While studying at Columbia in Paris, students take classes in Columbia University's study center, Reid Hall, which is conveniently located in the beautifully dynamic sixth district of Paris, the Montparnasse. The Center is near the Latin Quarter, and Luxembourg Gardens and is known as a cultural hub for students.

Students will also take at least one elective at a local university. Columbia University partners with Science Po, the University of Paris I (Pantheon Sorbonne), University of Paris IV (Sorbonne), University of Paris VII (Denis Diderot), Institute Pasteur, and Visual Arts at Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne to provide students with diverse disciplines and academia. Each university has strengths in various disciplines and academia in Art and Architecture, Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM. Furthermore, the Institute Pasteur gives students the opportunity to do work in research with a research team.

Students have the option to live in a homestay, French student residences (dormitories), or non-program housing.

Admission to the program requires students to be enrolled in a French language course in the term before the start of the program.