Overview

Sorbonne University is a public research university located in Paris, France. The institution's legacy reaches back to the Middle Ages — in 1257, the Collège de Sorbonne was established by Robert de Sorbon as a constituent college of the University of Paris, one of the first universities in Europe. Its current form was created in 2018 by the merger of Paris-Sorbonne University (Paris IV) and the Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI). 

In the early 17th century, Cardinal Richelieu was named principal of the Sorbonne and commissioned significant architectural modernisation. After French revolutionaries closed the University of Paris in 1793, Napoleon Bonaparte reopened it. The early 20th century saw the appointment of the Sorbonne's first female professor — physicist Marie Curie — who took over teaching her husband Pierre's course after his death in 1906. 

Sorbonne University is a world-class research university presenting a comprehensive disciplinary range spanning arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine. The university offers its 53,400 students the best educational opportunities through monodisciplinary, bi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs. 10,200 of its students are international, and 4,400 are enrolled in doctoral programs. With its three main faculties, it offers varied and original opportunities across disciplines. Sorbonne University research has more than 3,400 professor-researchers in its laboratories and partners with major French research organisations. 

Sorbonne University is one of the most sought-after universities by students and researchers from France, Europe, and the French-speaking world. Marie Skłodowska-Curie, who came from Poland in 1891, became the first woman to become a professor at the Sorbonne. Marie and Pierre Curie are considered the founders of the modern-day Faculty of Science and Engineering of Sorbonne University. As of 2021, its alumni and professors have won 33 Nobel Prizes, six Fields Medals, and one Turing Award. 

The largest of Sorbonne University's campuses is the Jussieu Campus — officially named the "Pierre and Marie Curie Campus" — which houses the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Sorbonne Center for Artificial Intelligence, the Sorbonne Institute for Environmental Transition, and the Institute of Computing and Data Sciences. The Pitié-Salpêtrière Campus is home to the Faculty of Health Sciences, located at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. The historic Sorbonne building in the Latin Quarter remains the symbol of the university. 

Notable alumni include Marie Curie (2 Nobel Prizes), Simone de Beauvoir (philosopher), Louis de Broglie (Nobel Physics), Yann LeCun (Chief AI Scientist, Meta — "founding father of convolutional nets"), Taha Hussein, and 33 Nobel Laureates in total.

Intakes

Sorbonne University follows the French academic calendar:

• Autumn Intake (September) — Primary intake for all Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs
• Spring Intake (February) — Available for select programs

Application Deadlines (Indicative for 2026–27):

Note: Non-EU students from countries with a Campus France office must apply via the Études en France platform. All students must check the specific faculty website as deadlines vary by program.

Top Courses

Sorbonne University presents the comprehensive disciplinary range of arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine through its three main faculties.

The three faculties and key programs include:

Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Lettres) — Rooted in the historic Sorbonne:

• MA in French Literature, MA in Philosophy, MA in History, MA in Art History, MA in Linguistics, MA in Classical Studies, MA in Modern Languages, MA in Cinema Studies, MA in Musicology, MA in Geography, Licence (BSc) in Humanities

Faculty of Science and Engineering (Sciences et Ingénierie) — Based at Jussieu Campus:

• MSc in Mathematics, MSc in Physics and Applications, MSc in Computer Science (Informatique), MSc in Chemistry, MSc in Astronomy & Astrophysics (internationally renowned), MSc in Earth Sciences and the Environment, MSc in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Electrical Engineering, MSc in Materials Science, MSc in Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Sorbonne Polytechnic School (engineering grande école)

Faculty of Health Sciences (Santé) — Based at Pitié-Salpêtrière:

• MD in Medicine and Surgery (Single-Cycle 6 years), MSc in Public Health, MSc in Neuroscience, MSc in Cancer Biology, MSc in Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy, Dentistry

Other key programs:

• Sorbonne Center for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) — interdisciplinary AI research programs
• European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) headquarters
• Double degrees and joint degrees with partner institutions (McGill, King's College London, University of Warwick, University of Toronto)

Cost of Studying at Sorbonne University

There are no tuition fees as such at French public universities — instead, there are modest registration fees because the French state covers the majority of the cost of these education programs. The registration fees set for 2025–2026 are: €178 for a year in the bachelor's cycle; €254 for a year in the master's cycle; €628 for one year of an engineering program; and €397 for a PhD year. For the 2025–2026 academic year, non-EU students benefit from a partial exemption from tuition fees, in accordance with a favourable decision adopted by the Board of Directors of Sorbonne University on 1 July 2025.

Note: Paris has a higher cost of living than other French cities. University tuition fees are among the lowest for a top-100 global university anywhere in the world. Verify at sorbonne-universite.fr/en before applying.

Scholarships

Scholarships

Students who have received a scholarship are not exempt from the fixed registration fee. Students facing financial difficulties can obtain assistance from the University through various services depending on the student's situation, including refund of registration fees for scholarship students who paid during administrative registration. 

Key scholarships for international students include:

Admissions

The Sorbonne University acceptance rate is estimated at approximately 25–28%, reflecting its competitive admission process. The acceptance rate for international students is around 20%, highlighting the university's selective approach to international admissions. 

For Undergraduate Programs (Licence / BSc):

• High school diploma (Baccalauréat or equivalent 12-year qualification)
• Strong academic record; humanities programs require proven literary and analytical abilities
• French proficiency (DELF/DALF B2–C1 minimum) for French-taught programs — mandatory for most undergraduate courses
• IELTS 5.5–6.5 / TOEFL iBT 72–80 for English-taught programs
• Non-EU students must apply via Campus France (Études en France platform) or Parcoursup

For Postgraduate Programs (Master's):

• Bachelor's degree (Licence or equivalent, 3 years / 180 ECTS)
• Strong academic record (typically GPA 3.0–3.5/4.0+)
• French B2–C1 (DELF/DALF) for French-taught programs (required for most)
• IELTS 6.0–6.5 / TOEFL iBT 80+ for English-taught programs
• Motivational Letter / Statement of Purpose
• CV / Résumé
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• Application via Mon Master platform (EU) or Études en France (non-EU)

For PhD Programs:

• Master's degree with research experience
• PhD supervisor's agreement (contact faculty directly before applying)
• Research proposal
• Language proficiency matching research environment
• Most PhD positions are funded through contrats doctoraux — apply to doctoral school calls

Placements

Professional integration at Sorbonne University is 93%, with PhD students accounting for 35% of continuing researchers. The rate of continuation of education after obtaining a bachelor's degree is 94%. Among master's graduates, within 30 months of graduation, 86% hold executive-level positions (including civil service 'A' executives). 

Sorbonne University received an employability ranking of #63 from Times Higher Education. After graduation, Sorbonne students are placed at various reputed organisations and receive competitive salary packages. 

Sorbonne's location in the heart of Paris — the European capital of culture, diplomacy, luxury, media, and finance — gives graduates extraordinary career access. The university's strong ties with French public institutions, major corporations, and international organisations make its graduates especially competitive in humanities, sciences, medicine, and technology.

Key career sectors for Sorbonne graduates:

• Science & Research — CNRS, INSERM, CEA, INRIA, European research agencies, leading global universities
• Technology & AI — Sorbonne Center for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), Capgemini, Atos, Google Paris, Meta AI Research
• Medicine & Health — AP-HP (Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris), Sanofi, Servier, Institut Curie, Institut Pasteur
• Humanities, Culture & Publishing — UNESCO, French Ministry of Culture, Gallimard, Hachette, Le Monde, Agence France-Presse
• Law & Public Service — French Conseil d'État, Cour de cassation, EU institutions, major French law firms
• Finance & Consulting — BNP Paribas, Société Générale, AXA, McKinsey, PwC, Deloitte (Paris)

Jobs After Graduating from Sorbonne University

Note: Salary figures are indicative gross monthly values. Actual salaries vary by field, employer, and experience.

For personalised guidance on Sorbonne University admissions, scholarships, and the French student visa process, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.