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Questions about La Sorbonne

I am currently studying for an undergraduate degree at a UK university, and I am really interested in going to study at the Sorbonne in Paris at some point after I graduate. I was wondering if anyone knew what courses the Sorbonne offers for postgraduate studies? Also does it do any programmes where you can study there for an academic year or semester, if not take a whole degree? And do they offer French language classes for international students to improve their French alongside taking their course? Any information would be greatly appreciated, particularly if there is anyone who has studied there and can share their experience. :smile:

Reply 1

ecossaise

If you'd like to say what degree you're doing, it would help as regards to what courses the Sorbonne would offer you afterwards.

Remember, the Sorbonne is one of lots of good unis in Paris and is particularly specialist in certain subjects - it might be more worthwhile (depending on your interests) going somewhere else.

Reply 2

claire1985

Talk to aliel, she went there for a year.

Reply 3

ecossaise

There's about ten universities all coming under the heading of "University of Paris" and they remain separate, yet they all have their ties with each other - some share departments and so on. "La Sorbonne" is usually what people refer to when they mean the "University of Paris I - Pantheon-Sorbonne".

Reply 4

aliel

1

ecossaise

"La Sorbonne" is usually what people refer to when they mean the "University of Paris I - Pantheon-Sorbonne".

No it is not. La Sorbonne is Paris IV. Paris I (Pan.Sor) is different, it is a later addition. Very rarely do people outside France understand this.

In 1971, following the reform of the University, the five faculties of the former university of Paris (known as La Sorbonne) were divided and reorganized, creating 13 interdisciplinary universities.Three universities, have retained the name ‘ Sorbonne’ in official titles : Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV), Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris III), located mainly at the Censier Centre and Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris I) . But the University of Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV- where i went) has inherited, in the main, the traditions of the Arts and Social Sciences faculty of the Former University of Paris.

Reply 5

aliel

1

lilac01

I am currently studying for an undergraduate degree at a UK university, and I am really interested in going to study at the Sorbonne in Paris at some point after I graduate. I was wondering if anyone knew what courses the Sorbonne offers for postgraduate studies? Also does it do any programmes where you can study there for an academic year or semester, if not take a whole degree? And do they offer French language classes for international students to improve their French alongside taking their course? Any information would be greatly appreciated, particularly if there is anyone who has studied there and can share their experience. :smile:

I am not really sure what kind of information you want. There is a BIG difference between a post-graduate degree and taking up a language course.
If you are not confident in French there is no point applying for a post-grad course for you have to show profiency in French. You would only be exempt for this if you have taken the French baccalauréat,were in France as part of an intergovernmental or interuniversity agreement, OR hold political refugee status!

Also, are you talking about a Master's or actually a post-graduate course (DEA: diplôme d’études approfondies OR DESS:diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées)?

If you have your heart set on studying there you should try and see whether your university offers you the opportunity to study abroad. There are language courses I believe, but you will not actually study 'there' as such, you would be taught in near by auditoriums.

By the way, what degree are you doing and where do you study?

Reply 6

HammaL

11

Are they any good ? International reputation? I have heard of Sorborne but don't think i can compare it to Oxbridge or some american unis...

Reply 7

aliel

1

HamaL

Are they any good ? International reputation? I have heard of Sorborne but don't think i can compare it to Oxbridge or some american unis...

Grrrrrrrrr, i wrote a long reply but computer froze. It is great, but cant compete with the funding that American unis get. It used to be the place to go to, but after riots in 68' government forced the uni to divide itself up (the gov were scared of it's political influence).

Reply 8

Unregistered

I ve got a certificate form Sorbonne-Paris IV. (French language and civilisation).

As far as I am aware it's one of the best unis in France.

Reply 9

ecossaise

This is the contact info for foreign language students going to the Sorbonne (IV) to learn French. It would probably be best to email/write directly and outline your queries there.

Cours de langue et de
civilisation françaises de la Sorbonne
pour étudiants étrangers
47, rue des Ecoles
75005 Paris
France

Telephone: (33) 01 40 46 22 11
Ext. : 2664 to 2675

Fax: (33) 01 40 46 32 29
[email protected]

When I was taken round the Sorbonne in November, the man said that a lot of the different Parisian universities share sites and facilities and that as far as he was concerned, the Sorbonne was in name only implying buildings/chapel etc. Don't know how other students and teachers would feel about this but there's no doubt that things have changed considerably since Mai 68.

Reply 10

deadstar

i'm thinking about doing a course in french language and civilisation at the sorbonne next year . . . does anyone know anything about what it's like?
what did you do when you were there for a year, aliel?

Reply 11

lilac01

OP

Hi, I'm really sorry I forgot I had started this thread! :smile:

I was away from the boards for ages until starting to post again in the last few days. :smile:

My plans have changed slightly and I am now considering applying to Oxford right after I graduate, but I would still be interested in going to study at the Sorbonne at some stage. I am planning on taking language classes in French as I have already have school qualifications but want to greatly develop further; even if I didn't get in to the Sorbonne I would still carry on learning French as I enjoy spending time in France when I go there on holiday etc.

My undergraduate degree is in English, and if I did apply, it would be to Paris IV as I heard that was the one that devotes a lot to teaching of the arts.

I don't know if I would do a postgraduate degree or not; but if I did apply for any sort of course there, it wouldn't be until I completed my undergraduate degree. I have heard that one of the (now-retired) English professors at my university also spent time studying at both Oxford and the Sorbonne after completing his first degree, so there is a precedent there.

Does anyone have any further advice? :smile:

Sorry if this post seems a little confused and rambling!

Reply 12

anonymity

if your academic background permits it, i would look at ENS [Ecole Normale Superieure - i have no accents on this keyboard - http://www.ens.fr] at Cachan, in Paris.
it's more prestigious than La Sorbonne [pretty much anyone get can into La Sorbonne at undergraduate level, unless they changed it recently].
If you choose not to study the humanities, go for the grandes ecoles in terms of prestige and teaching quality. HEC is the most famous for business, Sciences Po for political science and then you have Politechnique [X] for engineering.

Reply 13

lilac01

OP

anonymity

if your academic background permits it, i would look at ENS [Ecole Normale Superieure - i have no accents on this keyboard - http://www.ens.fr] at Cachan, in Paris.
it's more prestigious than La Sorbonne [pretty much anyone get can into La Sorbonne at undergraduate level, unless they changed it recently].
If you choose not to study the humanities, go for the grandes ecoles in terms of prestige and teaching quality. HEC is the most famous for business, Sciences Po for political science and then you have Politechnique [X] for engineering.

Thanks for the answer and link, anonymity. I am 100% certain that I want to study the arts and humanities though; is ENS better for that than the Sorbonne?

Reply 14

anonymity

i would definitely go for ENS.
Sartre went there :smile:

but Sorbonne is good for the humanities as well, it's just that you don't get as much tutoring.

Reply 15

lilac01

OP

anonymity

i would definitely go for ENS.
Sartre went there :smile:

but Sorbonne is good for the humanities as well, it's just that you don't get as much tutoring.

Sounds good! :smile:

Thanks for your help. :smile:

Reply 16

bluemonkey

can any of you very intelligent people explain to me what way the medical course works in france?

i had a brief notion of studying there, but would it take me 9 years or so if i applies with Alevels?

is medicine taught at the grandes-ecoles or are all medical schools separate from universities?

thanks

ben

Reply 17

africa

*** Medicine - everyone can enter into 1st year, even with ANY A-Levels I would think. There is an impossibly tough exam (physics, bio etc) at the end of the 1st year. Maybe around 99% of 1st years fail, and then repeat it another year. The failure rate then drops to maybe 90%. Unless you are very clever and can work hard - even supposing you can speak French - don't even dream of it. Try Belgium or Germany... that is where the "lazy" (!) aspiring French doctors go to I hear. How about Scandinavia or E Europe?

*** There are a lot of misconceptions above. Sorbonne and French unis can in no way be compared to English ones. Research anything thoroughly! The small, private schools are usually more reputable (ENS top - and a state one - but difficult access for foreigners). See school reviews on http://istudy.iagora.com/

*** Anyone from France get offers to study in UK? What was required at the Bac?

Reply 18

bluemonkey

thanks for your quick reply, accepting that its impossibly difficult to get into, how long does the course last?

just humour me please :smile:

thanks very much

Reply 19

africa

Don't know. Depends on how many years you have to repeat etc. Also getting a basic doctor qualification is only half the battle, then you have to do specialisations etc. And if you want to really help people, and improve the world, then why not become an economist or a politician, as they hold all the pruse strings for health and social security anyway. Less trouble, more pay, help far more (unless you are of the kind that sanctions a war that kills 40,000 Iraqis).

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