Student Life
The program sounded as immersive and inclusive as they get. I knew that I would be getting the most out of my experience with CUPA because of all the resources available to the students. I know now that I wouldn’t have wanted to study abroad with any other program. CUPA truly has it all and more.
– Montana Crosson, Fordham University
Paris is in constant flux; a city shaped by its history, its citizens, and its culture. Choosing to study abroad in Paris means becoming a part of that history and joining a long academic tradition that helped lay the foundation for modern thought. Student life has obviously evolved since the creation of Paris’ first university, but one thing has remained constant: the city is your campus.
As you make Paris your own, CUPA is there to support you throughout your stay in a variety of ways: carefully selecting your host family, advising independent students with their apartment search, providing a transportation pass that allows for unlimited use of Paris’ public transportation, offering students a membership card to the Louvre, organizing student-life activities, giving students access to an on-call therapist, advising students on practical matters, etc.
Student Life Resources
Personalized Support
Some of our students thrive from being highly independent, while others prefer a structured approach to new experiences. We understand these differences and provide our students with the level of freedom that best suits them. What makes this highly individualized approach possible is that despite the diversity of our students’ experiences, they, along with CUPA, are committed to academic excellence, cultural curiosity and the lifelong pursuit of learning.
Practical Information
Adapting to life in a new city presents a variety of challenges, such as navigating public transportation, understanding the city’s geography, communicating with and meeting locals. Beginning with Orientation and throughout the term, CUPA provides useful information on practical matters. The CUPA team is always available to answer any questions students might have about living in Paris. Students can also refer to CUPA’s Practical Information Handbook.
Wellness
After the initial euphoria that comes from exploring a new city and meeting new people, some students may experience homesickness and other negative feelings. We understand that coping, especially in a foreign country, can be difficult. Therefore, students can request to meet with CUPA’s American-trained Counseling Psychologist.
Housing
As a program that has its roots in language immersion, CUPA believes that to truly understand one’s host country and improve one’s French, living in a Francophone household is essential. CUPA carefully matches students with host families based on an extensive range of criteria including dietary restrictions and shared interests. Students also have the option of living independently, in which case CUPA provides useful information to help the student with their apartment search.
Cultural Program
World-class theaters, museums, galleries, cinemas, and alternative cultural spaces are spread across the city’s landscape making it easy to integrate culture into one’s everyday life. CUPA believes that this exposure to French culture is an integral part of a student’s experience abroad, ensuring that they have access to a wealth of cultural actives during their time abroad. CUPA’s weekly newsletter, the inCUPArable, provides suggestions for exhibitions, activities, and places to explore in Paris.
Visa Services
For students attending CUPA’s semester and year-long programs obtaining a student visa to study in France is a requirement. For CUPA Summer, students may be required to apply for a visa depending on their nationality. CUPA helps students throughout the visa process.
A day in the life of Claire Worsey
Between horn lessons and 19th century French painting, Claire Worsey describes a typical day in Paris while studying abroad with CUPA.More
Featured alumna: Jessica Meyers
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A Night at the Opera / Une nuit à l'opéra
L’Opéra de Paris est une institution phare de la scène culturelle de Paris. Reconnu mondialement, son répertoire met à l’honneur les grands classiques de la danse, de la musique et de l’opéra avec une mise en scène souvent monumentale. Ce semestre les...More
Clap on Cue... or How to be a Good Audience Member at the Petit Journal
On Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 CUPA students had the opportunity to attend a live taping of Le Petit Journal, the French equivalent of the Daily Show. Qi Xie, a CUPA student from Amherst College, tells us about her experience as a full-fledged...More
Discovering Alsace / Week-end alsacien
In November, CUPA students had the opportunity to discover Alsace by visiting the cities of Strasbourg and Obernai. Kelsey Lafreniere shares her memories of the trip. / En novembre, les étudiants de CUPA ont eu l'opportunité de découvrir la région Alsace, notamment...More