France Paris French Language Internship: Business & Economics

• All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
• Four semesters of College level French or the equivalent are required
  • Some courses carry prerequisites
• Admissions requirements for all programs

The program is divided into two phases:

Week 1–Week 8 (Core Phase)

After an orientation period, students enroll in three courses and begin the internship placement process. Students typically take one French language course, and two electives covering a range of topics. We strongly encourage students to enroll in a French language course, as well as to take all of their electives in French, although they are not required to do so. Such additional language instruction and practice will better support and prepare students for success in their academic and internship placement obligations throughout the semester.

Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.

Week 10–Week 16 (Internship Phase)

During the second half of the semester, students participate in local professional life through faculty-supervised internships. Students serve as interns full time, Monday through Thursday, while also attending internship course sessions on Fridays. 

Placements are contingent upon students' past experiences, language abilities, professional interests, and available opportunities in any given semester, so flexibility is essential.

Internship Area

Note: the following are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed. The level of proficiency in the target language is an important factor, which internship supervisors will take into account.

• Business & Economics
  • Serve in the marketing or research departments of French companies. Recent placements have included Finance Innovation, and La Chaire Gouvernance et Régulation de l'Université Paris Dauphine, Supervizor and Streaming.

Internship Course

Study Abroad will enroll students in a non-credit Hub co-curricular and in a four-credit internship course, which includes a classroom component in the form of mandatory workshops. The four-credit course number will depend on the area of specialization in which students complete their internship or focus their reflection for the Internship Course assignments.

The Internship Course workshops are designed to encourage students’ reflection on their internship cultural and professional experience, as well as to prepare for the internship course assignments, a process which results in a final mock professional interview, where students highlight the professional value and benefits of their internship experience.

Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub unit in the area Individual in Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.

Students in this program should expect their internship to be conducted in French. Placements in English are limited and reserved for students with lower levels of French proficiency.

• Non-credit Hub Co-curricular: HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
  • This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
    • Individual in Community
• CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics Abroad (4)
• Syllabus

Local Homestay

or

University Dormitory

Individual bedrooms in local family home Each room includes a bed, a desk, and some storage space Linens are provided and washed regularly Kitchen access is allowed with reserved space in cabinets and refrigerator, and full use of the appliances to prepare meals Board not included; students eat 1 meal/week with family. No stipend. Host families provide laundry and internet

Single rooms with desk, sink, closet, fridge Shared showers, toilets & kitchen Sheets are provided and changed every 2 weeks Board not included, no stipend Students may eat at student cafeterias (CROUS) located throughout the city Laundry facilities at the residence hall

There are gyms at the university and in town. Students can study at the BU Paris Center. Many students study at home, as university libraries have more restricted hours than in the US.

• Fall Semester: late August to mid-December
• Spring Semester: early January to late April

This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.

Fall Semester

• Applications Open December 15
• Applications Deadline March 15

Spring Semester

• Applications Open June 1*
• Applications Deadline October 1
  *Applications for the Spring 2025 semester will open on June 12

This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.

Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.

• 2024/2025 Tuition & Fees: $26,282 per semester
  Cost includes tuition, housing, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage.
• Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
• Grants and Scholarships available.