High School Program

Oxbridge in Paris

Grades: 9 – 12

Lycée Notre-Dame de Sion, Paris

Program Overview

Oxbridge in Paris takes place in the Lycée Notre Dame de Sion, an top independent school in the 6th arrondissement, adjacent to the Luxembourg Gardens. The Louvre, the Pantheon, and the Latin Quarter, as well as other world-famous sites, all lie within walking distance.

Students choose a Major and a Minor, in French or in English, from a selection of academic and creative options. Students with two or more years of French can opt for the immersion courses. They can also choose to be part of our Immersion section in the residence.

Costs & Payment

Dates

$7,995

July 6 – August 2, 2022

$7,995

Tuition Information: Costs include accommodation, classroom instruction, workshops, field trips, two daily meals, and all program-organized activities. We also offer a select number of scholarships based on financial need. For full details, see our Tuition page.

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A Day in the Life

Communal breakfast
Major classes on topics ranging from Photography to Medicine meet in classrooms, labs, studios, or out in Paris
Students can choose to have lunch at any local restaurants or sandwich shops in town
Students attend their Minor classes in the afternoon or head out on group field trips to Notre Dame and Sorbonne
Full group dinner
Evening activities, events, or shows

What's Included

Access to cultural sites and local events

Accommodations

Extracurricular activities, workshops, and event offerings

Continuous support

On-site staff of experienced professionals

Local meals

Full Course List

Art History

With the Louvre, Orsay, Rodin, and Pompidou collections all within reach, this course gives students a hands-on introduction to Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic, Realist, Impressionist, and Modernist art. Working in museums, students learn how to read masterpieces by Michelangelo, da Vinci, David, Delacroix, Manet, Rodin, and Monet, as well as important works by prominent Surrealist, Cubist, and Pop artists.

Creative Writing: Writing Paris

In this course, students explore Paris as a city full of stories — drawing inspiration from the city in order to broaden their writing skills. Instructed by professional authors, students will polish their writing skills as they produce new works inspired by visits to Hemingway's favorite cafe, Beckett's tomb, and the Luxembourg Gardens. Student's best work will appear in the program's literary magazine.

Culture and Cuisine

Students discover French cuisine from the evolution of regional dishes and the invention of the café to the development of the modern food industry. Classroom sessions are enhanced by tastings in some of Paris’ most beloved bakeries and shops, as well as practical cooking sessions, during which students try their hand at French gastronomy.

Materials fee of $300 for Majors; $250 for Minors.

Fashion

Using the city’s fashion resources, students are introduced to the history and modern processes of haute-couture. They become acquainted with the main facets of the business — from factory floor to boutique — visit some of the most famous houses as well as their artisanal suppliers, and learn the basics of clothes and accessory design. The course culminates in a fashion show in which the students première their creations.

Materials fee of $100 for Majors; $50 for Minors.

French Language: Conversation and Composition

Taking full advantage of the wonders of Paris, this course relies on interactive instruction to review tenses and sentence structure and build students' vocabulary. Language learning is approached through a variety of activities, such as storytelling and role playing, and short thematic units that integrate visits to museums and cultural sites, and regular contact with local native French speakers. Students work on pronunciation, intonation, and public speaking. They are evaluated on the first day and placed in a group with others of a similar level.

International Relations

Working in the country that lent its language to diplomacy, and in the city that has hosted more treaty negotiations than any other, students discover International Relations both through its theoretical bases and by focusing on key issues of the day. Subjects covered include globalization and its political, economic, and social effects; environmental challenges; new forms of war and peace; the changing nature of security challenges; peacekeeping operations; the regional complexities of areas like the Middle East, Africa, and South-East Asia; and the relationships and rivalries that define global order today.

Medicine

This hands-on course introduces students to key aspects of medical science and modern medical practice. Combining specialist lectures with experiments and class discussions, students learn the main principles of human anatomy and physiology, the pathology and significance of certain diseases, discover the main challenges that medical science faces today, and examine the wide and growing range of possible careers in medicine.

Photography

From the top of Montmartre to the winding Canal Saint Martin, students of all levels are guided by a professional photographer as they transform the city into their private studio. They hone their skills on assignments that cover art, photography, essay, landscape, photojournalism, portraiture, and learn to develop their own photos in the school’s darkroom. Students build up a portfolio and their best work is displayed at the final exhibition. They need a 35mm reflex camera. Film is supplied.

Materials fee of $300 for the Major; $150 for the Minor.

Psychology

Students investigate a wide range of case histories, touching on dreams, memory, anxiety, body language, gender, and sexuality. At the same time, they conduct experiments and examine their findings under the guidance of practicing clinicians. They pay special attention to the evolution of psychology in Europe, tracing it back to Rousseau’s concept of stages of development and to Freud’s time in Paris.

Studio Art

Cultural Enrichment

During their time in Paris, students will discover the museums and attractions that make the City of Lights so famous. They will visit well-known sites such as the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower, of course, but there is also a more private Paris to which we will introduce them. This tour of the Parisian's Paris includes visits to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the final resting place of Moliere, Chopin, Oscar Wilde, and Jim Morrison; and the Marche aux Puces, a bustling flea market with over 2000 stalls. Other activities could include Sunday picnics in the park, visits to the Catacombs, or an excursion to the Canal Saint-Martin.

Residence Info

Accommodation and Rooms

In Paris, students live in a centrally located boarding school. Students are housed in singles or doubles. The rooms are dorm-style and have shared facilities.

Facilities

Students have access to common areas within the residences as well as a variety of sporting and educational facilities (gyms, basketball courts, tennis courts, pitches, libraries). Oxbridge provides every program with computers, so students have daily access to email and social media. The program staff maintains message boards and distributes mail every day.

Meals

Students enjoy breakfast and dinner in their residence’s dining halls. Breakfast is primarily continental style with choices such as cereal, yogurt, fruit, toast, coffee, and tea. Several options are available at dinner, including a vegetarian dish and a salad bar. Special dinners are regularly held, and each program ends with a formal banquet. Students are responsible for their own lunch, which can be purchased from a college snack bar or one of the many sandwich shops, small restaurants, patisseries, or bodegas near each residence.

After the Program

Shortly after the program, all students and their parents receive a comprehensive set of grade reports, presenting their course syllabus and highlighting their specific contributions and achievements within their course(s). Most of our alumni later ask for additional copies to include in their college applications.

Immerse yourself in some of the world’s greatest cultural centers

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What People Are Saying About Oxbridge Academic Programs

This was by far the most informative-while-being-interactive class I’ve ever had, and it made learning easier and more fun. Oxbridge made a huge impact on me by increasing my confidence and uncovering my strong interest in global business that I now hope to pursue.

Avery

Oxbridge Student

Thanks to the Cambridge Tradition experience, my daughter is much more mature, has a better knowledge of how to live abroad without her family, and she’s better prepared for university! Her time at Oxbridge reaffirmed that she wants to study architecture and now she has all the skills to reach her goals.

Ana Maria

Cambridge Tradition Parent

Our daughter had a wonderful experience, and she found the Psychology and Genetics courses engaging and useful. She learned new things, made friends, and had 4 amazing weeks! Many thanks to your entire team for making this possible!

Oxbridge Parent

Our daughter loved the Oxford Prep program. She enjoyed her Major, made nice friends, and really began to feel more independent and confident while exploring beautiful Oxford. A great experience through and through and just what we all were hoping for! In fact, she is already talking about participating in the Cambridge program next year.

Daniel

Oxbridge Prep Parent

Just wanted to reach out to thank you for helping to make my daughter’s summer spectacular! She returned on Saturday and has clearly grown from the summer experience. She raves about her time with Dr. Tijn Van Winden and her French teacher.

Sanjeev

Oxbridge in Paris Parent

Thank you for making my son’s experience at Cambridge so memorable! Usually reserved, he talked the whole way home from the airport about what he learned in class, the friends he made, and the museums he visited. My son was initially a bit reluctant to attend a two-week course, but at the end of the second week - he was sad it was ending so quickly!

Cambridge Prep Parent