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Paris Winter Program FAQs

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Who can attend the Stanford in Paris program in Winter?

The Program is open to all Undergraduate Stanford students, in all disciplines. There are however two pathways, which offer different opportunities under separate and distinct conditions:

A. STEM/Pre-Health pathway: This pathway targets students in STEM studies, by offering them upper-range core-courses in English in the fields of Physics at the Stanford in Paris center. The opportunity allows STEM students, who never thought it possible before, to now study in Paris. The usual French language pre-requisite for the students enrolled in these core courses is waived. As France is one of the leading countries in the world of scientific research, the Stanford faculty members on campus and Stanford Alumni in France have cultivated and enhanced relations with their French colleagues overseas, in research institutions and in hospitals. The Paris Program therefore also offers a wide range of part-time internships in the fields of Biology, Engineering, Bio-engineering and CS.

B. The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences pathway: winter quarter is an intimate and very special time to study the humanities and arts in Paris. Museums are relatively uncrowded at this time of year, and Art History classes are held there on-site, under good conditions. In addition, small seminars in history and art practice classes are offered in French. Part-time internships and on-site research can be done as well. For these students, the French language prerequisites is required.

How do students apply to the various internships?

Once you have been accepted to the program, you will begin receiving a series of emails describing each opportunity, about two months before the start of the program. We will be soliciting responses usually a month before the program begins. After Skype interviews, you will know upon arrival in France, in the first week of the program, if your application has been accepted by the sponsoring institution.

Is any flexibility possible regarding the acceptance (or not) of an internship opportunity offered?

If internships or special opportunities are offered for two or three units, there is some flexibility involved, and a “trial period” in most cases is acceptable. This would be the case, for example, regarding the Media Internship and Art Practice. If, however, internships are offered for 4-6 units, that would imply hands-on work for two or three days a week, and the sponsoring institution will be expecting your active participation, usually within a team. Please therefore do not apply for these internships unless you are sure you can reasonably commit yourself to them, and that you are motivated by their content or framework.

Is it possible to pursue a double-track pathway in winter, both in the Sciences and the Humanities?

Absolutely. If you have completed first-year French upon arrival in Paris, all opportunities will be available to you.

What are the possibilities to return to Paris over the summer?

The Stanford program in Paris has established solid connections with the Institut Pasteur and the Institut Curie for several years now. These two renowned French scientific institutions offer full time positions in their research labs for the summer to qualified Stanford-in-Paris students. If you are accepted, the Stanford in Paris program will cover your airfare, as well as your room and board expenses for the duration of your summer internship. Your winter stay in Paris will allow to ease the application process and to become acquainted with these institutions and their ongoing research projects.

For most nationalities, no visa is needed if you return over the summer as long as legal French and European laws are respected regarding the length of your stay.