The Vassar-Wesleyan Program in Paris is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors from any US-accredited college or university. It is committed to high academic standards and to the furthering of studies of the humanities, social sciences, and sciences in Paris. Students may apply to the program for either one or two semesters and elect to spend one or two semesters of study in the program.
Vassar College Students
Vassar students must have an overall academic average of at least a « B » and have completed at least FREN 210 with a « B » or better before leaving for Paris. One course above 210 is strongly recommended. Applications for permission to study abroad either fall or spring semester, or the entire academic year, are due by the first Monday in December.
Wesleyan University Students
Wesleyan students must have completed FREN215 or an equivalent or more advanced course with a grade of B or higher before leaving for Paris unless they arrived at Wesleyan with an advanced command of French and can demonstrate when they apply that they still have a command of French equal or superior to that normally acquired in FREN215. Students who are currently enrolled in FREN215 or who have not taken FREN215 but are currently enrolled in an equivalent or more advanced course may apply and be accepted on the condition that that they complete the course with a grade of B or higher before leaving for Paris. If they do not do so, their acceptance will be rescinded.
Wesleyan students are expected to take FREN215 or an equivalent or more advanced course during the semester immediately before the semester they plan to spend in Paris. If this is not possible, they should explain why they were not able to do so (or, in the case of students who arrived at Wesleyan with an advanced command of the language, why they did not need to do so) in their application essay and must have taken FREN215 or an equivalent or more advanced course in the preceding semester (the semester, that is, before they apply) unless they can demonstrate when they apply that they still have a command of French equal or superior to that acquired in FREN215.
They must be in good standing and not subject to academic or disciplinary probation when they apply. They must resolve all incomplete grades before their departure for Paris. If students who have been accepted to the program fail to resolve all incomplete grades before their departure to Paris or lose good standing or are subjected to any form of academic or disciplinary probation after they have been accepted, their acceptance may be rescinded.
They must receive positive evaluations with respect to their preparedness for study abroad from their current or most recent French teacher (or, when this is not possible, from another member of the French section) and from another faculty member with whom they have taken a class.
Wesleyan applications for the fall semester or the academic year are due in the Office of Study Abroad, 201 Fisk Hall, 262 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459 (studyabroad@wesleyan.edu; 1-860-685-2550). Check with the Office of Study Abroad for application due dates.
Students from Other Institutions
Students from other institutions should have an overall academic average of at least a “B” and have completed at least one semester of a third-year college French course with a “B” or better before leaving for Paris. Students from other institutions should send applications for 2027-2028 to Vassar College Office of International Programs (internationalprograms@vassar.edu). Check with International Programs for relevant application due dates.
Application
Students of Wesleyan University
1) Please review Wesleyan’s Application Policies and Procedures
2) Submit an application on Wesleyan’s ViaTRM system
Students of Vassar College
1) Please review Vassar’s Education Abroad Policies.
2) Submit an application through Vassar’s Global Learning Portal.
Students from other institutions: Please contact Vassar College’s Office of International Programs for access to the application.
