— ABOUT US • STUDENT LIFE
Life in the world’s
most inspiring
city
At PAA, the classroom never ends at the studio door. The museums, markets, fashion houses, parks, and cafés of Paris are as much a part of your education as anything that happens inside our ateliers.
— THE PAA EXPERIENCE
“The PAA classrooms spill into the museums, libraries, and streets of Paris — where participants are exposed to professional exhibitions, fashion trade shows, design fairs, and icons of the design world.”
Studying at Paris American Academy is unlike studying anywhere else. The city of Paris acts as the PAA campus. Students are encouraged to explore the museums, restaurants, cultural events, parks, and libraries available to them — and we make that easy with a student handbook that includes a curated what’s-on guide, updated each semester, to help enrich the educational experience with the full breadth of what the city has to offer.
01
Paris as campus
Museums, ateliers, fashion fairs, and historic streets — every corner of the Latin Quarter is an extension of the studio.
02
French language & culture
French language classes are offered throughout each semester to help students navigate daily life in the French capital with confidence.
03
International community
Students from 35+ nations share studios, critique sessions, and the streets of Paris — an education in itself.
04
Housing support
PAA manages furnished apartments within a five-minute walk of the school, and provides guidance for students who prefer to find their own accommodation.
— THE CITY IS THE CLASSROOM
Every arrondissement
is part of the course
PAA students follow the professional calendar of Paris — attending trade shows, exhibition openings, museum visits, and guided explorations of the city’s design history. The student handbook includes a curated what’s-on guide updated each semester.
Musée d’Orsay
IMPRESSIONISM & FINE ARTS
Centre Pompidou
CONTEMPORARY & DESIGN
Paris Fashion Week
INDUSTRY ACCESS
Maison & Objets
INTERIOR & DESIGN FAIR
Prêt-à-Porter Paris
FASHION TRADE SHOW
Marché Saint-Pierre
FABRIC & TEXTILE SOURCING
Palais Royal
ARCHITECTURE & SKETCHING
— FIRST STEPS IN PARIS
Arriving in Paris
with confidence
At the start of each semester, new students are offered a two-week orientation course designed to help them adjust to French culture and Parisian life — before academic work begins in earnest.
It’s a chance to meet fellow students, discover the neighbourhood, and start building the practical knowledge that makes life in a new city feel manageable, and then wonderful.
01
Welcome & introductions
Meeting your cohort, your faculty advisors, and the PAA team. A first walk through the Latin Quarter together.
02
Practical Paris
Opening a bank account, navigating public transport, understanding the health system, and the essentials of daily life in France.
03
French language foundation
An intensive introductory module in French — enough to navigate cafés, markets, and shops from your first week.
04
Cultural orientation
An intensive introductory module in French — enough to navigate cafés, markets, and shops from your first week.
05
Studio & atelier introduction
A first look at your workspace, your tools, and the working methods that will define your time at PAA.
“The street is already a collection. I just learned to read it differently after arriving in Paris.”
— HANNAH SIEGLER — FASHION DESIGN STUDENT, PAA SPRING 2025
“
Paris completely changed how I look at fashion. Every walk to school was an education — the window displays, the people, the light. I’ve never sketched so much in my life.
SL
Sofia L.
FASHION DESIGN · BRAZIL
“
The orientation week made all the difference. By the time classes started, I already had friends from six different countries and knew the neighbourhood like I’d lived here for years.
JK
James K.
INTERIOR DESIGN · USA
“
I was nervous about moving abroad alone. The apartment PAA helped me find was five minutes from school, and the community around the Academy made me feel at home within a week.
AY
Aiko Y.
FINE ARTS · JAPAN
— WHERE YOU’LL LIVE
Housing in the
Latin Quarter
Paris American Academy does not have student halls or dormitories, but manages a selection of furnished apartments within a five-minute walk of the school. Students may also choose to find their own accommodation — we provide practical guidance for all options.
RECOMMENDED
PAA-managed apartments
Furnished studios and one-bedroom apartments within a 5-minute walk of 19, Rue Claude Bernard. Contact PAA admissions for availability and pricing.
Private rentals
Platforms such as Seloger, PAP, and Leboncoin are the main portals for private rentals in Paris. We recommend looking within the 5e, 6e, 13e, and 14e arrondissements for proximity to the school.
With friends or family
Students are welcome to live with friends or family already based in Paris. Many students find this a valuable way to deepen their experience of everyday Parisian life.
Shared accommodation
Colocation (flat-sharing) is common and affordable in Paris. We can connect new students with each other to facilitate shared flat searches ahead of arrival.
— THE PARISIAN CALENDAR
Events that shape
your semester
SEPTEMBER
Paris Fashion Week – Women’s
Fashion • Trade show
OCTOBER
FIAC – Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain
Fine Arts • Fair
JANUARY
Maison & Objets
Interior Design • Trade fair
FEBRUARY
Prêt-à-Porter Paris
Fashion • Wholesale fair
MARCH
Première Vision Paris
Textiles • Fabric fair
— THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Eating, exploring,
and finding your Paris
PAA does not have campus catering, but the Latin Quarter is one of the richest food neighbourhoods in Paris — with boulangeries, marchés, and restaurants at every turn. Microwaves are available for students who bring their own lunch.
— APPLICATION
Experience Paris for yourself
Applications are open for semester and summer programs. Our admissions team is happy to answer any questions before you apply.