The academic building at NYU Paris is situated in a beautiful, relatively massive brick building on the famous Boulevard Saint-Germain in the swanky fifth arrondissement of Paris. Cafés and crêperies, trees and baguettes line the street. Because of its central location, many courses have excursions, as most of the famous sites are only 10 minutes away; for example, you are 15 minutes walking distance from the Louvre Museum. The academic building is composed of eight floors, NYU Paris occupies 5 floors, and Eyrolles, a library, occupies the rest. The view from all the windows are breath-taking, and from the eighth floor study lounge you can take in a panoramic view of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame de Paris, Sacré-Cœur, and the Seine. It is actually hard to focus in class -- the view from the windows is so picturesque and you are able to hear birds chirping and kids playing.The Academic plan in Paris is divided into two programs: Program I and Program II. Program I is for students who are beginners in French and take the majority of their classes in English. Many students feel Program I is effective for rapid language acquisition. Program II is for students who have experience learning French and who take the majority of their classes in French. The class sizes are generally very small and therefore feel very personal. My favorite class is French-African Relations. There are only two students in the class and is completely in French. The small class environment here at NYU Paris encourages each student to work harder and contribute more. NYU Paris courses in Program I include such offerings as The French Art World in the 19th and 20th Centuries, French Culture-French Cinema, France and the European Union, France and Islam, and French and Expatriate Literature. NYU in Paris courses in Program II include such offerings as Buildings, Landscapes, and Cities: Paris, French Cinema, French Culture, The Contemporary Art World. According to the NYU Paris Academics page, advanced students in Program II have the option of enrolling in one or more courses offered in the French university system (Paris I, III, VII, X) and other specialized schools (Institut d'Études Politiques). Students enrolled in the French university system attend classes with native French speakers. Advanced students in Program II may take one course in the French university system and the rest of their courses at the NYU center.Every NYU Paris student is enrolled administratively in the University of Paris. This means you get a University of Paris ID card, access to all the facilities, access to museums, and the ability to directly enroll in the University of Paris. This is an exciting option for someone who wants to get a truly “French” experience. Many students are divided on how they feel about the academic rigor. I conducted a survey on our student population revealing that roughly half feel the classes are very difficult and half feel that the classes are too easy. In my opinion, if you are from NYU Shanghai you will be prepared for NYU Paris. Your professors will not give you too much homework because they really want you to experience Paris rather than staying inside studying. Additionally, many students travel all over Europe every weekend. For me, the homework load is rigorous but not too great in quantity. It should be noted that French professors place a strong emphasis on politeness; it is rude to show up late, eat food, use the bathroom, and ask questions during class.In one of my classes we travel to all the famous sites in Paris every week. This course allows you to learn about the country’s history and go on a walking tour all over Paris. Because of this course, I have seen many beautiful places in Paris that I would have never known to go to. If you love history, art, francophone studies, literature, or culture, NYU Paris is guaranteed to provide courses that are interesting to you.If you are a Humanities major, consider studying away for two semesters in Paris. Two semesters is sufficient to reach conversational fluency in French. This study away site can also provide a student visa that will allow you to work and find an internship in Paris. Everyone that has an internship at NYU Paris loves the program and feels it compliments their academics very well. Plus, student internships in Paris often include fancy office parties with wine and cheese. This article was written by Mark West. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Krista Young