Paris Fall Semester

Program Dates: Fall 2027 Semester

The Paris Fall Semester program follows the same academic calendar as Rice University. Program dates are therefore aligned with the Fall 2027 semester at Rice. Students arrive a few days before classes begin for mandatory orientation and team-building activities.

Strict move-in date: Tuesday, August 17, 2027
Mandatory orientation: Wednesday, August 18 - Friday, August 20, 2027
First day of classes: Monday, August 23, 2027
Last day of classes: Friday, December 3, 2027
Strict move-out date: Sunday, December 5, 2027

 

Eligibility

This program is open to Rice undergraduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing. Participants are required to enroll in a full course load and to take part in all program activities.

• 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 for prerequisite information. If you have not met a course’s prerequisite, you will not be eligible to enroll in that specific course.
  

  
  

Academics

Please be sure to review General Announcements (GA) for BIOS course requirements and talk with your academic advisor to confirm that this program fits with your degree track.

Courses are thoughtfully designed to fulfill D1, D2, and D3 distribution requirements, allowing you to stay on track academically while gaining an unforgettable experience living and learning in Paris.

• Language of Instruction: Courses are taught in English by Rice faculty (except for optional language course).
• 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 Rice credit hours each. Students register through ESTHER as they would for courses on campus.

Fall 2027 courses are still being finalized; confirmed courses are listed below. Students may reference last year's courses HERE, noting that not all courses will be repeated each year.

Fall 2027 Confirmed Courses (3 Rice Credit Hours Each)

BIOS 301 – Biochemistry I
Instructors: Natasha Kirienko & Dereth Phillips
This course is taught in a 7-week accelerated schedule

BIOS 341 – Cell Biology
Instructors: Janet Braam & Dereth Phillips
Distribution: Receive D3 credit
This course is taught in a 7-week accelerated schedule

Optional
A French language course taught by a local instructor
Planned for Fall 2027 but final details to be confirmed

Co-Curricular Programming

Students will engage in site-based learning and cultural activities designed to complement their coursework and integrate into the host city. Examples of possible activities include:

• Guest lectures by faculty from PSL and Saclay Universities
• Field-based collaborations with local professors
• Visits to Parisian research and medical institutions:
  • Institut Curie
  • Paris Brain Institute
• Museum visits
  • Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine
  • Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain
  • Mémorial De La Shoah (Holocaust museum)
  • Musée des Arts et Métiers
  • Musée de l'Armée
  • Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
  • Musée Curie
  • Musée de l’Histoire de la Médecine
  • Musée du Louvre
  • Musée nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration
•  Additional course-related visits
  • Assemblée nationale (National Assembly)
  • Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection
  • Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou (Centre Pompidou)
  • Grande Mosquée de Paris
  • Maison de l'UNESCO (UNESCO Headquarters)

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. A Residence Community Leader (RCL) 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.

Mandatory Orientation in Paris During O-Week

All students participating in the Paris Fall Semester program are required to attend onsite orientation in Paris. Paris orientation takes place during the same week as O-Week in Houston.

We recognize that students may apply for O-Week leadership roles or other O-Week commitments well in advance. If selected for the Paris Fall Semester program, you must be available to travel to Paris in time for orientation and will not be able to participate in O-Week activities in Houston.

Tuition & Costs

Tuition & Housing
Students pay the same tuition and rooming charges as a semester on the Rice campus in Houston. Please check the Bursar's Office site for the most updated costs.

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

Rice University Fees
The following fees are required for participation in this program. Please refer to the rates as listed by the Bursar's Office (currently only listed for Academic Year 2026-27; please re-check their website once Academic Year 2027-28 is posted).

• Undergraduate Tuition: Same as a regular fall semester at Rice
• Health & Wellness Support Fee: Students are required to sign up for the Rice travel insurance covered by this fee and to have access to the Rice Wellbeing Office
• Room - On Campus: This fee covers housing costs in Paris

The following fees, however, are not required and will be waived for the program semester:

• Student Activity Fee
•  Recreation Center Fee
• Meals - On Campus Plan
• Health Insurance

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

• The $300 commitment fee will be refunded to you before the program start date.
• If you withdraw from the program, the fees will not be refunded to you.

Additional Costs to Budget For

• Roundtrip airfare: ~$1,000-$2,500
• Meals: ~$2,400–$4,000 (Comparable to Rice meal plan ~$3200/semester)
  • Mostly groceries / minimal dining out: ~$1,400–$3,000
  • Mixed cooking + occasional dining out: ~$3,000–$6,000
  • Restaurant-heavy / frequent dining out: ~$6,000–$10,000
• Visa Fees: ~$300–$700
• Personal/incidentals (phone, toiletries, laundry, social, weekend travel, etc.): ~$800–$1,500
• Personal/travel buffer: ~$500–$1,000

Actual expenses vary by exchange rate, booking timing, lifestyle and travel choices.

Financial Aid & Awards

Rice Financial Aid
Students who receive or are eligible for financial aid from the Rice Office of Financial Aid in Houston will have that same aid applied to this program.

Airfare Awards
Limited awards for airfare may be available from Rice Global. Students can apply directly within the program application.
This is a flight purchased directly by Rice Global on the student's behalf. It is not a monetary award.

How to Apply

Fall 2027 program application not yet open at this time.

Students are encouraged to review all program details—including confirmed courses and eligibility requirements—before applying. Students should also consider how their spring course selections align with the courses offered through this program.

Priority Deadline: Apply by March 15, 2027
Only students who apply by the priority deadline will be considered for an airfare award from Rice Global.

Final Deadline: Apply by March 31, 2027

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

Students will be accepted to the program on a rolling basis, and the application will remain open until the final deadline of March 31, 2027.

An official acceptance letter (including award notification) will be sent, which provides next steps and the deadline to commit to the program.

Info Session Slides

CLICK HERE to access the presentation slides from our info session in February 2026.

 

YouTube Playlist

CLICK HERE to watch a selection of videos showcasing our Paris Fall Semester program.

 

More Information

• Check out our Student Life in Paris page to learn about where you will live and learn.
• For questions, please contact us at globalowls@rice.edu
• To get up to date emails regarding upcoming information sessions and deadlines, CLICK HERE to join our mailing list.
• Check out our FAQs linked at the top of this page (click on the pictures).