Art & Fine Arts Internships in France

This internship was truly eye-opening. It was my first time in a real workplace, and it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone — from the language barrier to adapting to a professional environment for the first time. I got to apply finance in a hands-on way that no classroom could ever teach, working on real projects with real businesses. Beyond the technical skills, I learned so much about myself: how I handle pressure, how I show up professionally, and just how seriously I take my work when it matters. It was challenging in the best way, and it genuinely shaped how I see my future career path. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

This internship was truly eye-opening. It was my first time in a real workplace, and it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone — from the language barrier to adapting to a professional environment for the first time. I got to apply finance in a hands-on way that no classroom could ever teach, working on real projects with real businesses. Beyond the technical skills, I learned so much about myself: how I handle pressure, how I show up professionally, and just how seriously I take my work when it matters. It was challenging in the best way, and it genuinely shaped how I see my future career path. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

This internship was truly eye-opening. It was my first time in a real workplace, and it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone — from the language barrier to adapting to a professional environment for the first time. I got to apply finance in a hands-on way that no classroom could ever teach, working on real projects with real businesses. Beyond the technical skills, I learned so much about myself: how I handle pressure, how I show up professionally, and just how seriously I take my work when it matters. It was challenging in the best way, and it genuinely shaped how I see my future career path. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

I was in Paris with Absolute summer 2026. I found the program coordinators super attentive and helpful. I watched them jump in when other students were sick or upset or having logistical issues with traveling. The housing was fine, clean and safe but a little small with very little storage. There were several opportunities to go on weekend or day trips and explore the city with coordinators. The internships I heard about and that I had were fine, no one had a terrible experience. But you definitely will be working full time, it’s very rare to get a day off outside of weekends.

Completing an internship through Absolute Internship was an amazing experience! Not only did I get to go to a bakery and see the Eiffel Tower every day, but I got to experience Paris in a way that I would not have been able to do by myself. Being able to truly experience Paris by being a member of the working society, taking my daily commutes, and hanging out in "local" spots was unmatched. Absolute did a great job supporting me throughout the whole process, from the placement to the on-site experience.

As a student at San Diego State University, I had an incredible experience with Absolute Internship. They placed me at a business law firm in Paris, where I got to do real substantive work, legal research, translation, contract analysis, and document drafting, rather than just fetching coffee. The program handled the logistics seamlessly, so I could focus on making the most of the experience. Living and working in Paris pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a genuine sense of what it’s like to practice law internationally. I’d recommend Absolute Internship to any student looking to gain real professional experience abroad.

I absolutely loved everything Absolute Internship had to offer. I met some amazing people, loved my roommate, and had the opportunity to travel to Bordeaux, Giverny, Normandy, and several other destinations through organized day trips. The program was very well organized, while still giving us plenty of free time to explore the city and travel independently. I had a great experience at my internship, learned a lot, and gained valuable insight into working in a different country and culture. Culture shock is definitely real and can sometimes be noticeable in the workplace, so I would recommend researching the country and its work culture before choosing your destination. However, all of the Program Coordinators were incredibly kind, supportive, and helpful throughout the experience. I also loved having the opportunity to participate as an Absolute Creator and share content from my time abroad. Overall, this was an unforgettable experience, and I am so grateful for all of the memories, friendships, and professional growth it gave me!

Interning abroad in Paris was an unforgettable experience that I will never forget. The culture is filled with so much art, history, and romance. I will miss the simple things like getting a croissant on my way to work from a boulangerie, which is "bakery" in French. After work I would walk to the Canal Saint-Martin and meet up with my roommates to explore boutiques and cafes. At night, the city of Paris was so alive. Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour once it got dark was so magical. I learned so much about international business and cultural etiquette. Paris is the perfect place to gain real-world experience while being fully immersed in yourself through a unique way of life. Paris was my dream come true!

My internship experience was super specific to me and my career goals. Prior to my internship, the AIFS team asked me questions and specifics about my educational and travel goals! The specificity in work and activities I wanted to do made this experience so special to me! Not only boosting my resume but making life-long friends and being able to travel back to Paris, knowing it like my hometown! I grew so much through this program- finding my independent and outgoing side. I tried so many new things, like escargot (which was delicious and is now a favorite of mine) and jazz clubs! What made the experience super unique compared to other programs, it had planned vacations and day trips, along with cultural activities. I was able to have a true vacation planned out for me and already paid for when I got there. I was able to see things like Monet's garden and chateaux without the stress of planning travel and budgeting. While there were many planned activities on weekends, during the week, I got to do whatever I wanted, like a true Parisian. My day would start with a slow morning, some coffee from my favorite local cafe, and a short walk to my internship. I would work until about 3-4 pm, and then choose what to explore that day- Notre Dame, the Louvre. I had lots of freedom in deciding to see and do what I wanted to, but also enjoyed the planned trips, going to places I had never heard of, like Saint-Malo! I would recommend this for anyone willing to try new things and who wants to really integrate into the culture and life of France!

Overall great experience studying abroad with IES (French Studies - Paris). The orientation prior to leaving for the semester was thorough and helpful; when I had questions I emailed and always got a helpful response. One thing that was stressful prior to leaving was my class schedule and housing situations not being released until very close to my departure date. I'm not sure if this is the case for all study abroad programs, but compared to my friends in other programs I felt like my classes and housing assignment were released quite late (within weeks of my departure date). It would have been nice to know my housing to make leaving for abroad more comfortable. During the program though, there were plenty of fun activities and opportunities to meet other students! I took a macaron making class and always took part in the bi-weekly snack break at the center (where my classes were). The staff was very helpful with figuring out classes and recommendations for things to do and places to see. I had a great time!

My experience with the company was incredibly positive. They were very supportive in securing a direct internship placement that aligned with my career goals and area of study. The transition to a new country was made smooth and stress-free thanks to their thorough preparation and guidance before departure. Overall, this experience was amazing—I gained valuable knowledge and skills through full immersion in a new culture and professional environment.

We were hesitant about sending our daughter so far away to "reset" herself. High school wasn't a successful four years and we desperately something for her to believe in her abilities again. Wow....did this program do that! The closeness of the group and support from the organization turned our daughter around. She loved the adventure and thrived both personally and professionally. The communication from the team was super. I reached out whenever I needed anything, and they were quick to respond. Who won't regret this adventure for your child or yourself.

I participated in Spanish Gap Year's Future Leaders program in the fall of 2024 and I had the most amazing experience. We started out in Madrid for the first 4 weeks and stayed with a host family. While in Madrid we took Spanish classes at Tandem. Tandem is so amazing and I had the absolute best time there. For the last 8 weeks we stayed in Barcelona and had internships. Barcelona is so beautiful and fun to explore so there was never a dull moment. If I could, I would do this program all over again.

This was an incredible opportunity - from getting to know the other interns to making friends in Paris, I loved it all!!! And Sheyenne was an incredible help ushering us in to the first weeks, and helped us with everything we needed. :) I loved this experience! It was so stretching and growing, especially the first two weeks, but I wouldn’t change it for the world!

The best thing you need to know about Linguistic Horizons is the great support system. I often communicated with Nicole from the start of my application, my departure and all the way to the end of my internship, and she was absolutely fantastic. So nice, friendly and helpful and willing to hear you out always! I had some issues with finances and my placement and she sorted it out like nothing. I would recommend this experience not only because of the the prospects of being abroad and immersion, but for the cultural and work life that awaits you. Loved everything about my experience and I'm sure you will too!

Linguistic Horizons responded to this reviewDecember 20, 2024

Thank you, Angellah! I'm so glad you joined us in London!

I had an amazing time studying abroad with IES Internship Abroad! There was a lot of paperwork and tasks needed to get done before departing, however IES made it easy to organize myself by having a list of tasks and their due dates. They also held orientations that were helpful, covering topics around housing, safety, etc. They did their best to match me with a job that fit my major and other preferences, and they also did a good job assigning me to a great homestay in which I practiced my French lot. On top of that, they held excursions to visit other parts of Paris, which was a great way to explore more the farther parts of Paris and meeting others in the program. In the end, my French improved a lot, I was able to step out of my comfort zone which improved my confidence, and I left with great memories with lifelong friends!

It was a great experience, however I do think it is geared towards people with little to no work experience and did not meet all my expectations of learning something new in a new work environment. The best part was being able to practice my Spanish with my host family.

CIEE provided me with a great internship site, a clean and nice apartment in a good neighborhood, and gave me roommates who shared similar interests. The staff was extremely kind and helped me whenever I needed, and were good about checking in with me about my experiences

AIFS did such a great job with making it an experience to remember! I met wonderful people in my placement and gained valuable insight into my field all while being in an incredible location and getting to experience the French culture in Paris! Mira was super helpful with preparing me for my internship and I had a great time on the excursions set up throughout the program. We visited grand landscapes and tasted the cheese and wines of France. All in all, I would absolutely recommend doing an internship abroad with AIFS!

The internship program with Absolute was truly a dream come true, as it allowed me to explore my passion for international law right in the heart of Paris! I was thrilled to gain insights into French law while building a close relationship with my incredible mentor, Maitre Richard. His dedication to providing me with a diverse experience, from corporate to sports law, went far beyond his specialty in real estate and urban law. I particularly loved working on projects related to legal neutral evaluation, an emerging area in France, and collaborating on a white paper and presentations about mediation in urban development. These experiences deepened my legal knowledge and helped me discover the areas of law that truly resonate with me. Additionally, what made this experience even more special was the amazing support from the program coordinators, who were always there to help and guide us. They organized unforgettable events, like a picnic by the Eiffel Tower and scenic boat rides along the Seine, which made the internship not just educational but also filled with fun and camaraderie. Moreover, this internship provided me with a well-rounded perspective on different legal careers, beyond just litigation. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity, the support, and the unforgettable experiences that have brought me closer to my dream of working in international law and clarified my future career path.