Introduction
The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Study Abroad Center offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to study for the fall and/or spring semesters in Paris, France. On-site, the program is coordinated by Université Catholique de Lille, Institut d’Économie Scientifique et de Gestion (IÉSEG) School of Management, Paris campus. Students may choose from a wide variety of courses offered at IÉSEG.
The period of study is August through December for the Fall semester and January through May for the Spring semester.
- Fall 2023: Aug. 22 – Dec 22 (tentative)
- Spring 2024: Jan. 8 – May 31 (tentative)
This program is open to all majors, but is particularly ideal for students who are pursuing degrees, minors and/or certificates in the following fields of study:
- Accounting
- Art
- Economics
- Finance
- French language
- History
- International Business
- Marketing
- Mathematics
Graduate students can take Masters-level classes in a variety of fields, including Accounting, Education, Finance, International Business, Nursing, and Travel Industry Management.
Informational meetings:
- Tuesday | September 19, 2023 | 2:00-3:00PM HST | zoom
- Friday | September 29, 2023 | 2:00-3:00PM HST | In-person room: Sakamaki A103
Schedule an Appointment with a Study Abroad Adviser on STAR Balance.
Application deadlines:
- Spring 2024: Monday, Oct. 16, 4pm HST
- Fall 2024: Monday, Apr. 1, 4pm HST
Host Institution
The UHM Semester in Paris Study Abroad program is offered in partnership with the Université Catholique de Lille, Institut d’Économie Scientifique et de Gestion (IÉSEG) School of Management, Paris campus. As a French Grande École and member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, IÉSEG is one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the country. In 2013, IÉSEG is the first post-baccalaureate school to be accredited by EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).
Established in 1964 in Lille, the school has a second campus in the Parisian region at La Défense, Europe’s biggest business hub. The School has a total of 3,380 students on both campuses. More than 84% of IÉSEG’s faculty is international, and the School has a network of more than 200 partner universities in more than 51 countries. All Bachelors and Masters Programs at IÉSEG are taught in English.
IÉSEG is a member of Conférence des Grandes Écoles, EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development), AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and CLADEA (Consejo Latino Americano de Escuelas de Administración).
At IÉSEG, UHM students may take French or other language courses, along with other courses taught in English. Students who wish to participate in an intensive French-language track can opt to study at the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne, facilitated by IÉSEG as well.
Curriculum
The UHM Semester in Paris program provides students an opportunity to fulfill UHM major, minor, elective, focus, foundations, diversification and foreign language requirements for graduation. Students on the program must be enrolled full-time and may earn up to 15 credits.
The program runs from late August to mid-December for the fall semester and late January to mid-May for the Spring semester. The Sorbonne program may end two weeks after the IÉSEG program in the Spring only.
The UHM Study Abroad Center appoints a designated UHM Resident Director when appropriate. The Resident Director teaches two classes, oversees students’ academic progress and mentors all participants. All students are required to take one of the two UHM Resident Director’s classes. The subjects vary each semester according to the expertise of the UHM professor.
COURSE OFFERINGS
IÉSEG: Students may select from a variety of courses in accounting, art, business law, economics, environmental science, finance, French civilization and language, history, international business, marketing, math, political science, psychology, and sociology. Classes, except for languages, are taught entirely in English by international faculty. IÉSEG courses can be found here.
Sorbonne: In order to take intensive French language courses at the Sorbonne, students will be tested for language proficiency upon arrival in Paris to ensure placement at the appropriate level. Students will study language, phonetics, conversation, and civilization in French. Depending upon placement results, students may be eligible to enroll in conférences, or seminars in areas such as French art history, civilization, geography, history, literature, and politics. Students will take at least one Resident director course and choose to take 9 credits of Language and Phonetics or 12 credits of Language, Phonetics, and Civilization.
Click here for Semester in Paris course information. Course offerings are subject to availability and may change without prior notice.
*Business students: Please consult with the business school “Partner Schools” page for approved, unexpired equivalencies.
FACULTY RESIDENT DIRECTOR
All students are required to take one of the two UHM Resident Director’s classes.
Fall 2023: Kieko Matteson, UHM History. Her courses:
- HIST 346 OC (focus): Modern France (Also approved for LLEA 364 OC (focus)
- HIST 451C: History and Literature (Also approved for LLEA 335)
Spring 2024: Myungji Yang, UHM Sociology. Her courses:
Courses taken at IÉSEG and Sorbonne will appear on UHM transcripts as UHM credits.
Current as of July 24, 2023.
Location
Paris, capital of France and home to over eight million people, has long been known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Famous for its cuisine, fashion, architecture, museums, parks, boutiques, and rich intellectual and cultural life, it is also a city of contrasts between the ancient and the modern; the quaint and the high-tech. The IÉSEG School of Management’s main campus is located in the modern business district La Défense, at the start of the western outskirts of Paris. The campus is situated right underneath the iconic main building of La Défense. The Sorbonne is in Paris’ fifth arrondissement, near the River Seine.
The sophisticated and reliable French rail system SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français) makes Paris a very convenient hub from which to travel to other locations in France and elsewhere in Europe. The transportation company RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) provides connections within metropolitan Paris, as well as to suburban areas, through an extensive network of trains, subways, buses, and trams.
Housing
Students will live with a French host family. Partial meals with the family are provided for the duration of the program. A major value of the homestay is that it provides students with the opportunity to closely interact with and learn from the host country nationals. In addition to taking students beyond the public face of the French people, the everyday speaking and hearing of French in a natural setting facilitates students’ understanding of the culture and enhances language learning.
Click here for Housing Protocol regarding COVD-19.
Excursions and Extra-Curricular Activities
Students will participate in a number of visits included in the total cost. Possible locations include Château de Fontainebleau, Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Le Mémorial de Caen, and Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny.
Both the French Civilization and the Art History courses have visits to relevant sites and museums in Paris, which may include the Louvre, Maillol, Orsay, Picasso, Rodin, Quai Branly, Jacquemart-André. Through the Student Government Association, students can participate in various social events and weekends trips to other parts of Europe. Additionally, sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, rugby, and handball are offered.
IN-COUNTRY ORIENTATION
A comprehensive, mandatory three-day orientation is provided to all incoming first-time students. Led by a faculty member, the on-site orientation introduces Paris life, school, accommodations, money, transportation, personal safety issues, etc.
Photos
Program Cost
based on Spring 2023
- IÉSEG courses only: $17,838
- one UHM Resident Director course at IÉSEG + Sorbonne courses: $16,474 ~ $16,874
Cost includes IÉSEG tuition, single homestay accommodation, enrollment in IÉSEG and/or Sorbonne courses, health insurance, student visa, textbooks, museum visits, meals, airport pick-up, métro pass, laundry, UHM Study Abroad and student visa fees.
Round-trip airfare between Honolulu and Paris is not included; students have the option of taking the flight arranged by Third Eye Travel or making their own travel arrangements. Travel to obtain a student visa at a service center on the Mainland is an additional expense.
FINANCIAL AID
FOR UHM STUDENTS ONLY: In order to receive financial aid, please ensure that either: a) you are receiving financial aid during the current semester, or b) that you complete the Financial Aid application during the current semester. www.hawaii.edu/fas
NON-UHM STUDENTS (those attending other colleges and universities during the regular school year) must apply for financial aid at their home institutions
SCHOLARSHIPS
UHM Study Abroad Center Scholarship
See the Money Matters & Resources page for a list of possible scholarships.
STUDENT VISA
Students participating in the UHM Semester in Paris program must obtain a student visa prior to arriving in France.
Click here for information regarding COVID-19 from CampusFrance.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Schengen visa-free
Admission Requirements
Students are eligible to study abroad as early as the second semester of their Freshman year or later.
The program is primarily designed for undergraduate students who are interested in studying in Paris with specific academic interests. All candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, strong English writing skills, absolute fluency in English, and successful completion of course pre-requisites. However, students with a lower GPA may be considered. Non-native English-speaking students must have taken the TOEFL exam within the last two years and earned a composite score of 600+ or have taken the UHM ELI placement exam.
Admission to the program is selective. All applicants for the program will be judged on their academic performance, reasons for wishing to attend the program, flexibility, and sensitivity to other cultures, and ability to adjust to a new cultural setting.
Immediately upon acceptance to the program, students are required to pay a $500.00 non-refundable initial payment to ensure a place in the program. The initial payment will be applied toward the cost of the program.
Please note that students accepted to the program are required to attend three mandatory pre-departure class sessions totaling 12 hours. Failure to attend will result in students being withdrawn from the program.
Application
A completed Study Abroad Center application and three academic references must be received by the Study Abroad Center by the following dates to receive consideration. Students from outside the UH System must also submit official transcripts from every college attended.
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
- Spring 2024: Monday, Oct. 16
- Fall 2024: Monday, Apr. 1
Please note: The Study Abroad Center is closed on weekends, and Federal and State holidays.