Information for High School Counselors

Welcome Counselors! The American University of Paris (AUP) is an independent and international liberal arts university in France. Located in the heart of Paris, AUP is perfectly situated to help students embark upon their academic journey of discovery. We provide a learning experience that places students’ personal, intellectual, and professional development at its core. With students representing over 100 nationalities, they bring to the classroom their diverse cultural backgrounds, languages, and the sense of adventure to become part of a global learning community. We prioritize students learning not only from the city around them, but from each other as well.

AUP Students

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. 

    • ~9:1
      student-faculty ratio
    • 1,174
      students
    • 102
      nationalities
    • 15
      average class size

Savannah

Compared to many AUP students, my background is almost provincial

Nebi

I’d always dreamed of studying at an American university

Marie

I wanted to return to France but I also wanted to remain in an international environment

A Truly Parisian Campus

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. 

    • 15-minute
      walk to the Eiffel tower
    • 5-minute
      walk to banks of the Seine
    • 10-minute
      average walk time between buildings

How to Support Students Through the Application Process

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). 

Fall Admission

Early Action Admission by 15 November 

Priority Admission by 1 February 

Regular Admission by 15 March 

Late or International Admission after 1 April 

Spring Admission

Early Admission by 1 October 

Priority Admission by 15 November 

Regular Admission after 15 November

Scholarships & Financial Aid

AUP merit scholarships are based on profile and background, not on financial need. These awards 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. 

AUP Scholar Award

AUP awards a limited number of AUP Scholar Awards to students with exceptionally strong academics, proven financial need, and a clear demonstration that they would flourish within the AUP community.  The award is combined with other forms of financial aid representing a total package of 75% of tuition. AUP Scholars will be asked to contribute in various ways to the development of our vibrant, international student body. Activities that may be required include volunteering as an AUP Student Ambassador, participating in special AUP events, communicating with prospective students and alumni, student blogging, and social media campaigns.  

  • 75% tuition abatement  

  • Awarded at the time of application (first-year students only)  

  • The separate AUP Financial Aid Application is required for consideration of this award 

Advance Standing Credit

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

International Baccalaureate (IB Diploma)

for results of 30 or above; 8 semester credits for results between 24 and 29 for each HL score of 4 and above; 8 semester credits for each IB HL Certificate with a score of 4 or above. Students receiving an IB score of 32 and above are also eligible for the AUP IB Diploma Scholarship.

Advanced Placement “AP” Tests (College Board)

8 semester credits for each AP test passed with a grade of 4 or above, not to exceed 24 credits. AUP's CEEB code is 0866. 

GCE 'A' Level Examinations

for at least three subjects in which an A, B, or C was achieved; 11 semester credits for each individual subject in which an A, B, or C was achieved for two or fewer subjects. Not to exceed 32 credits. 

32 credits awarded for any of the following

  • Austrian Matura with a minimum overall grade of bestanden ("passed"). 

  • Bulgarian Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with a minimum average grade of 4. 

  • Danish Studentereksamen with a minimum average grade of 9. 

  • Dutch VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs) a minimum average of 6. 

  • Finnish Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamensbetyg with a minimum average grade of magna cum laude approbatur (5). 

  • French Baccalauréat . 

  • German Abitur with a minimum grade of 3. 

  • Italian Maturita (Esame di stato) with a minimum average grade of 60. 

  • Lebanese Baccalauréat .  

  • Norwegian Vitnemål–Videregående Opplæring with a minimum average grade of 4. 

  • Romanian Diploma de Bacalaureat with a minimum average grade of 6. 

  • Swedish Fullständigt Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskolan with a minimum average grade of VG (15). 

  • Swiss Matura with a minimum grade of 4 (depending on grading scale). 

Graduate Outcomes

  • 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 

Where AUP students have gone for Graduate Studies
  • Columbia University
  • Harvard University
  • HEC Paris
  • INSEAD
  • London School of Economics
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • New York University
  • Princeton University
  • Sciences Po
  • Sorbonne
  • University of Oxford
Recent AUP Employers & Internship Providers

International Organizations
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
• The OECD
• UNESCO
• The US Embassy in France

Communications
• Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
• Publicis
• Young & Rubicam
• Proximity BBDO

Technology
• France 24 Television
• Google
• Orange France Telecom
• BBC Worldwide

Fashion and Luxury
• Chanel
• Polo Ralph Lauren
• Stella McCartney
• Vogue

Finance & Economics
• Société Générale
• AXA Investment Managers
• BNP Paribas
• HSBC Global Asset Management

Human Rights & NGO
• Human Rights Watch
• The International Committee of the Red Cross
• World Association of Newspapers
• Women & Health Alliance (WAHA)

Clinics and Schools
• Le Centre Françoise Minkowska
• Ecole Pascal
• Hôpital Sainte-Anne

Energy & Environment
• International Energy Agency (IEA)
• Bio by Deloitte
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• The World LP Gas Association (WLPGA)

Arts & Literature
• American Library in Paris
• The American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay
• Éditions Flammarion

US-based Admissions Staff

Shaqueline Oberdoerster 
Director of US Admissions

PA, DMV, and Colorado 

412.737.9605 

soberdoersterataup.edu 

Harrisburg, PA 

 

Nick Heuer 
Deputy Director of US Admissions

Florida, Illinois, and Latin America 

561.668.4085 

nheuerataup.edu 

Chicago, IL 

 

Amanda Carroll 
Associate Director of US Admissions 
West Coast and Canada 

814.720.7921 

acarrollataup.edu 

Boise, ID 

 

Lori Breighner 
Assistant Director of Admissions 
Northeast USA 

lbreighnerataup.edu 

Harrisburg, PA 

 

Katey Foley 
Assistant Director of Admissions

Southeast and Midwest 

kfoleyataup.edu 

Olathe, KS 

Paris-based Admissions Staff