Paris Fall Semester

Program Overview

Spend a semester studying at the Rice Global Paris Center in the heart of France. The Fall 2026 program offers Rice undergraduates the opportunity to live, learn, and explore Paris while earning full Rice credit toward their degree.

Location: Rice Global Paris Center | Paris, France

Program Dates: Fall 2026 Semester – Students arrive a few days before classes begin for mandatory orientation and team-building activities.

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

Course Credit: All courses earn Rice credit (no transfer required). Students register through ESTHER as they would for courses on campus.

Eligibility: This program is open to Rice undergraduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing. It is recommended for rising sophomores and juniors with an interest in health professions or the life sciences. Participants are required to enroll in a full course load and to take part in all program activities. Additional eligibility requirements are being finalized and will be published when the application opens.

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition & Housing: Students pay the same tuition and rooming charges as a semester on the Rice campus in Houston.

Included in Cost: Housing, local transportation, and all program-organized excursions and tickets.

Financial Aid: Students who receive or are eligible for financial aid in Houston will have that same aid applied to this program.

Travel Awards: Limited awards for airfare may be available from Rice Global. Students can apply directly within the program application.

Academics

Students select their curriculum from approximately six to seven 3-credit-hour courses across a range of disciplines.

Confirmed Courses for Fall 2026

BIOS 301 – Biochemistry I
Instructors: Natasha Kirienko & Dereth Phillips | Credits: 3

BIOS 341 – Cell Biology (DIII credit)
Instructors: Janet Braam & Dereth Phillips | Credits: 3

Additional Courses
• 2 courses from the School of Social Sciences – TBD
• 2 courses from the School of Humanities – TBD

Optional (Not Yet Confirmed)
A French language course may be offered to support cultural immersion. Details are still being finalized and subject to confirmation.

Sample Courses from Fall 2025

• PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology (DII credit) | Instructor: Mikki Hebl | 3 credits
• PSYC 202 – Introduction to Social Psychology (DII credit) | Instructor: Mikki Hebl | 3 credits
• PSYC 485 – Undergraduate Supervised Research | Instructor: Mikki Hebl | 1–3 credits (permission required)
• FREN 314 – Contemporary French Society (DI credit) | Instructor: Julie Fette | 3 credits
• FREN 141 – First Year French I | Instructor: Julie Fette | 3 credits
• HART 367 – Architectures of Power, Resistance, and Coexistence: A Global Perspective (DI credit) | Instructor: Fabiola López-Durán | 3 credits
  

Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Programming

Students will engage in site-based learning and cultural activities designed to complement their coursework. Past examples include:

• Guest lectures by faculty from PSL and Saclay Universities
• Field-based collaborations with local professors
• Visits to Parisian research and medical institutions:
  • Necker Children’s Hospital & Imagine Institute for Genetic Diseases
  • Paris Brain Institute
• Museum visits such as:
  • Musée de l’Histoire de la Médecine (6th arrondissement)
  • Musée Fragonard (Maison Alfort)
  • Museum of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (14th arrondissement)
  • Pierre & Marie Curie Laboratory (5th arrondissement)

Fall 2026 programming is still in development and subject to change.

Admissions

Additional eligibility requirements are being finalized and will be published when the application opens. The online application will be posted on this webpage once it goes live—expected in mid-November, shortly after the Spring registration period (October 31–November 14). This timing allows students to plan their Spring coursework while also considering options for the following Fall semester.

We are prioritizing rising sophomores and juniors with an interest in health professions or the life sciences. Students are encouraged to consider how their Spring course selections align with potential courses offered through this program.

Applications are reviewed in the order received, and early submission is encouraged to maximize the likelihood of admission. Once the application period closes, all applications will be reviewed comprehensively. Admission notifications will be issued after the deadline, with decisions communicated between late February and early March.

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?
  

  
  

How to Apply?

The application link will be posted on this webpage once it becomes available. We anticipate the application will open in mid-November. Students are encouraged to review all program details—including confirmed courses and eligibility requirements—before applying