Center for University Programs Abroad

The Center for University Programs Abroad (CUPA) is an independent organization founded in 1963. CUPA has offices in Paris and the United States. CUPA specializes in study abroad exclusively in Paris and seeks to bring as genuine an experience as possible to its students. CUPA is located in the heart of Montparnasse, on the Left Bank, close to the Luxembourg Gardens. Students can choose to study in Paris for a semester or the entire academic year, or they may opt for the six-week long summer program. A mutually demanding and rewarding relationship, based on interaction, dedication, and individual advising, as well as common values of respect, responsibility, and independence, exists between CUPA and its participants. A language pledge is signed by all participants for the duration of the program: students are required to speak only in French at CUPA, during all program-sponsored activities, and in their homestays. While providing a home base and a comforting structure, CUPA sets itself apart from the majority of the American student community in Paris in that students are directly matriculated, do the same type of work as their French counterparts, and are strongly encouraged to participate in numerous activities in the Parisian context.