Summer Contemporary Music Creation + Critique
Unique Experiences
Learn from and collaborate
with IRCAM students, composers, researchers, scholars, and visiting performers
Master cutting-edge electronic composition software
then enjoy a year of access to IRCAM's software database back home
Connect with celebrated artists
and composers at the IRCAM ManiFESTE music festival
5
Statues of Liberty in Paris
1,803
Monuments throughout the city
470k
Trees lining Parisian streets
The Destination
If you’re looking to spend time in one of the world’s most prominent centers of culture, finance, and commerce, you’ll find it in Paris. The capital of France – and the country’s most populous city – Paris is a top tourist destination and will make you fall in love with its historic landmarks, exquisite dining, and charming architecture. Paris has hosted two Summer Olympics and two FIFA World Cups, and each year the city hosts the final stage of the Tour de France bicycle race.
Featured Excursion
Participate in excursions to fascinating French locations - previous destinations have included Amboise, Reims, Rouen, Giverny, Chantilly, and Vaux-le-Vicomte, to name a few.
Other Excursions & Activities
- Learn the nuances of the City of Lights through a guided walk of Paris.
- Savor time in the studio, patching, sound sculpting, composing, and more.
- Attend concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and happenings around multimedia and new music technology and composition, during IRCAM’s ManiFESTE festival.
- Visit the theaters, cafés, and luxury shops of the Champs-Élysées.
Program Blogs
A Guide to Paris Museums for Art History Lovers
By: Xinpeng Huang Paris is heaven for art history students. It offers unparalleled access to world-renowned collections that span centuries and styles. Museums in Paris are more than repositories of... keep reading
A Weekend in Normandie and Caen with CIEE Paris
By: Noelani Stewart During my time abroad in Paris with CIEE, I had the chance to go on a weekend trip to Normandie and Caen. This experience offered a fascinating... keep reading
Thrift Your Way Through Paris Fashion: 4 Best Spots
By: Kalissa Woo Coming to Paris, I wouldn’t have called myself a fashion expert. My style was a mix of trends without much thought. But being in one of the... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Paris offers diverse housing options to ensure you are comfortable in your home away from home. All housing options are located in neighborhoods around Paris or in close suburbs called ‘la petite couronne,’ with convenient access to public transportation. From apartments to residence halls, you will find your housing assignment is conveniently situated near grocery stores, city supermarkets, cafés, eateries, pharmacies, and everything else you could possibly need.
Standard Housing: Includes a single room in a homestay or a twin room at a shared apartment or at a residence hall/hotel/aparthotel all located under 50 minutes from CIEE Paris by public transport.
- Homestays: Homestays feature a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with a host family. Please note: It is helpful, but not required, to have a basic knowledge of French for living with a homestay. French hosts are not required to be fluent in English.
- Shared Apartments: Shared apartments boast a kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities. Shared apartments with twin rooms also boast a living room.
- Residence Hall/Hotel/Aparthotel: If you stay in a residence hall/hotel/studio in an aparthotel, you will be housed in twin rooms, which feature a bathroom, a kitchenette, and weekly cleaning. Laundry facilities are available at cost in the facility.
Select Housing: Includes a twin room in a shared apartment located under 30 minutes from CIEE Paris by public transport or a single room in a shared apartment located within 50 minutes from CIEE Paris by public transport. All students living in the apartment will share a bathroom and a kitchen. Laundry facilities are available within the apartment. Select housing requires an additional fee.
Select Plus Housing: Includes a single bedroom in a shared apartment located under 30 minutes from CIEE Paris by public transport All students living in the apartment will share a bathroom and a kitchen. Laundry facilities are available within the apartment. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
Homestays: Host families provide breakfast daily, plus five additional meals per week.
Residence Hall/Hotel/Aparthotel and Shared Apartments: Meals are not included.
Academics
This unique summer program takes place at the world-renowned Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM). Founded in 1977, IRCAM is devoted to research and experimentation in music composition, acoustic performance, and technological modification of sound.
IRCAM conducts ground-breaking research in acoustic and computer technology. Promoting new works and new composers under the aegis of the Centre Pompidou, IRCAM also provides intensive instruction to a select handful of graduate students.
All classes in this program take place at IRCAM, and students have full access to all facilities, including the library, as well as all ManiFESTE activities. ManiFeste, the IRCAM multidisciplinary festival and academy, is a gathering of creative artists in Paris, combining music with other disciplines: theater, dance, digital arts, and visual arts.
Students participate in three components:
- First Steps: An intensive two-week course focusing on the MAX/MSP music application that helps students create patch sound samples and voice modulation.
- Culture of Music Creation: Connect the art and critique of sound with concerts and events at the ManiFESTE festival at IRCAM.
- Académie: presentations by composers and musicians selected among the program of the ManiFeste Academy.
Course Information
All work completed during training sessions, program exercises, Académie, and IRCAM are required components of the program and factor into the final grade for the course.
Summer 2025
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer 2025 4 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $6,650 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, ask your college or university study abroad advisor if your school charges additional fees for study abroad.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $4,230 ** |
| Housing | $1,920 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $6,650 |
Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.
| Select Housing Fee | $400 |
| Select Plus Housing Fee | $600 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $432 † |
| International Airfare | $1,250 |
| Local Transportation | $100 |
| Books & Supplies | $50 |
| Personal expenses | $150 †† |
| Total Costs | $1,982 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide breakfast and 5 meals a week. For students in residence halls/apartments, you should budget approx. $388 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Delphine Mauny
Center Director
A born-and-bred Parisian, Delphine has extensive experience in international education, having worked with American high school students, college students, and adults traveling to France.
Franck Le Gac
Academic Director
Franck oversees the coordination, quality, and planning of all courses and educational programing in Paris. He is responsible for faculty staffing, finalization of syllabi, the course evaluation process, and program...
Linda Ponte
Student Life Manager
With a background in intercultural communication, Linda is a key contact for students and helps participants discover and understand the French culture.
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
You might also like
- Paris, France
- Study Program
Put your French skills to work in the glimmering City of Light!
- Paris, France
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Spend your summer earning academic credits toward your degree while gaining practical, real-world work experience in one of Paris' top industries, including the arts, business management, and public administration.
- Paris, France
- Study Program
- Full-Time Internship
Build new skills and intercultural competencies with an internship and become an active member of the Paris professional community.