" of French society in the face of immigration, the existence of institutionalized racism, the changing place of women in French society, and metamorphosis of the French school system.

(Syllabus)

TOWARDS A EUROPEAN SOCIETY

Through this course students deepen their understanding of Europe, developing a panorama of the meaning of the term ‘Europe’ by examining historical/cultural material alongside institutions and policies. Students acquire the basic knowledge needed to be an informed citizen of/in Europe, able to read and interpret accurately European current events.

Drawing on this broad understanding, the course goes on to reflect on the political, economic, social and even cultural convergence constituting the European integration which has been taking place over the past seventy years.

(Syllabus)

Pascal Cauchy

Pascal is Professor of History at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (“Sciences Po”) and Visiting Professor at the State University of Moscow. Pascal has served Sciences Po as Dean of International Studies and is currently attached to that institution’s Center for History both as researcher and administrator.

Sophie Enos-Attali

Teacher/researcher in Political Science, International Relations and Contemporary History, Sophie Enos-Attali holds a doctorate in Political Science from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (“Sciences Po”) as well as an ABD in International Relations from the University of Paris and an ABD in History from the same institution. An associate professor of Political Science at the Institut Catholique de Paris, where she is the director of Master’s theses in the social sciences, her research activities include work as a member of the Research Unit “Religion, Culture and Society” as well as of the Thucydides Center for International Research, both of the University of Paris.

Paris students during their internships: Economic and climate change think tank / Architectural firm / Cancer research lab

"This program is a particularly enriching experience for students looking to blend multiple studies. IFE has a great support system for finding an internship, preparing you for it, and working through it with students. I knew people who worked in a variety of fields: media production, marketing, science, architecture, political/social organizations, and more!"

Charley. French, English literature

Paris needs no introduction, yet it surprises visitors and residents alike with the range and variety of new initiatives in economic sectors but also by civil society,  through social and cultural activism and in intellectual spheres. As Paris the bastion makes room for 21st-century Paris, featuring innovation and experimentation, student-interns can get involved in front-edge activities in all areas.

Paris continues to hold an important place in fashion, food, architecture, design and the arts, all fields open to IFE student-interns.

World-ranked universities in the Paris system host research interns in many fields in the sciences, social sciences and the arts.

The internship experience was very related to medicine, my interest, and the connections I formed there led to a Fulbright research grant two years later at the same lab of my original internship. The experience I had with IFE was invaluable to my professional goals in the medical field.

Andrew. Biology, French

Oral defense of internship paper: Catherine, on the protection against inforced or involuntary disappereance in ASEAN

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION, CONCRETELY, BETWEEN RESEARCH AND INTERNSHIP?

A lengthy, engaged internship presents a unique opportunity for access to data, interviews, documents, and other key sources of information and insight that would otherwise go untapped.

Also, a student-intern who performs pertinent research while on the job becomes a more engaged and knowledgeable intern.

Internship opens up research access; research makes the internship experience more valuable.

Finally, some internship placements themselves are focused on research, whether in science labs, social science institutes, think tanks or policy centers.

HOW IS THE RESEARCH TOPIC CHOSEN?

Once student-interns are comfortable on the job, they consult with their internship mentor and their research advisor to develop a topic of value and interest to the student-intern and to the host organization.

WHO ARE THE IFE RESEARCH ADVISORS?

IFE pairs each student with a university teacher, researcher, or professional in the student’s field. Research advisors are trained by IFE in the nature and format of the project.

DO STUDENTS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO WRITE A LONG PAPER IN A SECOND LANGUAGE?

Students are in class and on the job for many weeks before they begin to draft their paper. During that time - in class at first and then on the job - they have carried out a number of written assigments in the host language. Advisors and IFE staff are available to help.

SUMMING UP

Combining guided field research with a lengthy internship experience enhances both.

(Course Syllabus - Research)

DATES 

Asturias

SPRING 2025: January 20 - May 23

FALL 2025: August 20 - December 19

Marseille - Paris - Strasbourg

SPRING 2025: January 16 - May 23

FALL 2025: August 20 - December 19

Application Deadlines

For Fall semester programs: April 10th

For Spring semester programs: October 10th

PROGRAM COST

Tuition fee : 7950 €

(for all Field Study and Internship Programs - Asturias, Marseille, Paris & Strasbourg)

This covers:

• Full participation in all required program elements as well as in IFE-sponsored co-curricular events and activities.
• Mandatory insurance
• Housing service
• Fee for a transfer transcript (if required by sending institution).

This does not cover:

• Room and board
• Airfare and visa fees
• Medical insurance

Please note:

• For many of IFE’s partner institutions, IFE bills program costs directly to the institution. Students at these institutions continue to pay home tuition.
• For students paying IFE program costs directly, some need-based financial aid is available for those cases where there is a difference between the total cost of a semester at IFE (tuition, room and board) and the total cost of a semester on the home campus. Contact admissions@ife-edu.eu with questions. 

HOUSING COSTS

Asturias

• Homestays with full meal plan: 3280 €

Marseille

• Studio in a student residence without meals: 3900 €
• Homestays with some meals: approx. 3700 €

Paris

• Student residences without meals (with kitchen access): 3400 €
• Student residences with partial meal plans (10-13 meals/month + breakfast): 3800 €
• Female-only residences with partial meal plans (20 meals/month + breakfast): 4500 €
• Female-only residences without meals (with kitchen access): 2200 € 
• Homestays with some meals: approx. 5000 €

Strasbourg

• Student residences without meals (with kitchen access): 3200 €
• Homestays with some meals: 2500 € - 2900 €