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UW in Paris

Paris city skyline during spring. A cherry blossom tree is in the foreground with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Ornate bridge over the Seine river. It has gold decals along the lower arch and lampposts lining the residential path.
Exterior of the Louvre. The glass pyramid is the focus of the foreground, with the older architecture lining the perimeter. People are walking around the grounds.

France, Paris

Take a study break at the Eiffel Tower while studying abroad in Paris, the city of light. Pass the day watching the world walk by at your favorite local cafe or gaze at the Mona Lisa in the world's most visited art museum, The Louvre. Stroll along the Champs-Elysees while enjoying everything that Paris has to offer in your spring semester abroad!

The UW Paris Spring Program is offered through a partnership with the CIEE Paris Open Campus program. Typically, a faculty member from UW Madison serves as a Faculty in Residence each spring. In addition, CIEE will facilitate the transition into Parisian life and help with everyday practical matters. 

Paris, France’s capital, is a major world metropolis. The Seine River traverses the city; its waterways, quays, and bridges are major thoroughfares, and ways to see the city’s most famous monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. The city is known for its cafés (one for every 200 inhabitants), parks (Bois de Boulougne, Jardin de Luxembourg, Bois de Vincennes), street life and markets; and as a center for culture, art, fashion, gastronomy, and intellectual life.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • Deepen cross-cultural understanding through exposure to daily life and cultural activities in Paris
  • Navigate new educational systems, as well as new learning and teaching styles

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Business, Communications, Journalism & News Media, Global & Community Health, International Relations & Political Science, Language, Literature & Culture, Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, STEM and Society.

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Residence Hall

Program Duration

Spring: Early-January – Mid-May 

Application Deadline(s)

Spring 2026-27 - [Blocks I, II & III] 9/4/2026 Cost Details
Spring 2026-27 - [Blocks I & II] 9/4/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

The program operates on a three-block academic calendar, with each block lasting six weeks. All UW in Paris students must participate in at least the first two blocks and will earn approximately 13–15 UW credits. Students who participate in all three blocks typically earn 14–18 UW credits and must enroll in a minimum of 4 credits during each block.

Students may choose from courses across seven academic tracks: Art and Architecture; Business; Communications, Journalism, and New Media; Global and Community Health; International Relations and Political Science; Language, Literature, and Culture; and STEM and Society. Although courses are grouped into tracks, students are not restricted to a single track and may select from the full range of course offerings.

Students are required to take all courses taught by the UW–Madison Faculty-in-Residence. Additional courses are taught by CIEE faculty. All courses are held at the CIEE Center in Paris.

Students at all levels of French language proficiency have the opportunity to study French while on the program, with courses available at a variety of proficiency levels. However, students who have completed UW–Madison French 228 (Intermediate Language and Culture) and hope to take all of their courses in French may find their options limited, as most courses are taught in English.

An internship for academic credit is available through this program. However, internships are limited to students who participate in all three blocks of the program; students attending only two blocks are not eligible for the internship option.

Some courses on this program fulfill the field experience requirement for the Certificate in Global Health. These courses are identified on the course equivalencies sheet linked below.

Students may enroll in a maximum of one online course through CIEE during the semester. This includes courses offered online through the Paris center, remotely through another CIEE center, or through ASU Online. All remaining courses must be taken in a traditional face-to-face format.

UW–Madison students participating in approved CIEE Open Campus programs must complete either two or three blocks in a single location. CIEE's multi-location Open Campus program is not available to UW–Madison students.


UW in Paris Faculty Course Offerings - Spring 2027

The Spring 2027 Faculty-in-Residence is UW Professor Nevine El Nossery. Professor El Nossery will teach three courses in Spring 2027: a 3-credit course during block I, a 1-credit course during block II, and and a 1-credit course during block III. Enrollment in Professor El Nossery's courses is required.

Block I: “Francophone Literature and Culture: Colonial Legacies and Contemporary France”
This course explores the lasting impact of colonial histories on contemporary France through literature, film, and cultural texts. Students will examine migration, memory, identity, race, and debates surrounding citizenship, belonging, and integration in French society.
UW equivalent: TBD
3 credit

Block II: “Discovering Cosmopolitan Paris”
This experiential course explores Paris through its multicultural neighborhoods, diverse communities, and global histories. Through site visits and readings, students will examine how African, Middle Eastern, Jewish, Asian, and other communities have shaped the city’s cultural landscape while reflecting on the opportunities and challenges of diversity in contemporary France.
UW equivalent: TBD
1 credit

Block III:“French Cinema and Social Change: Voices on Screen”
This course examines how contemporary French cinema engages with major social issues, including identity, migration, gender, class, and memory, and how film both reflects and shapes public debates in France.
UW equivalent: TBD
1 credit

 

Program Web Pages

CIEE Paris Open Campus

Foreign Courses

CIEE Courses

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Nevine El Nossery

Spring 2027 Faculty-in-Residence, French & Italian