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Rome & Paris
Rome, Italy Paris, France

First Year Abroad in Rome & Paris

Dates

-

12 weeks

Costs

$20,800 See Full Breakdown

Credit

12 - 13 semester hours

18 - 19.5 quarter hours

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Contact Us

Dates

-

12 weeks

Costs

$20,800 See Full Breakdown

Credit

12 - 13 semester hours

18 - 19.5 quarter hours

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Contact Us

Overview

Start your first year of college immersed in the cultural and historic heart of Europe: Rome and Paris. Choose from a variety of intro courses and combine with daily cultural experiences for a unique 12-week experience abroad!

Immerse yourself in Italian culture by exploring iconic sites such as the Colosseum or the Vatican, all while enjoy the amazing culinary traditions. While in Paris, enjoy the rich local cultural scene. Meet up with friends at a café after class or for a casual visit to one of the city’s many free museums and parks. Dive into the world of fashion, arts, and gastronomy!

Spending your first semester of college traveling across Europe will provide you with the global perspective and intercultural skills you simply can’t get in a U.S classroom. Gain the confidence and maturity that will make a difference on campus and set yourself up for success! 

Unique Experiences

Cultural Immersion

Explore ancient ruins like the Colosseum in Rome and admire masterpieces like the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris

College Credits

Stay on track with your 4-year graduation requirements and earn up to 13 credits per semester

Lifelong Skills and Friendships

Jump right into independence, far away from home, and bond with other U.S. and international students

Destination & Activities
  • pizza making class for study abroad students rome italy
  • Paris

The Destination

Explore some of the world’s most breathtaking cultural destinations like the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Spanish Steps, all located within walking distance from CIEE’s Rome center in Piazza Campitelli no. 3. Wake up each day to Italy’s awe-inspiring beauty and Old World charm, from dazzling azure coasts and majestic snow-capped mountains to urban centers that never cease to delight with their architectural wonders and warm, welcoming locals.     

Paris hosts unforgettable sights from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe to the Sacre Coeur Basilica. Both France’s capital and largest city, Paris offers peaceful parks, lively nightlife, and innumerable cobblestoned neighborhoods to wander around. CIEE Paris is centrally located in the 12th arrondissement, making it easily accessible to the rest of France’s iconic capital. Nearby CIEE Paris, students will find various conveniences and amenities, including ample grocery stores, organic supermarkets, cafés, bakeries, and famous landmarks. 

Excursions & Activities

Rome students on steps on hill

Rome

  • Visit the World Heritage Site, Florence, which attracts art lovers, and food and fashion aficionados from across the globe. Most famous for its Renaissance art and architecture, it is home to Michelangelo’s iconic David, the art treasures of the Uffizi Gallery, and Brunelleschi’s majestic dome that dominates the Tuscan skyline.  It is no surprise that Florence represents one of Italy’s most important economic centers, but not only for its year-round tourism.  The luxury fashion houses of Gucci, Ferragamo and Cavalli were born in Dante’s native city, as well. 
  • Walk the footsteps of the ancients among the impressive remains of Pompeii, a fascinating town that was destroyed and yet also preserved by the volcanic eruption of Italy’s famous Mount Vesuvius.  From the spas and private mansions of Pompeii’s elite to larger-scaled stages for public entertainment, such as Pompeii’s amphitheater, concert hall and sports complexes, students explore a wide range of exciting ruins that reveal what daily life was like in Roman antiquity. 
hssa paris girls boat tour tower

Paris

  • Test your skills as a nose at the Fragonard Perfume Museum and learn about the history of perfume making in southern France 
  • Learn about the champagne industry in Reims and visit the cathedral where French kings were coronated 
  • Visit the region of Normandy to learn about World War II history and local agricultural industries, tasting regional delicacies along the way 
  • Check out famous landmarks:  Take a stroll in the Montparnasse neighborhood, learning about the area’s influence in the arts and literature and stop for a crêpe at the end of the visit 

Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when revising itineraries is always to enhance your experience. Every activity is designed to provide you with a deep immersion in your topic, local culture and sights. 

Housing

Housing & Meals

Housing

Rome

Homestays:  Live with an Italian host family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse yourself in the city’s language and culture. Each student has an individual room.

Paris

Homestays: Live with a French host family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse yourself in the city’s language and culture. Each student has an individual room. 

Residence Halls: Students live with a mix of CIEE students. If local health and safety regulations permit, students live in double, or triple rooms.  

Housing is on a first-come, first-served basis. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive.

Meals

Rome

Homestays: Students living with host families have breakfast and either lunch or dinner at their homes.  Host families and students arrange their own meal schedules.  Students are responsible for the remaining meals, either preparing them at home or eating in one of many restaurants and cafés throughout the city. 

Paris

Homestays: Students living with host families have breakfast and either lunch or dinner at their homes.  Host families and students arrange their own meal schedules.  Students are responsible for the remaining meals, either preparing them at home or eating in one of many restaurants and cafés throughout the city. 

Residence Halls:  Meals are not included. Students have the option to purchase meal plans on their own if offered by the residence hall. Students can also use the shared kitchens or their own kitchenette, depending on the residence hall, or eat in one of many restaurants and cafés throughout the city.  

HSSA Rome students with espresso

Rome

Summer Abroad_Paris_Students eating with their homestay

Paris Homestay

Academics

Academics

First Year Abroad offers foundational college courses taught by CIEE local instructors to start your four-year college degree. We combine rigorous intro-level academic courses with unforgettable experiences outside the classroom to create a curriculum fostering academic, intercultural, and professional skills that help you succeed in college and the world beyond.  

Our curriculum includes general education courses from major disciplines that offer you college credits to stay on track. Choose lecture and lab courses from the Arts and Humanities, World Language, Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences, as well as courses specifically designed to help you develop organizational, writing and study skills to thrive in college. 

GPA

2.7 minimum high school GPA

Language Requirements

There are no specific language requirements for this program.

Additional Requirements

  • You must be 18 years or older at the time of program departure. 
  • You must be a recent high school graduate (no more than 18 months post-high school graduation). 
  • You must be in your first year of college, having completed no more than one semester of college post-high school graduation

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Requirements

All students take four courses per semester (or two courses per block) 

Program Credit

12-13 U.S. semester/18-19.5 quarter credits

Course Credit

CIEE courses: typically, 3 U.S. semester credits; 45 contact hours 

Language courses:  4 U.S. semester credits; 60 contact hours for Beginning Language levels and Intermediate Japanese; 3 semester credits; 45 contact hours for all other language instruction

Lab courses: 4 U.S. semester credits; 60 contact hours 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Academic Culture

CIEE First Year Abroad students are assisted by a comprehensive academic support system to develop the tools and skills necessary for successful undergraduate studies while abroad and with the transition to attending college in the U.S. These services are provided by CIEE in partnership with Dean College, the Academic Home and School of Record for FYA. These academic support services may include one-on-one, group, or online advising and tutoring.  

CIEE academic staff support students with resources and guidance on academic norms, study habits, and success strategies for first year students studying abroad. Tutors are trained and experienced educators with expertise in their subject areas. They provide assistance with core course concepts, study strategies, academic writing, research, and time management.  

Together, academic support staff and tutoring provide the resources and guidance needed to achieve academic success and make the most of your study abroad experience.

Class Format

Block Courses (Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Paris, Rome, and Sydney): Take two courses per six-week block for two blocks. You can even take one block in one location and do your second block in another! Block courses are 3 or 4 U.S. credits, contain requisite contact hours and content, and count for the same credit as if they were spread out over a traditional semester. This allows for more intense study of fewer subjects at once. Completing two blocks will give you 12-13 U.S. semester credits to keep you on track to graduate within four years.  

Semester Courses (Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Kyoto, Monteverde, Prague, Rabat, and Seville): The 12-week semester for 12 - 13 U.S. credits allows immersion in four courses at once, including labs or language classes. At this pace, you have ample time to dive deeply into course content while still experiencing your new home culture. It also allows you to study multiple subjects at once. Most colleges offer 12-15 week semesters, so this format is setting you up for a familiar course structure back home.  

Embedded Intercultural Components: Courses have built-in co-curricular and other academic content tailored to your study abroad location. Museums, galleries, visits to local monuments, guest speakers by local experts, and other academic activities bring your studies and the local culture together in exciting ways.  

Experiential Learning: Highly trained local instructors guide you to discovery in small classes that emphasize active learning. Short lectures are enhanced with activities that foster inquiry, like: creative projects, collaborative problem-solving, case study analyses, panel discussions, visits to local sites, conversations with peers, and reflecting on these experiences. Activities are built to impart knowledge and gain critical skills: academic, social, and emotional.  

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Our academics include a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusions, including in course design, instructor training, and course content.  Emphasis is placed on hearing and considering diverse perspectives on important issues. This also includes comparing how local and home cultures approach key topics. All students are equal partners in creating a community of inquiry and all learning styles are accommodated. Support is offered to those who learn at different rates.  

Grading

The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used. Students are graded on the basis of attendance, class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and mid-term and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in course syllabi. 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Language of Instruction

English 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Courses

Course Information

In the Fall semester, the courses below will be listed as available in Blocks II & III, rather than Blocks I & II.  This is because the First Year Abroad program runs during the final two blocks of the Fall semester which is otherwise split into three blocks on CIEE’s Academic Calendar. 

For information about how these courses will be transferred back to Dean College, please refer to the course equivalency chart.

Start and end locations may vary: While we strive to adhere to the advertised sequence, we may have to swap the starting and ending location of this program to ensure the best possible student experience.

Rome

FYA Block I:

  • Art History I
  • General Psychology
  • Introduction to Composition I
  • Introduction to Political Science
  • Italian Language - Beginning I
  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Quantitative Reasoning

Paris

FYA Block II:

  • Calculus I
  • French Language - Beginning II
  • General Psychology
  • Introduction to Computer Science I
  • Introduction to Mass Communications
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • World History II

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.

Dates & Fees

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 Fall 2024 12 weeks Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $20,800
Program Spring 2025 12 weeks Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $20,800

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, you will pay your CIEE program fee (fee varies by location) and Dean College tuition and fees ($2,900 total for all locations) directly to Dean College.

Federal financial aid and state aid (Massachusetts residents only) is available through Dean College. Students applying for need-based financial aid from Dean College must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using the FAFSA School Code for Dean College: 002144.

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.

Program Fee = $20,800*

Total Fees = $20,800

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

*CIEE Fees: $17,900; Dean College Fees: $2,900

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.

Program Fee = $20,800*

Total Fees = $20,800

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

*CIEE Fees: $17,900; Dean College Fees: $2,900

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

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start a CIEE FYA Application
You’re one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! You need to apply and be accepted by both CIEE and Dean College to join FYA. Don’t worry! We’ll help you through the process!

Apply Now

2

Complete the Dean College FYA Application
You will receive an email with a unique link to your personalized Dean College application after completing your CIEE FYA application.

3

Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to the FYA program.

Email Us

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