Information for High School Counselors

Welcome Counselors! The American University of Paris (AUP) is an independent and international liberal arts university in France. For over 60 years, The American University of Paris has offered students representing more than 100 nationalities a life-changing university experience that crosses disciplines, cultures and borders. Located in the heart of Paris, AUP is perfectly situated to help students embark on their own unique learning journey. Small classes, hands-on teaching, and close faculty mentorship guide students in their intellectual and professional development. Students come to AUP to step out of their comfort zone, learn to question everything, and develop the skills needed to succeed in exciting, international careers.

AUP students are curious, brave and independent. They come from all over the world, from a variety of backgrounds, but they often share the qualities of open-mindedness, maturity and a sense of adventure. Students who succeed at AUP are those looking to get involved on campus while living in an urban community. They are also seeking professional development through real-world experiences. 

Our campus is centrally located in the 7th arrondissement giving students easy access to some of the city’s most famous cultural sites—including the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Musée d’Orsay. Classes often take students out into the city, where they can apply what they are studying in the classroom to real-world contexts.  Our campus is made up of seven buildings, all within close walking distance. 

We take a holistic approach to application review, which means we give equal weight to all application elements, and therefore do not disqualify an applicant based on not meeting a minimum GPA requirement or obtaining a minimum score on a standardized test. However, competitive applicants tend to have unweighted GPAs of 3.3 or higher, and if they decide to submit them, standardized test scores in the 80% or higher. If one portion of an applicant’s file is weaker, then we like to see that all other elements are very strong.

Application deadlines 

We review completed applications in rounds throughout the year. Students are strongly encouraged to apply by 1 February (Priority Admission). 

AUP merit scholarships are based on profile and background, not on financial need. These awards range from €3,000 to €7,000 and are stackable. AUP will automatically consider applicants for these at the point of admission to the university. These awards are limited to incoming, degree-seeking students. 

Need-based Tuition Award 

AUP processes need-based Tuition Awards drawing on the information included in the student’s admissions application and combining it with an evaluation of a family’s financial need. Applicants must request and complete a financial aid application to be considered for this award. The average total Financial Aid package at AUP is about 33% of tuition and the majority do not go over 50% of tuition. There are limited exceptions including our 75% AUP Scholar Awards. 

Depending on the secondary school curriculum, students may qualify for up to 32 semester credits of advanced standing credit. 

• 93% of grads are employed or in graduate school within one year of graduation. 

• 87% of alumni careers have an international element to them 

• Over 20,000 alumni in 146 countries 

• 9/10 alumni speak 2 or more languages, 1 in 5 speak 3 languages fluently 

• Most of our alumni report that they are working in a language other than their native tongue 

• Our graduates were 2.5 times more likely to find a job within six months of graduation if they had done an internship while at AUP 

AUP is the type of school where students take action. Their AUP journeys often include internships in high-level companies, grassroots involvement in Parisian communities, and immersive study trips across the world. The AUP experience is one that extends beyond the classrooms into students’ daily interactions with the world around them, where learning and living become intertwined.