Paris Summer School of Social Work

PARIS SUMMER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

late June – July 2026

What is the Paris Summer School of Social Work ?

What a great experience –  immerse yourself in French culture, learn about social work from an international viewpoint, and meet cool people! – Leslie, Kennesaw State University Group Leader, Paris Summer School of Social Work 

 

This program provides an interactive education on social work practice in France using experiential methods that immersed me in the French culture and approach to social services – Kenya, Paris Summer School of Social Work 

Paris Summer School of Social Work 2024

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About us

École Pratique de Service Social is one of the oldest schools of Social Work in France (1913)

Our Alumni have distinguished themselves for the past century by their significant contributions to Social Work in France and in the world.

The school is close to the Latin Quarter and breath-taking Luxembourg Gardens. It is surrounded by great cafés, restaurants and shops in one of the safest areas of the capital, day or night. The school is fully equipped to meet every international standard.

Our partners

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Paris Summer School of Social Work is an intensive program focused on French social work intervention, delivered in English.

It aims to foster intellectual curiosity and prepare participants to work within a very multicultural and international society.

Through a targeted effort to increase awareness, Paris Summer School participants will be able to:

• Appreciate and respect the cultural differences of individuals and groups
• Develop ethics, knowledge and critical thinking skills
• Understand the history of social work and its contemporary issues
• Evaluate social work practice intervention in France within families, groups and communities
• Contribute to making the world a better place through innovative social impact projects

PROGRAM FORMAT

The program is divided into multiple formats that include but are not limited to lectures, field visits, and professional placements.

• Lectures are on-line or in-class, delivered in English by experienced teachers and social workers and may include guest presenters.
• Field visits are delivered out of class, in English or translated from French into English.
• Professional field placements are carried out in a choice of fields and topics (depending on participant’s level and placement options) in French, with an English speaker on hand.
• Individual or group study provides time to work on social impact projects
• Weekly debrief sessions go over field and placement experience and any issue that needs to be addressed.

Some reading an research will be expected before and during the program.

SCHEDULE 

The program is an intensive immersion in French Social Work and way of life.

A typical day will start around 9 am and can end anytime between 5 pm or later, depending on social activities or placements, with the exception of one free afternoon a week.

• There is one lecture and visit per day.
• Morning lectures:  between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. They are carried out in English.
• Afternoons are dedicated to meeting active professionals in their own environment.
• Placements: There are 2  days of professional placements during the program.
• 1/2 day of street outreach
• Personal work: in addition, each student should expect to undertake at least 1 hour of independent study per day.

Evenings are (usually) free for you to enjoy the great Parisian life.

Transferring Credit (outside Europe)

If you wish to transfer credit to your university of origin please have your international advisor contact us prior to your visit to see how we can help you.

Students may receive on request, a class sheet and a transcript at the end of their study period. It is agreed that this provides sufficient information to enable home universities to decide on the credit they wish to allocate and the grade(s) they wish to award to their students who studied at the Ecole Pratique de Service Social.

European Credit Transfer System (within Europe)

The program is credited 6 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).

Assessment

Oral presentations or written-papers are part of the general assessment program which will also include a final evaluation.

Debrief sessions

Weekly debrief sessions are organized to make sure everyone is coping with their international learning experience.

Prior to the program

On-line classes

Prior to the program, participants are granted access to the on-line learning platform (Moodle) as well as a Google Drive containing complementary learning resources  to help prepare for the first lectures and visits.

The subjects covered on-line are (to date):

• Social work
• Social policies and institutions (provides a broader view of French society)
• Social work professions
• Aging
• Prostitution
• Gender and diversity

Placement choices

Based on experience,  areas of interests and distance, applicants can choose their placements from a variety of agencies. These are available on-line mid-June and cover most areas of social intervention in France.

French

Participants are encouraged to increase their grasp of the language by using multiple, free on-line ressources.

Your summer school package includes a wide range of services and activities:

Global package

 Extra-curricular activities

• Meet & Greet
• Orientation afternoon
• Week-end tour (2 days – Tour includes hotel, transportation, tickets)
• Opening and closing ceremonies
• International evening
• and a few additional surprises

Classes take place in our gorgeous 19th century building located in the heart of the Montparnasse area. It is located 10 minutes away by foot from the dorm and across the street from the Luxembourg Garden.

Accommodation

Housing is located at Foyer International des Étudiantes

93 boulevard Saint Michel 75005 Paris

Amenities include

• Doorman 24/7
• Rooftop view
• Library and lounge
• Internet
• Small shared kitchen area(no cooking utensils are provided)
• Non gendered bathrooms
• Coin laundry and dryer
• Sheets, bedding (no towels)
• Weekly houscleaning
• Elevator
• NO air-conditioning

Paris Summer School of Social Work

Paris Summer School was an incredibly valuable experience. I was challenged both personally and professionally, and genuinely believe the impact of the program will be long-lasting in both areas. These three weeks have been packed full of learning opportunities, wonderful connections, and great fun. It may be a lot of work to figure out the logistics to get here but, I assure you, it is well worth your time! I’m so glad I didn’t miss out  » – Anna.

 

FEES

ERASMUS+

Professional social workers or faculty members affiliated to European universities may apply for STT Erasmus+ funding. Students may request an SMP or SMS grant from their home university (conditions apply). Please contact your international coordinator to receive the necessary information.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Ecole Pratique de Service Social does not provide any scholarships. You may consult your home university study-abroad advisor to see if some grants are available. American citizens may contact Generation Study Abroad for information or support.

Contact: www.iie.org

APPLICATION

Alumnus spotlight

In December 2022, the front door to EPSS buzzed and James Villanueva, a 2018 Paris Summer School of Social Work Alumnus walked in with a heartwarming smile. I immediately remembered him; he had been involved, generous and full of questions. As we sat down to chat about times gone by, I was curious, so many years after, to know what impact the Summer School had had on him.

In the spring of 2018, when James Villanueva pushed the door to Dr Delavega’s office in University of Memphis, little did he know that he was about to embark on a life changing adventure. He was expecting to discuss class credits for his upcoming Masters in a stately academic manner; instead, he received an enthusiastic invitation to embark on a study abroad summer progam he had never heard about. In Paris, France.

James was reluctant to join. After years of struggling to make ends meet, incomplete school education and plenty of discrimination, he had finally found his way and place in Social Work with a focus on the macro level. It was safe and predictable, research based. His path seemed written in stone.

So what was more was Paris going to provide?

James embarked in July 2018 with a cohort of students from Memphis, not expecting anything.

He found himself intensively immersed in a whirlwind of lectures, field visits placements and cultural activities. Then something happened. As he was serving meals to refugees in a repurposed skating rink with French Social Workers he realized how sincerely respectful their interactions were, how focused they were on preserving each individual’s dignity and overall how each person was treated without judgement. James recalls with clarity how he suddenly felt very small and humbled and in a way deeply connected with these men and women who had lost their homes in order to flee from danger and stay safe.

Everything he had taken for granted in the States shifted with the realization that another way of practicing Social Work was possible. It was this belief that he carried back home after the Summer School ended. He changed his whole Master’s study plan, switching from macro to micro level, training to be with people, for the people.

James graduated summa cum laude and went on to complete his Masters, in just eleven months.

As he was interviewing for his first job in a non-profit agency that provides unconditional care for individuals suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues, his future manager started the conversation by asking: “James, tell me about your social work program in Paris…”

Interview carried out at EPSS – December, 14^th 2022

PRESS ARTICLES

04/09/2019 Student spotlight Joshua Binang – University of Columbia

01/09/2019 Un été à la découverte du travail social français – Alter Ego

10/09/2018 « Projet innovant : échange d’étudiants autour du travail social » 2018 – Réforme

27/07/2018 L’école du travail social à la française – Le Media Social

Meet the Team

Program Coordinator

Geraldine Umid

Pedagogical Coordinator

">Sarah Lee

Program Assistant and Logistics

Camille Epain

Yvette Mosca

Accountant

Guillaume Angelvy