Sorbonne, Paris

Even if you do not know the meaning of the word “Sorbonne”, you have definitely heard people talking about it with great respect. So, if you happen to travel to Paris, spend some precious time of your Paris holiday and make a short tour to the University of Sorbonne, Paris. Who knows, you might feel desire to educate yourself there or you are planning the future education of your kids.

History of Sorbonne, Paris

Robert de Sorbon founded a college in 1253 for theology students without money. The pope approved of the idea, and it later became the Universite, Paris. Student life was ruled by a rigorous class schedule: dialectics, astronomy, grammar, rhetoric, and math. The students’ discipline had to be strict to endure the early rising and studies stretching into the evening. The only remnants of the old college are the traces of the chapel, visible in the Sorbonne courtyard.

Cardinal Richelieu was elected president of the Sorbonne in August 1622 and decided to rebuild it all. He gave the work to Jacques Le Mercier and the first stone was laid on March 28, 1627. The Sorbonne Church was begun in 1635, and is the home of Richelieu’s tomb, and Girardon’s sculpture of the Cardinal. The chapel is the only building still standing from this era. The Sorbonne was rebuilt again by Nenot in 1883 in order to provide more room for the increasing demands of students. Amphitheaters, test rooms, labs, a library with over 2 million works, and an observatory were all built for the growing student body.

In 1971, after the university reforms (Framework law drawn up by Edgar FAURE in 1968), the five faculties of the former University of Paris were split and then re-formed into thirteen interdisciplinary universities.

Four of these new universities now share the premises of the Sorbonne, which, until that time, had been mainly reserved to the Faculties of Arts and Human Sciences.
These four universities were also given other premises in different locations throughout Paris.
Three universities as true “heirs” to the original, have kept the Sorbonne name as part of their official title: Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV), the New Sorbonne, which is located mainly in the Censier buildings, and the Panthéon-Sorbonne.
The Sorbonne premises also house part of the René Descartes University and the Chancellery.

To a large extent, the University of Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) was the inheritor of the former University of Paris’ Arts and Sciences Faculties. Since its creation it has been governed by five presidents; the founding president, historian Alphonse DUPRONT, was succeeded by the philosopher Raymond POLIN, who was followed by Hellenist Jacques BOMPAIRE. Next came religious historian Michel MESLIN and then Jean-Pierre POUSSOU, a historian of the urban and contemporary world. In May 1998, Georges MOLINIE, a specialist in modern French stylistics, was elected and, since May 2003, the president is geographer Jean-Robert PITTE.

Their initiatives have been aimed at promoting the cultural heritage of the Sorbonne, with a focus on disciplines in the literary and human science fields. This purpose will be furthered by giving top priority to the study of civilizations and to the continuance of strong teaching in the classics. The various presidents have also provided the impetus for numerous innovations whose aim has been to adapt the education given at the Sorbonne, Paris to the demands of the 21 st century: because one of the main concerns of the university is the integration of students into the working world, it facilitates internships, has created increasingly work-oriented courses of study for students of the Arts and has organized numerous courses aimed at preparing students for competitive civil service exams.

The international reputation of Sorbonne, Paris has always placed it among Europe’s most important universities. It is a vital part of a long university tradition.

Address of Sorbonne, Paris

• Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)
  (name of the division or department you wish to contact)
  1, rue Victor Cousin
  75005 Paris

• Tel:
  • from France: 01 40 46 22 11 (standard)
  • from abroad: 0033 1 40 46 22 11

If you are eager to know more about departments and degrees offered by Sorbonne, Paris, visit the official site of the University http://www.paris4.sorbonne.fr (available in English).

To learn more about exchange programs provided by Sorbonne, Paris see http://www.studyabroaddirectory.com/listingsp3.cfm/listing/6943