PSL Research University

PSL University is a public research university based in Paris, France.

Dean

Alain Fuchs (President)

Academic staff

1,000 - 20,000

Students

17000

Locations

Quartier latin, Campus Condorcet, Jourdan, Porte Dauphine, Meudon

Established

2010

Address

60 rue Mazarine, Paris, 75006, FR

Social Media

URL

Summary

Paris Sciences et Lettres University (PSL University or PSL) is a public research university located in central Paris, France. Established in 2010 and formally created as a university in 2019, PSL is a collegiate university with 11 constituent schools, with the oldest one founded in 1530. It offers Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD diplomas for its constituent schools and institutes. PSL provides an education based on research and interdisciplinary instruction, and its 17,000 students have access to a broad range of disciplines in science, engineering, humanities, social sciences, fine art, and performing arts.

PSL is ranked among the top 50 universities globally and the top 5 young universities under 50 years old in the Shanghai (ARWU), THE (Times Higher Education), CWUR, and QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings. PSL has nine component institutions, two associate members, and works closely with three research organizations. The university draws on the scientific strengths of all its institutions to offer its communities unprecedented opportunities in the fields of education, research, valorization, national and international industrial or academic partnerships.

PSL is home to 28 Nobel laureates, 11 Fields Medalists, 3 Abel Prize laureates, 50 César Awards, and 79 Molière Awards. It represents nearly 10% of French research and has more than 150 ERCs since its creation. Its academic community leverages the potential of its 140 laboratories to build nearly twenty interdisciplinary graduate programs and many other major programs involving its institutions.

History

PSL University is a French institution of higher education and research located in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The idea of the university came about in 2004 when institutions in the Latin Quarter began thinking of how to join forces to boost their international visibility. The French law on research promulgated in 2006 paved the way for new projects such as Paris Universitas, PRES ParisTech, and an early version of the PSL project.

The new organization combined five institutions of higher education in the Latin Quarter, including Chimie ParisTech, Collège de France, École normale supérieure (Paris), École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris (ESPCI Paris), and Observatoire de Paris. Together, they adopted the status of a scientific cooperation foundation (FCS). The new entity, called "Paris Sciences et Lettres – Quartier Latin," was initially conceived as a scientific alliance.

In 2011, the five institutions submitted a joint application for the Initiatives for Excellence (IDEX) as part of France's Investing for the Future program (PIA), causing the project to evolve into a new form of French university. This university would have 70% of its students at the Master's and PhD level and offer a Bachelor's program, with an emphasis on equal opportunity students.

Between 2011 and 2012, ten new institutions joined the foundation, including Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique, Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, La Fémis, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Foundation for Research, Institut Curie, Institut Louis-Bachelier, MINES ParisTech, and Université Paris-Dauphine. Their arrival reinforced PSL's scientific potential in the fields of engineering, biology, the arts, and management.

In 2014, four institutions specializing in humanities and social science joined the association: École Française d'Extrême-Orient, École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), École Nationale des Chartes, and École Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE).

In 2015, PSL organized itself into a university community (ComUE: PSL Research University). PSL began awarding PhDs at that point.

In 2017, after a detailed review process, nine institutions agreed to put in place an integrated budget and a multi-year strategy for academic recruitment, as well as to create a number of shared platforms and services. Chimie ParisTech, École Nationale des Chartes, École Normale Supérieure, École Pratique des Hautes Etudes, ESPCI Paris, Institut Curie, Observatoire de Paris, MINES ParisTech, and Université Paris-Dauphine decided to jointly form Université PSL. The agreement approved by their respective boards calls for the schools and institutions that form the university to adopt a unified strategy, to submit to the budgetary authority of the president of the university, to jointly plan their recruitment, and to transfer the whole of their diplomas to PSL.

In 2019, PSL officially became a university, offering Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs, with over 20,000 students and 4,500 faculty members. PSL also has 11 research institutes and 51 research teams, and its students and faculty have received numerous prestigious awards and honors. The university continues to prioritize research excellence, international collaborations, and diversity and inclusivity in its mission.

Courses

Undergraduate Programs:

CPES Multidisciplinary undergraduate course (offered by PSL, the Lycée Henri IV, Mines ParisTech, ESPCI Paris, Paris Dauphine University, Paris Observatory, Ecole normale supérieure and Lycée Louis-le-Grand)
Bachelor's degrees in management, economics and finance, accounting, applied mathematics, computing, and journalism (IPJ-Dauphine) (offered by Université Paris-Dauphine, a constituent of Université PSL)
Postgraduate Programs:

Graduate programs in engineering, fine and applied arts, management, economics, biology, humanities, and social sciences (offered by PSL's constituent schools)
Master of International affairs and development with a specialization in Peace Studies (offered by Université Paris-Dauphine and Ecole normale supérieure)
Doctoral Programs:

PhD program in Cognitive Science (FrontCog)
Science Art Creation Research (SACRe) doctoral program
Research Programs:

Interdisciplinary and Strategic Research Initiatives
Laboratories of excellence (Labex)
Scripta (History and practices of writing)
Origins and Conditions for the Emergence of Life (OCAV) program
Q-Life Institute
PSL University offers education from undergraduate to doctoral level across all academic disciplines, including life sciences, physical sciences, humanities and social sciences, creative arts, economics, administration, and management. All of PSL's institutions have adopted a model of education through research. Additionally, PSL is co-leader of the SDSN Network for France, under the initiative of the United Nations, and promotes sustainability education and research through its programs and initiatives.

Global MBA rankings

PSL University does not offer a Global MBA program. But, some of the accolades the University has won are:

In 2017, PSL University was recognized as an integrated university and appeared on the Times Higher Education ranking in 72nd place globally and 1st place in France. The following year, the university was ranked 41st globally by the same ranking institution.

In 2020, PSL University appeared for the first time in two other major university rankings: CWTS Leiden Ranking and ARWU. In the Shanghai ranking, the university was ranked 36th globally and 2nd among French universities behind Paris-Saclay University. Additionally, in the ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, PSL University was ranked among the best universities in the world in 39 of the 54 subjects, including being ranked 10th globally in Mathematics and Physics, and 12th globally in Ecology.

In 2022, PSL University was ranked first in the Young University Rankings 2022, further cementing its position as a leading institution of higher education.

Job integration rate

According to the PSL University website, the job integration rate for PSL graduates is very high, with 97% of graduates finding employment within six months of graduation.