Sorbonne University Summary
Sorbonne University is one of France’s most recognizable public research universities and one of the most internationally recognizable academic names in Europe. The Sorbonne University as it exists today was created in 2018 by the merger of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre and Marie Curie University, and it carries on the academic tradition of the historic Sorbonne, while functioning as a modern university with strong programs in the arts, humanities, languages, social sciences, science, engineering, medicine and research. It is particularly appropriate for students seeking a prestigious public university in Paris with broad academic depth and strong research culture.
Sorbonne University is academically broad, but has obvious strengths. It is renowned for the humanities and arts through its Sorbonne legacy and for science and medicine through its scientific and medical faculties. This makes it different from specialized institutions that focus only on engineering, business or technology. Students may study literature, philosophy, history, languages, musicology, archaeology, geography, communication, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, earth sciences, engineering, health, medicine, and biomedical research. This makes Sorbonne University a good fit for students who have both traditional academic and scientific aspirations.
Sorbonne University offers French licence degrees and other first-cycle studies in arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and health for students at the undergraduate level. Undergraduate areas are literature, languages, history, philosophy, geography, sociology related study, music, arts, communication, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, engineering sciences, medicine related foundations and health study as per faculty and admission rules. Many undergraduate programs are delivered in French, so international students should check the language requirements carefully.
Sorbonne University has master’s programs at postgraduate level in the following fields: arts, humanities, languages, education-related study, communication, philosophy, history, musicology, literature, digital humanities, mathematics, computer science, data, AI-related study, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, marine sciences, engineering, medicine, public health, and biomedical fields. Some of the programmes are more international and many are taught in French. Students should verify the language of instruction, admission procedure and fee status of each masters before applying.
Sorbonne University is a major research institution with doctoral schools and research laboratories in humanities, sciences, engineering and medicine at doctoral level. Research areas are literature, history, philosophy, linguistics, musicology, archaeology, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, oceanography, earth sciences, medicine, neuroscience, public health, engineering sciences and interdisciplinary research. Doctoral students usually work with a supervisor and research laboratory, and they conduct original research and defend a thesis.
Sorbonne University fees are based on the French model of public universities. The university’s official 2025/26 page says that there are no tuition fees in the same sense as many private systems, but students pay registration fees because the French state pays for most of the real cost of studies. The page explains that the actual cost of studying is about €10,000 per year but students pay public registration fees. Students should check the registration fee that applies to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and whether their specific programme and status is subject to a differentiated non-EU fee.
All in all, Sorbonne University is the best choice for students looking for a prestigious public university in Paris with strong academics, depth in research, historical recognition and a wide range of study options in humanities, sciences, medicine and engineering. This is especially true for students comfortable with programs taught in French or those selecting a suitable English-taught or international program.
Sorbonne University is academically broad, but has obvious strengths. It is renowned for the humanities and arts through its Sorbonne legacy and for science and medicine through its scientific and medical faculties. This makes it different from specialized institutions that focus only on engineering, business or technology. Students may study literature, philosophy, history, languages, musicology, archaeology, geography, communication, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, earth sciences, engineering, health, medicine, and biomedical research. This makes Sorbonne University a good fit for students who have both traditional academic and scientific aspirations.
Sorbonne University offers French licence degrees and other first-cycle studies in arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and health for students at the undergraduate level. Undergraduate areas are literature, languages, history, philosophy, geography, sociology related study, music, arts, communication, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, engineering sciences, medicine related foundations and health study as per faculty and admission rules. Many undergraduate programs are delivered in French, so international students should check the language requirements carefully.
Sorbonne University has master’s programs at postgraduate level in the following fields: arts, humanities, languages, education-related study, communication, philosophy, history, musicology, literature, digital humanities, mathematics, computer science, data, AI-related study, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, marine sciences, engineering, medicine, public health, and biomedical fields. Some of the programmes are more international and many are taught in French. Students should verify the language of instruction, admission procedure and fee status of each masters before applying.
Sorbonne University is a major research institution with doctoral schools and research laboratories in humanities, sciences, engineering and medicine at doctoral level. Research areas are literature, history, philosophy, linguistics, musicology, archaeology, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, oceanography, earth sciences, medicine, neuroscience, public health, engineering sciences and interdisciplinary research. Doctoral students usually work with a supervisor and research laboratory, and they conduct original research and defend a thesis.
Sorbonne University fees are based on the French model of public universities. The university’s official 2025/26 page says that there are no tuition fees in the same sense as many private systems, but students pay registration fees because the French state pays for most of the real cost of studies. The page explains that the actual cost of studying is about €10,000 per year but students pay public registration fees. Students should check the registration fee that applies to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and whether their specific programme and status is subject to a differentiated non-EU fee.
All in all, Sorbonne University is the best choice for students looking for a prestigious public university in Paris with strong academics, depth in research, historical recognition and a wide range of study options in humanities, sciences, medicine and engineering. This is especially true for students comfortable with programs taught in French or those selecting a suitable English-taught or international program.
College Facilities
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Library
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Computer Lab
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Sports Complex
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Hostel
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Cafeteria
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Transport