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Gap Year Programs in Paris,France

Wondering if a gap year is right for you? Well the answer is most likely heck yes! Paris, France is one of the most exciting locales for the gap year of your dreams. If you’re thinking croissants and berets, you’re on the right track—but Paris offers so much more! You could return home with a new appreciation for art history, fluency in the French language, and incredible experiences matched only by the stunning photos you’ll take of iconic monuments like the Eiffel Tower. So, profite de la vie (enjoy life) during a gap year in Paris!
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35 Gap Year Programs in Paris,France

CIEE High School Grads Abroad

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CIEE Gap Year in Paris, France: French Language & Culture

In Paris, find the perfect balance of structure and independence, giving you the freedom to explore France and yourself before heading off to college. Perfect your French in a city that has inspired countless masterpieces and world-changing ideas. From the soaring spires of Notre Dame to the cozy glow of sidewalk cafés, Paris offers the perfect backdrop for a transformative gap year filled with language, art, and self-discovery. During the week, take 15–20 hours of immersive French classes with native instructors and classmates eager to hone their fluency. Afternoons and weekends are for immersing yourself in Paris’s rich culture and village-like neighborhoods. Explore the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, marveling at masterpieces by Monet and Da Vinci. Stroll through the Latin Quarter, retracing the steps of literary icons like Hemingway and Sartre. Savor buttery pastries, artisanal cheeses, and gourmet French cuisine that transforms every meal into an exquisite experience. Living with a welcoming host family, you’ll practice French, share meals, and embrace the rhythms of daily Parisian life.

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Institute for Global Studies

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IGS Wildlife Rehabilitation Internships

Get the chance to work with injured animals from the Amazon rainforest or at a shelter for sea turtles in one of our internships abroad. At the Institute for Global Studies, we help students gain invaluable work experience in their field from an international context. Wildlife shelter work can bring out the best of human nature. Connecting with abandoned animals instills a sense of accomplishment that few tasks provide. Apart from bonding with animals, gain insight into local communities and their interactions with wildlife in their area. Meet with students, residents, and the general public to learn about their customs. Common duties include food preparation, checking in animals, interpretation to the public, medical assistance, and community outreach.

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EF Education First

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EF Language Year Abroad – Paris, France

Learn French in Paris with EF Language Year Abroad and turn the City of Light into your classroom. Perfect your language skills and study academic subjects in your areas of interest, returning home with language credentials, friends from around the world, and memories to last a lifetime. True fluency through immersion - Spend 2, 3, or 4 academic terms (6–11 months), gaining language and cultural fluency, learning from local experiences, and peers from over 100 nations. Study on EF’s modern yet traditional campus near the Latin Quarter, personalize your schedule with SPIN electives—from French gastronomy to fashion—and advance faster through project sessions and real-life language labs. Make the most of your gap year with cultural excursions to the Louvre, Versailles, Champagne country, and more. Live with a Parisian host family or in a student residence, earn an official EF fluency certificate, and complete a résumé-ready capstone project. Join students from 100+ countries, build global connections, and leave Paris speaking confident French and carrying memories that last a lifetime. Earn transferable college credit through our partner in education, The University of Montana.

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Gapforce

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Europe Tour with Gapforce

Experience the ultimate European adventure every summer, traveling safely and comfortably between cities via train so you have the maximum time exploring. Get ready to marvel at the history and culture of the Old World, from the art and violence of Renaissance Italian city-states via the high refinement of Viennese coffee houses to the color of Barcelona and the Romantic drama of the French Alps. Join a group of like-minded travelers for this fully escorted four-week adventure of a lifetime. This trip will take you sightseeing across Europe's finest cities.

Absolute Internship

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Intern in Paris with Absolute Internship

Our award-winning program gives students the opportunity to spend the summer developing their professional skills on a full-time internship in Paris. Live and work in this unique city from 4-8 weeks, and build rewarding experiences that will help you stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. Work within your industry of choice with over 30 fields to choose from, including Business, Marketing/PR, Fashion, Events Management, Graphic and Design. Absolute Internship organises company visits, career development workshops and cultural activities, day trips, and weekend excursions to help you gain valuable industry insights as well as to explore France and other European capitals. This is an all-inclusive program with high-quality central housing, cultural activities, group dinners, and 24/7 on-site support from our Program Coordinator. Absolute Internship has been featured in the New York Times, BBC News, Bloomberg, and Forbes Magazine. We have placed 4000+ interns at 800+ companies worldwide.

Academic Programs International

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API: Experience Paris, France (Scholarships Available)

Immerse yourself in French culture and the way of life in Paris, France! Whether it is gastronomic greatness, artistic endeavor, or cultural cachet you are looking for, there is no doubt that the City of Light still sits right at the top of the European heap. Visit wondrous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre! Are you interested in Art? Study art, design, or fashion with some of the greatest modern artists and professors at Parsons Paris. Take excursions all across France, from Bordeaux to Champagne! The cultural hub of Europe is at your fingertips when you study abroad in Paris, France! New for 2024: Study at one of Europe's top business schools, Grenoble École de Management, with our Semester International Business Studies program in Paris. Here, you can hone your business skills and expand your network amidst a vibrant international student community. Learn more on our website! We also have new internship opportunities in Paris! Design and Restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral to working with Luxury Fashion Brand Management, you will select an internship with an international organization that meets your professional, academic, and personal goals.

World Class Programs

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Discover the Heart of Normandy-Rouen, France Summer Program

Join World Class Programs on safe, educational, and worldly experiences in France! Our summer study abroad program is for high school teens from all academic backgrounds who are excited about immersing themselves in French culture and lifestyle. This pre-college program offers diverse course study options, including Art History, Fine Arts, Philosophy, and French language and cuisine. Our unique experiential learning method allows students to explore and engage in French culture safely! We encourage them to immerse themselves in the language no matter their level. Our knowledgeable and passionate staff is always available to help them along the way! Explore France by living in the heart of Paris and taking classes with our World Class Programs instructors. Enjoy day trips to Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel, Lyon, Orleans, Monaco, Tours, Grenoble, and other locations!

Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne

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Learn Business French in Paris

Business French is of growing importance in a world where intercultural communication and mastery of several languages are essential assets! The CCFS business French course thus allows students to integrate many language skills necessary to evolve in a French-speaking professional environment. This program offers the following combination, over 12 weeks of class (one semester), either in the Fall or in the Spring: - French language teaching focused on Business (10 hours per week) - phonetics with laboratory (5 hours every other week) - lectures on French civilization (optional, up to 9 jours a week) - sessions dedicated to oral and professional writing (job interview, administrative email, annual evaluation interview, meeting, telephone interview, cover letter, analysis of articles from the economic and professional press etc.) We also offer the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the language and culture by living with a French host family!

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Global Work & Travel

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Au Pair France – Explore Europe as an Au Pair

France is known for its sophistication and appreciation for the finer things in life and its range of famous landmarks. From the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre – you’ll never run out of things to do. Venture outside the capital, and things get even more interesting. Summer is for fine weather and lounging on France’s famous beaches. Experience the raw power of the Atlantic Ocean in Hossegor, or lounge at a luxurious beach club on the Mediterranean. The French Alps are most dramatic in winter with their towering peaks and charming mountain towns. Spring sees the countryside covered in cherry blossoms, signaling the spring harvest, complete with fresh wine from one of the many wineries. As an au pair in France, you too, can develop a palate for good food, fine wine, and its surrounding beauty. You will be a part of the family. Your host family takes care of your lodging and utilities, which means your salary is yours to spend as you please.

Soccer Camps International

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Summer Soccer Camps in France at Paris Saint Germain Academy

Soccer Camps International offers Summer Soccer Camps and Soccer School sessions for players aged 7-17 in France with Paris Saint Germain. Thousands of players from all over the world have participated in these Official Elite Football Clubs International Youth Soccer Camps and Soccer Schools over the years. In France, participants will learn new soccer skills from a team in the France Professional League 1 division: Paris Saint Germain. They will practice in the best training facilities and stay in accommodations used by professional teams. Program participants will join the 'Galacticos' club soccer camp in Europe, Paris Saint Germain Academy Soccer Camp in the city of lights, Paris. Special sessions will have multiple excursions in and around Paris. These camps are run by highly experienced certified coaches with many years of experience teaching young soccer players the best soccer drills.

Baret Scholars

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Baret Scholars Gap Year Program

Before and beyond college, Baret Scholars explores 7 regions of the world, their passions, and their purpose. Baret Scholars is a global gap year program that brings together a cohort of 180 high school students from around the world to journey across 7 regions (North/South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, India, and China/Asia), over 180 days, in a semi-structured and self-guided gap year experience. This will be their best year yet. Named after Jeanne Baret, the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, Baret Scholars provides students with a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the world, paving the way for years of fulfillment and achievement. The program serves as a foundation for their future, fostering cultural literacy, a global perspective, and a desire to create a better world.

Art History Abroad

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12-week Gap Year Semester Course

This 12-week Gap Year Semester Course is our most expansive and influential program. During the first six weeks, students travel to the UK and France, where they can explore art, architecture, food, culture, and much more. After this, they will travel to Tuscany and stay in Montepulciano, a beautiful hilltop town, for a two-week intensive Italian course. In the second six weeks, they will join other students to study on the Autumn Gap Year Course. They will travel across Italy, visiting Venice, Castelfranco, Bologna, Florence, Siena, and Rome, as well as taking day trips to San Gimignano, Verona, Naples, and Pompei. This program aims to give students the greatest experience of Italy and a better understanding of the "art world." It is an ambitious program that spread from the ancient world in Rome and Naples to the Renaissance in Florence and contemporary art in Venice. Students will learn about the works of Leonardo, appreciate Titian, and understand why Michelangelo is so significant. Students will also be introduced to dozens of other artists, read great poets from ancient and modern times, learn about rhetoric (Cicero), history, and literature, & appreciate architecture.

Centre Zenith

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Gap Year in Paris: French Language Foundation Program

This program is designed for students taking a gap year and looking to spend it learning French while experiencing life in Paris. It’s perfect for those who want to fully immerse themselves in French language and culture—whether you’re planning a long-term stay in France, have a French partner, or simply wish to enjoy an unforgettable year in one of the world’s most iconic cities. It’s also ideal for students aiming to pursue higher education in France. The program is structured to help you reach a B2 level in French—the minimum language requirement for admission into most French universities. At the end of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to take the official DELF exam. With 15 hours of French classes per week, the program offers the flexibility to balance your studies with part-time work. As an international student in France, you're allowed to work up to 964 hours per year (approximately 20 hours per week), giving you the chance to gain valuable experience while supporting your stay. Program details: - Duration: 40 weeks - Total hours: 600 - Tuition: €7,200 (€12/hour) Join us and make Paris your classroom while building a strong foundation for your future in France.

A Guide to Gap Year in Paris

Popular Activities

Paris is the world’s most visited capital city for good reason! Its romantic culture and walkable environment puts it on every traveler’s bucket list. You’re sure to fall in love during gap year programs in Paris...mostly with the way of life and incredible experiences you’ll have if not for a handsome neighbor!

Art. Does the Louvre ring a bell? Well, it should! Perhaps the most well-known art museum in the world, this incredible institution is the largest of its kind and home to the Mona Lisa! You’ll also not want to miss the Musee d’Orsay, located on the banks of the Seine. From Matisse to van Gogh, you’ll be wowed by the artists you’ve heard of in history books.

Adventure Travel. While you’re meandering around the quaint Montmartre neighborhood during a gap year in Paris, enjoy some street food crepes and plan your next day trip to Versailles, the royal chateau on the outskirts of the city. Sound magical? Your adventure can start now!

Internships. Paris is not only a wondrous city to visit, it’s an amazing place to work. With an internship you’ll be gaining international work experience and a skillset to take you through college and beyond.

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Latest Program Reviews

Life changing experience

November 24, 2025by: Luisa Rulfo - MexicoProgram: Baret Scholars Gap Year Program
10

The most eye opening experience, questioning everything you go through, you knew, discovering yourself among a cohort of brilliant and unique minds. Every virtue is welcomed and supported to the fullest. We scholars discovered the impact of the frase "If you want something you just have to do it." We unlearned and relearned how to perceive life, how to grow, how to move forward, how to relate to people, how to experience life to the fullest. I believe the knowledge I gained from this experience gave me years of lived life worth of knowledge, unreachable without something like Baret.

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