Rice Global Paris Summer Program

Program Overview

Spend your summer studying at the Rice Global Paris Center combining academic rigor with cultural immersion in one of the world’s most inspiring cities. This program is open to all Rice undergraduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing.

Location: Rice Global Paris Center | Paris, France

AT A GLANCE
Term: Summer 2027 - Three summer sessions; each session = 3 weeks (students can only take one course per session)
Eligibility: Open to Rice undergraduates in good standing
Credits: 3 or 6 Rice credit hours (register through ESTHER); no transfer needed
Taught By: Rice faculty in English
Tuition: Summer 2026 rate was $1,900 per credit hour (3-credit courses = $5,700); Summer 2027 TBA
Rice Global Awards: Tuition and travel awards available
Priority Deadline: Apply by December 9, 2026
Final Deadline: Apply by February 15, 2027
Admissions: Reviewed as received; acceptance only sent out once course has reached minimum enrollment requirement (12 students)
Contact: globalowls@rice.edu

Program Dates: 2027 Summer Sessions

There are a total of three summer sessions offered on the Paris Summer Program:

Session 1: Monday, May 17 – Friday, June 4, 2027
• Move-in May 16 • Move-out June 5

Session 2: Wednesday, June 9 – Tuesday, June 29, 2027
• Move-in June 8 • Move-out June 30

Session 3: Monday, July 5 – Friday, July 23, 2027
• Move-in July 4 • Move-out July 24

You may take one course per session. If you wish, you can participate in multiple sessions, but tuition will apply separately for each.

Eligibility

The Paris Summer Program is open to Rice undergraduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing. This includes graduating seniors!

• Active Student Status: You must be enrolled at Rice and maintain active student status during the Spring 2027 semester in order to be eligible to apply. Students on leave during the Spring 2027 semester are not eligible, even if on track for Fall 2027 readmission. Incoming Fall 2027 freshmen are also not eligible to apply.

• Applicant Eligibility Review: Standard conduct and wellbeing reviews are part of Rice Global's review process.

• Prereqs (if applicable): Please review each individual course webpage for prerequisite information. If you have not met a course’s prerequisite, you will not be eligible to enroll in that specific course.

• Note for GRADUATING SENIORS
  You are welcome to apply to this program; however, Rice summer aid (directly from the Office of Financial Aid) is not available to seniors who have obtained enough credits to graduate by the end of the spring semester. You are still eligible to apply for both RICE GLOBAL tuition and travel awards, included in the program application. Additionally, you will have to postpone your graduation date to the summer in order to participate, and you must request to participate in the commencement ceremony in May.

   

Academics

Summer 2027 courses are still being finalized at this time.

• Language of Instruction: Courses are taught in English by Rice faculty.

• No Transfer Needed: Students will be enrolled in Rice courses taught by Rice faculty, so there is no transfer credit needed.

• Course Credit: All courses earn direct Rice credit, with each course earning 3 or 6 Rice credit hours each. Students register through ESTHER as they would for courses on campus.

  
  

Housing

All residences are located in 13th arrondissement in the Buttes-aux-Cailles neighborhood, an approximately 30-minute journey to the Rice Global Paris Center via metro. Residence Community Leaders (RCLs) will live onsite for student support.

Each residence has individual fully furnished, single-occupancy apartments which include the following: a full bathroom with a shower, a kitchen area with plates/utensils provided, a table or desk with a chair, a bed with linen & pillows provided, and a shared washer/dryer.

Tuition & Commitment Fee

Program Tuition
The program tuition includes:

• Housing for all three weeks
• Metro card for the duration of the session
• Course-related excursions and tickets
• Three group meals 

The Summer 2027 tuition rate has not yet been announced. We will update this page as soon as the information is available; in the meantime, please use last year's numbers for reference below.

• Summer 2026 Tuition
  The Summer 2026 tuition rate was $1,900 per credit hour. Total tuition for a 3 credit course was $5,700; total tuition for a 6 credit course was $11,400.

Rice Global Commitment Fee
$300 commitment fee + $9 processing fee to secure your spot in the program

• The $300 will be applied towards your tuition.
• You will not be able to register for your summer course until this fee has been received.
• If you withdraw from the program, the fees will not be refunded to you.

Financial Aid & Awards

Rice Financial Aid
Per the Rice Office of Financial Aid website: Degree-seeking Rice undergraduates who received need-based aid during the academic year are eligible to receive institutional need-based aid equivalent to 50% of summer tuition.

Please refer to the Office of Financial Aid for details on summer aid eligibility. Any questions related to financial aid should be emailed to fina@rice.edu. To ensure students are directed to the correct staff member, they should ask to be connected specifically with the financial aid advisor responsible for summer financial aid for programs abroad.

• Summer aid is not available to seniors who have earned enough credits to graduate by the end of the spring semester.
• The Summer Rice Grant may be received for up to two summers (maximum 9 credit hours per summer/maximum of $5,700).
• The grant applies to Rice courses only, including Rice online, in-person, or “Rice in-country” programs.

Rice Global: Tuition and Travel Awards
Students may also apply for tuition and travel awards from Rice Global directly within the program application.
Funding awarded from Rice Global is additive and not affiliated with Rice Financial Aid.

• Rice Global awards are designed to help bridge small funding gaps and cannot fully cover the cost of the program.
• All applicants are eligible for Rice Global awards regardless of need level or eligibility for financial aid at Rice. Students will apply for these awards within the singular program application.
• Although students do not need to qualify for Rice Financial Aid in order to receive a Rice Global award, Rice Global will consider each applicant’s level of financial need (as noted in their application) when determining how much funding they receive.
• The maximum combined award available from Rice Global is $1,300, and this amount is not guaranteed. Students should plan their budgets carefully to ensure they can cover the full program cost even if they do not receive the maximum award amount.

Rice Global: Additional Funding - PRIORITY DEADLINE APPLICANTS ONLY
Students who apply by the priority deadline may request additional Rice Global funding on top of the capped Rice Global Tuition and Travel award amount ($1,300).
Funding awarded from Rice Global is additive and not affiliated with Rice Financial Aid.

• After the priority deadline, students will not have the option to apply for additional funding.
• Requesting additional funding does not guarantee it will be awarded. Additional funding won't be awarded until after the final deadline. Students should plan their budgets carefully to ensure they can cover the full program cost even if they do not receive any additional funding.
• Students will be considered for additional funding according to the order in which they applied. Therefore, applying earlier increases the chances of receiving any additional funding.

Budgeting & Costs

Tuition
The Summer 2027 tuition rate has not yet been announced; see Summer 2026 rate below for reference.
3-credit course: $5,700 (2026)
6-credit course: $11,400 (2026)

Flights
Budget approximately $1,500–$2,500 for round-trip airfare between Houston and Paris. Prices vary depending on when you book and the airline.

Meals & Daily Living
Your apartment in the student residence includes a small stove, microwave, fridge, and basic utensils. Cooking most meals can significantly reduce costs.

Estimated Meal Costs (3 weeks)

• Mostly groceries / minimal dining out: €210–€450 (≈ $245–$525)
• Mixed cooking + occasional dining out: €450–€900 (≈ $525–$1,050)
• Restaurant-heavy / frequent dining out: €900–€1,500+ (≈ $1,050–$1,750+)

In addition, budget around $200–$400 for incidentals, snacks, local transit, and small outings. A more flexible buffer of $300–$500 is recommended if you plan to travel or dine out more frequently.

Financial Aid & Scholarships
If you currently receive financial aid at Rice, you may qualify for the Summer Rice Grant, which may cover 50% of tuition (up to 9 summer credit hours).
Example: 3-credit course tuition after aid = $2,850
(Eligibility must be confirmed through the Office of Financial Aid.)

You may also apply for a Rice Global Travel or Tuition Award, which can provide up to $1,300 to offset tuition or travel costs.

Tip: Students can save considerably by booking flights early, preparing most meals at home, and budgeting for a mix of affordable dining and free cultural activities.

How to Apply

Summer 2027 program application is not yet open at this time. Students are encouraged to review all program details—including confirmed courses and eligibility requirements—before applying.

Priority Deadline: Apply by December 9, 2026

• Only students who apply by the priority deadline may request additional Rice Global funding on top of Rice Global tuition & travel awards.
• Students who applied by the priority deadline will be notified whether their first-choice course has met the minimum enrollment requirement of twelve students. The priority deadline review period will not include admission decisions for second- or third-choice courses.
• Those whose first-choice courses meet minimum enrollment will receive an official acceptance letter (including award notification) and must commit to the program by January 11, 2027. If you know that will not be able to make a commitment decision by January 11, please do not apply for the priority deadline and wait until after December 9 to apply for the final deadline instead.
• If a course has not yet met minimum enrollment, students will be informed and then must wait until the final deadline for final results. If the course still does not meet enrollment after the final deadline, students who applied priority will be prioritized for admission into their second- or third-choice course.

Final Deadline: Apply by February 15, 2027

• All remaining applications are due by the final application deadline. Official acceptance and award notifications will be sent as soon as possible, and students will have one week to confirm participation by submitting the commitment fee.

Program Application
Applicants will submit only ONE application form, regardless of how many courses they would like to participate in. Within the application form, students will:

• Indicate if you would like to be considered for more than one course (in different sessions)
• Rank your preferred courses in order of interest
  • IMPORTANT: Students must be fully prepared to attend their second or third choices. Please do not rank any backup courses if you are not serious about taking them!
  • To increase your chances of attending the program, students are advised to rank courses from at least two sessions.
• Apply for Rice Global Tuition and/or Travel Awards

HELPFUL TIP: Session 1 tends to be the most popular summer session, so apply early if you're planning on attending a course in Session 1 (applications are reviewed in the order they are received).

Application Statements: Intent, Readiness & Cultural Awareness

As part of your application, you will complete three short written statements that help us understand your motivation, readiness, and cultural awareness for studying abroad in Paris. These statements are a key component of the application review process and allow you to share your goals, experiences, and perspectives in your own words.

Please take time to write thoughtful and complete responses. Short or one-sentence answers will not be considered sufficient. Each response should be between 150–250 words.

• STATEMENT OF INTENT (150–250 words)
  Studying abroad in Paris offers unique academic and cultural opportunities. Please tell us why you want to participate in this program and elaborate on your course preferences, explaining the connection to your academic or personal goals. Additionally, please tell us what you hope to contribute to and gain from this experience.
• PERSONAL READINESS & ADAPTABILITY (150–250 words)
  Studying abroad requires independence, maturity, and flexibility. Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a new or challenging environment—academic, professional, or personal. What did you learn about yourself through that experience, and how do you think those lessons will help you navigate the opportunities and challenges of living and studying in Paris?
• CULTURAL AWARENESS & REPRESENTATION (150–250 words)
  As a Rice University student abroad, you will represent both Rice and the United States in a variety of settings—from daily interactions in Paris to academic excursions and events with institutional partners and professionals. Reflect on your awareness of cultural differences and describe how you plan to approach living and learning in a different cultural context. How will you demonstrate professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and respect for local norms, values, and customs while engaging with others and building meaningful connections in Paris and across France?

Admissions Process

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, so students are encouraged to apply early to increase their chances of securing a spot in their preferred course. However, admission notifications will be sent after the application deadline, once course enrollment is confirmed.

Each course requires a minimum enrollment of 12 students to run. Final admission decisions are based on both the order in which applications are received and whether the course meets the minimum number of students required. Courses that do not reach the enrollment minimum may not be offered, even if applications were submitted early.

This approach allows us to review applications thoughtfully while ensuring that each course provides a strong academic environment.

Info Session Slides

CLICK HERE to access the Summer 2026 info session slides, held in January 2026.

 

YouTube Playlist

CLICK HERE to watch a selection of videos showcasing previous courses and experiences on our Paris Summer Program.

Learn More

Check out our FAQ pages below ⬇️

If you still have questions, feel free to email us at globalowls@rice.edu.