Paris Know Your Role: Go To École

Qui a eu cette idée folle un jour d’inventer l’école? —France Gall

When you tell most people that you’re studying abroad in Paris, you’ll probably get a the question, “Oh, the Sorbonne?” (In Anglo-speak, “The Sore Bun.”) The historical cornerstone conjures up images of grand wood-outfitted lecture halls, elite professors, and Derrida. For some, a delight; for others, a bore. The truth is, Paris provides an overwhelming variety of study-abroad opportunities. Most are surprised to learn that the Sorbonne is not necessarily the most intensive educational institution—that would be the Grandes Écoles. Meanwhile, the Paris University system, numbered 1 through 11 based on subject area, includes a range academic environments, from the stuffy Sorbonne itself (No. 4), to the less-stuffy but ugly Sorbonne Nouvelle (No. 3), from the research power house Paris 1—Panthéon, to the radical, graffiti-covered concrete atmosphere of Paris 8—St-Denis. For almost all of these institutions, you can decide whether to direct enroll, or to enroll through a university or private program; there are pluses and minuses to both. Of course, in addition to French university courses, there are also cooking classes ( Cordon Bleu is the crème de la crème; see Beyond Tourism), language classes, and programs run by American universities that offer classes in English with Paris as a pretty backdrop. We can’t tell you what to pick, but we hope the following info will help you decide.

Universities: A Numbers Game

As mentioned above, Paris has a plethora of universities. While your choice will mostly be limited based on your area of study, be sure to consider other aspects of academic life: the physical surroundings ...more

A-Broaden Your Horizons

There is one major decision you need to make before or after choosing a university: to direct enroll or to enroll through a program? Like all decisions in life (sigh..), there are advantages and disadvantages ...more

French School 101

Getting to know the cultural and methodological intricacies (and eccentricities) of French academia can be one of the most adventurous experiences during your time abroad—for better or for worse. ...more

What The Hèque Is A Bibliothèque?

Cafes are great, and we would never claim otherwise, but sometimes you just need a more studious environment—that’s where Paris’s libraries come in. With large reading rooms, archives, and helpful ...more