The prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, synonymous with academic excellence, has been making history since 1257, shaping the future of brilliant minds. However, it was in 2018 that the French university reached an important stage, with the merger of the renowned Paris-Sorbonne institutions (formerly Paris IV) and Pierre and Marie Curie (formerly Paris VI), to create the Sorbonne
Université.
The impressive Sorbonne roll of gold lists a list of famous people who have passed through its thousand-year-old walls.
From the political sphere, prominent figures such as Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Claude Bartolone and Alain Fuchs have benefited from the top-level training offered by this institution. But the legacy of the Sorbonne also extends to the achievements of science, with a myriad of Nobel Prizes among its most illustrious students, including Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Serge Haroche,
Gérard Mourou and Emmanuelle Charpentier.
However, it’s fair to wonder how expensive it is to study at one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world, and if admission is really that challenging.
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Faculties to choose from
FacultiesThe Sorbonne Université offers a wide range of degree programs divided into three main faculties. The Faculté des Lettres offers eighteen UFR and two internal schools, including Anglophone, Arabic and Hebrew Studies, Germanic and Nordic Studies, Iberian and Latin American Studies, Italian Studies, Slavic Studies, Geography and Planning, Greek, History, History of Art and Archaeology, Research Institute on Modern Western Civilizations, French Language, Applied Foreign Languages, Latin, French and Comparative Literature, Music and Musicology, Philosophy, Sociology, and Computer Science for the Human Sciences, National Institute for Teacher Training, and the 8217; higher education, and higher school for studies in information and communication sciences
.
The Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie comprises nine UFRs, five internal schools and the observatory of the sciences of the universe with three marine stations in Roscoff, Banyuls and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Among the courses offered are chemistry, electronics, computer science, mathematics, mechanics, physics, Earth, environmental and climate sciences, life sciences, engineering, Sorbonne Université polytechnic, Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics in Paris, Institute of Astrophysics in Paris, Institute of Statistics of Sorbonne University and Henri-Poincaré Institute
.
The Faculty of Medicine is part of the AP-HP Sorbonne Université, a hospital-university group that includes seven university hospitals and two research institutes in oncology and health engineering. In addition, the faculty offers paramedical courses in speech therapy, psychomotricity
and orthoptics.
These are just some of the many study opportunities that the Sorbonne Université offers its students, ensuring a professional and high-quality environment for their academic career.
The selections
The selection process for admission to the prestigious Sorbonne in Paris varies depending on the chosen faculty, which includes Letters, Medicine, Science and Engineering. Regardless of the faculty, eligibility is assessed based on academic criteria and a decision is made by the teaching staff
responsible for the course.
Formation initiale (FI) candidates, i.e. students from high schools, high schools or other universities, must register on the Parcoursup platform and submit a detailed personal dossier. This file, to be completed following a multi-phase calendar, must include the curriculum of studies (including diplomas and transcripts for foreign students) and a motivation letter of up to 1,500 characters (200/250 words) to convince the university to accept their application. In this letter, candidates must list their motivations, passions, skills, and experience gained. In addition, it is advisable but not mandatory to attach a second letter that describes the activities and interests, highlighting civic involvement, extracurricular activities and any certifications obtained
.
Of course, international candidates must demonstrate an impeccable knowledge of the French language, with a certified level of at least B2 or C1. Other accepted tests include the DELF and DALF, as well as the CTF, but these certifications vary depending on the referring faculty. Otherwise, you can take an oral exam to demonstrate proficiency in the language.
The entire selection process is conducted in a professional tone, in order to ensure that the most suitable candidates are chosen to study at the Sorbonne in Paris.
The admission process and preparation times
A detailed schedule of steps to follow before arriving at the actual time of registration of the application:
December 20 — January 18: explore training programs and participate in information weeks organized by your school;
January 18 — March 9: open enrollment, register on Parcoursup by creating a candidate form and adding your favorite degree program;
March 10 — April 6: complete the application and confirm the course in your dossier;
June 1 — July 7: main admission phase
.
Registrations close on March 9 and the admission phase begins on June 1. Once the candidates start receiving the answers from the requested universities, they must send a confirmation: it is necessary to respond to each admission proposal within the deadlines indicated in their personal file. For those on the waiting list, the complementary admission phase begins on June 15. On July 4th, after obtaining the results of the baccalaureate exam, new students must complete the administrative registration confirming the chosen faculty and course of study. The closing of applications is set for July 15
.
The costs of the annual subscription and all other expenses
Unlike private universities such as Bocconi in Milan, the Sorbonne University in Paris is accessible to all types of students. There is no real tuition fee, but rather normal registration fees, as is the case in every European public university. The following are the figures for the different enrollment categories:
— €170 per year for three-year degree, master’s and single-cycle courses;
— €243 per year for master’s programs;
— €601 per year for engineering courses;
— €380 per year for research doctorates.
The extensive program of scholarships and financial aid offered by the university should not be overlooked, which are awarded based on the student’s family income and the distance in kilometers between his residence and the university headquarters. In addition, during the academic year 2022, non-EU students were able to benefit from a partial exemption
from tuition fees.
On average, the actual cost to study at the Sorbonne University in Paris amounts to €10,000 per year. Although taxes are low, the highest costs are represented by the coût de la vie, which includes food, accommodation and ancillary expenses. In addition to the requirement to have health insurance, at an average cost of around €500, off-site students face the challenge of finding accommodation, which can take place on one of the five main campuses: Sorbonne, Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Pitié-Salpetrière, Saint-Antoine
and Centre Clignancourt.
To access the campuses, you must follow the EEF (Etudes en France) procedure managed by Campus France, the national agency in charge of providing assistance to off-site students. According to the Economist’s Worldwide Cost of Living Index, Paris is one of the ten most expensive cities in the world, with high rents (a single one ranges from €700 to €900) and strong competition to find accommodation. To living costs, such as books, meals, transportation and leisure, students who live on campus must add the CVEC, a flat fee of €100 per year. The cost of food and accommodation therefore becomes a considerable burden on the budget, more than the registration fees
.
