Paris Exchange Program
1 Semester / 1 year program
Live and study in the City of Lights with the MICEFA! Take classes at a Parisian university with French students! Immersion is not just for the classroom: we organize trips to celebrated sites around France as well as to local spots in Paris to enrich your cultural experience and understanding. Earn university credit while living an adventure!
Program Highlights
Participate in the MICEFA exchange program while remaining enrolled at your home university, allowing you to pay tuition there and retain your financial aid. Register for a full-time course load abroad and earn credits toward your major or electives, with options available for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Study abroad with MICEFA for one or two semesters!

Multiple Housing Options

Excursions & Activities

24/7 Emergency Phone

Intensive language Course
- Academics
- A 3-week long intensive language course worth 3 university credit
- One-on-one academic advising
- Campus visits and academic advising
- Direct enroll courses in both French and English in Parisian universities
- In-House MICEFA classes at every level
- Student Life
- Temporary housing upon arrival for 10 days
- Assistance in choosing permanent housing
- Assistance in everyday life (visa documents, phone plan, students jobs...)
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Events and excursions around Paris and France
Health and Wellness support throughout your stay. Click here for more information
- French language lessons
- Cultural adaptation sessions
- Group activities and outings in Paris
- Up to 3 course credits
Choosing your University
As a MICEFA student, you are automatically accepted at any of our 18 member universities for your exchange program. During your individual interview, MICEFA Staff will help you choose one university to attend per semester. In certain cases, you may change universities at the end of the semester if you stay for the full academic year). At this university you may select classes in any department including FLE (Français Langue Etrangère). See courses offered at our member universities in our Undergraduate Fields of Study.
Each university has its own sign-up dates which will be communicated to the student.
MICEFA offers in-house classes in both French and English. Each student can sign up for a maximum of 2 MICEFA Courses during the first semester and 1 class the following semester. Click here for a listing of this year’s MICEFA Courses.
Temporary Housing in Paris on Arrival
Housing will be your first priority upon arriving in France. We highly recommend that you use MICEFA’s Temeparay housing option, which enables students to get a sense of Paris before jumping into a living arrangement. This time also allows students to get to know each other and form lasting friendships before they are scattered throughout Paris. This is billed at cost with breakfast included.
Temporary housing will be reserved in Paris from Sunday, August 23rd – Wednesday, September 2nd , 2026 (10 nights); you will check out on the morning of September 2nd, 2026 (9:00AM).
MICEFA will be sending out a Housing Questionnaire where you can request a spot in the temporary housing. (This is automatically included for students from Baldwin Wallace, CSU-IP, and Rutgers.) Please complete payment only after receiving confirmation and instructions from MICEFA.
59-61 Rue de Buzenval 75020 Paris
Permanent Housing options
MICEFA has a limited number of places available in student residences throughout the greater Paris area. These dorm-styled rooms are located on the main Paris city Metro lines and not on a specific campus. Residence buildings are independent from the universities and house international and French students attending all different schools around Paris. Selecting Student Residence means you may be placed anywhere within the greater Paris area, with direct access to central Paris.
700€ – 1200€ per month.
For students looking to live on their own, an apartment gives students space and independence. Some apartment offers can be set up prior to arrival through our partner Capirock and include fully furnished studios.
Other apartment options require more formal steps, including in-person visits with the landlord.
1200€ – 1500€ per month.
For students looking for their own space but in a larger apartment, homestay could be the perfect solution. Families and retirees host students for an authentic living experience in Paris. Options range from simple bed & breakfast to daily meal plans.
950€ per month (prices vary for optional meal plans).
This housing choice will bring you close to a family while offering the most affordable housing in Paris! Students are offered (or given a reduced price for) a private room in exchange for helping look after the family’s children.
How housing attribution works
Choose if you will use MICEFA for your housing or independently find housing. If using MICEFA, decide which housing options work best for you. Possibilities will depend on your budget and the current availabilities. Define your maximum monthly rent budget, including utilities.
As part of your MICEFA application process, you will select your order of preference for the different housing options. You will also fill out information about your finances and your decided housing budget. Please note some housing options are limited and MICEFA cannot always guarantee your first choice.
During your online interview with MICEFA you can ask questions and learn more about the housing options you are most interested in.
You will be contacted by the MICEFA Program Assistant with the options that are available for you based on your classification. Sign your housing contract and complete a secure down payment.
(Some housing options require temporary housing prior to the start of the semester.)
Go to your temporary housing or directly check in to your permanent housing. Students who have not set up housing prior to arrival will be able to set up landlord visits during their temporary housing stay.
Estimated cost
Detailed Budget
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Airfare 1,300€
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Visa & Residence Permit 425€
(Visa required before arrival; residence permit onsite)
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Passport/Photos 50€
(Passport valid for six months post-visa)
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Intensive French Language Course 450€
(3-credit course during orientation)
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Temporary Housing (optional) 395€
(10 nights in a Parisian hostel)
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Permanent Housing 3,400€–7,650€
(600€/month, includes rental insurance)
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Food 1,800€–3,800€
(200€–400€/month, mix of eating out and cooking)
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Transportation 400€–600€
150€–225€ (Navigo for semester students, Imaginaire R for year students)
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Books & Supplies 60€–120€
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Phone Plan 100€–200€
(20€/month, phone provided by student)
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Personal Expenses 675€–1,425€
(100€/month for shopping, entertainment, etc.)
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Health & Travel Insurance:
Varies by university (required for visa and enrollment)
Application Process
STEP 1
Nomination by your University’s International Office.
All North American students must apply through their international or study abroad office, no direct applications are accepted by MICEFA.
STEP 2
Receive your acceptance materials & take placement test
MICEFA creates and sends you your acceptance materials along with the information about the placement test (Level of French Language). You will need your acceptance materials for your visa application.
STEP 3
Apply for a student visa
Once you have made the decision to study abroad, you need to start preparing for your stay. This includes getting or renewing your passport and applying for a visa.
STEP 4
Online interview with MICEFA staff
During this interview you will be able to talk about university placement, course choices, housing, visas and all the other details of your program! Prepare your questions and use our decision tool to research about your Parisian univerisity.
STEP 5
Arrival in Paris
Once in Paris, you will benefit for a 10 day temporary housing. It will give you enough time to choose your permanent housing for the semester.
STEP 6
Transfer credit home
MICEFA will create and send your transcript stating the intensive session, MICEFA courses and direct enrolled university courses, to your home university to be evaluated for credits.
Deadline
Documents & Downloads
Program Information
Application
Visa
Academic Information
Need an Official Transcript ?
Former CSU IP students should contact IPacademics@calstate.edu to request transcripts.



