CUPA Semester / Academic Year
Language Immersion & Academic Pathways
Students choose CUPA for rigorous academics, deep cultural immersion, and the opportunity to live and study in Paris with one of the oldest independent study abroad programs in France, boasting more than 60 years of experience and a strong international alumni network. CUPA Semester and Academic Year programs are designed for early-intermediate to advanced French speakers who have already completed prior undergraduate university-level French study or tested at the equivalent level, and who are ready to study fully in an immersive French academic environment. Applicants must be undergraduates in good academic standing with their home universities, and a GPA of 3.0 or above is preferred.
Students take a French placement test during the application process, which determines their academic pathway. Based on level, students may enroll in CUPA-run courses taught entirely in French, OR combine CUPA coursework with direct enrollment at French Universities alongside local students. Common academic disciplines include literature, history, political science, art history, economics, sociology, mathematics, computer science and more. With approval from their home institution, students may also undertake independent research or studio art, music or dance courses. To learn more about academic offerings, see Academics.
Support & Academic Development
All CUPA students are provided structured language development tutoring and academic methodology training designed to strengthen confidence and success in French university-level study. To learn more about academic and language support, see Support.
Cultural Experience
Cultural immersion is central to the CUPA experience, with access to excursions, museums and performances at some of Paris’s most renowned theaters, including opera, ballet, concerts, and contemporary arts. Students also receive a transportation pass (Carte Navigo), providing unlimited travel across Paris and the greater Île-de-France region as part of the program experience. To learn more about cultural programming, see Student Life.
Living in Paris
CUPA offers housing in carefully selected French homestays, where students live with local families and experience daily life, language practice, and cultural exchange in an immersive setting. To learn more about accommodations,, see Housing.
Program Dates & Costs
CUPA Semester and Academic Year programs are offered in alignment with the French university calendar, with options for fall, spring, and full academic-year study. Program costs vary by term and show academic programming, housing, cultural activities, and transportation. To learn more about program dates and detailed cost information, see Dates & Costs.