The Catholic University of Paris, or the "Catho", founded in 1875, is located in the heart of Paris. With only 6,000 students in attendance, students are enrolled in smaller classes, enabling better ratio of student to teacher interaction. While the Catho is a historically catholic university, its curriculum, campus life, and student activities are secular in nature. The student body is comprised of people from all religious backgrounds and diversity is embraced. The language division, or the Institut de Langue et de Cultures Françaises (ILCF), founded in 1948, is the primary place of study for international students. Every year the department welcomes over 2,000 students from around the world. The ILCF has upwards of 45 professors specialized in teaching French as a foreign language and qualified to prepare each student for certification at every level. In addition, other departments at the university have opened their doors to international students, allowing a challenging curriculum in a multitude of subjects and the opportunity to study with local French students. The challenges and variety offered by the Catholic University of Paris makes for an ideal setting for study abroad students.

This program focuses on the fine arts and French language. Fine Arts courses are taught in English and lead students throughout the city of Paris to notable museums, monuments and sites of interest. French courses are taught in French and take place in the typical classroom setting. Art and French courses are offered from the beginning through advanced levels. Students may create a combination of two courses within the art curriculum or between the art and French curricula.

Founded in the 13th century, the renowned Sorbonne has lived a long line of history and is thought of as one of the greatest universities in France, deeply rooted in academic excellence. Found in the famous Latin Quarter, the student and artist stomping grounds of Paris, the University in 1917 opened its doors to study abroad students, offering a variety of subjects in French language and culture to people from all over the world. Alongside other international students, ISA participants at the Sorbonne will gain the knowledge and tools to express themselves in the language and culture of France. Students may focus on French, the fundamentals of language, and phonetics; or combine French studies with civilization electives in the areas of literature, history, art, geography, economics, sociology, philosophy and politics. The high academic standards of the Sorbonne and its special area in teaching French to foreigners makes this an ideal setting for study abroad students.