Paris Sciences et Lettres University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Paris Sciences et Lettres University
(PSL University)

Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (Université PSL)
Motto	Sapere Aude
Motto in English	Dare to know
Type	Research and higher education institution
Established	2010 (1530 for its oldest constituent college, the Collège de France)
Academic affiliation	TPC
Endowment	€750 million
President	Alain Fuchs
Academic staff	2,900
Students	17,000
Location	Paris , France 48°51′16.8″N 2°20′16.1″E / 48.854667°N 2.337806°E / 48.854667; 2.337806
Campus	Quartier latin, Campus Condorcet, Jourdan, Porte Dauphine, Meudon

Paris Sciences et Lettres University (also known as PSL University or just PSL) is a public research university in Paris, France. It was started in 2010 and officially became a university in 2019. PSL is like a group of 11 different schools and institutes working together. The oldest of these schools began way back in 1530!

PSL is located in the heart of Paris. Its main buildings are in famous areas like the Latin Quarter and near Porte Dauphine. At PSL, you can earn different degrees, including Bachelor's, Master's, and PhDs. The university focuses on teaching through research. It also offers many subjects like science, engineering, humanities, social sciences, fine art, and performing arts. About 17,000 students study there.

Many famous people have studied or worked at PSL. This includes 28 Nobel laureates (winners of the Nobel Prize), 11 Fields Medalists (a top award in math), and many others who have won major awards in science and the arts.

History of PSL University

The Collège de France, one of PSL University's leading colleges.

In 2004, several schools in the Latin Quarter of Paris wanted to work together. They hoped to become more well-known around the world. A new French law in 2006 made it easier for research groups to form. This led to ideas like the PSL project.

At first, five important schools in the Latin Quarter joined forces. These included Chimie ParisTech, the Collège de France, École normale supérieure (Paris), ESPCI Paris, and Observatoire de Paris. They formed a group called "Paris Sciences et Lettres – Quartier Latin." In 2011, these five schools applied for a special program called "Initiatives for Excellence." This helped the project grow into a new kind of French university. This new university aimed to have many Master's and PhD students. It also wanted to help students from all backgrounds.

Growing the University

Paris-Dauphine University, a college of PSL University.

Between 2011 and 2012, ten more schools joined the group. These included schools for drama, music, art, film, and engineering. Their joining made PSL even stronger in many fields. In 2014, four more schools focused on humanities and social science also became part of the group.

By 2015, PSL became a university community. This meant it could start giving out PhD degrees.

Government Support for Excellence

In 2010, the French government started a program to improve higher education. It was called the Investing for the Future program. PSL successfully applied for funding from this program. In 2011, PSL was one of the first three projects chosen for the "Initiatives for Excellence" funding.

Even though PSL brought together many different types of schools, they worked well together. The funding helped create 11 special research labs within PSL. These labs focus on different areas of science and research. PSL also received money for eight "Equipped with excellence" projects. These projects got between 2 and 10 million euros each.

In 2017, nine of the schools decided to work even more closely. They agreed to share a budget and plan their hiring together. They also created shared services. These schools officially formed Université PSL. They decided to give all their degrees under the PSL name.

How PSL University is Organized

PSL is a "collegiate university." This means it's made up of several different schools that work together. It has 11 main schools, and more might join later. Three big national research organizations also help guide PSL's plans.

Main Schools of PSL

Here are some of the main schools that are part of PSL University:

Associate Schools of PSL

Some other important schools are "associate members." They work closely with PSL and help with its plans.

PSL Presidents

The president leads PSL University. The current president is Alain Fuchs.

• 2012–2014: Monique Canto-Sperber
• 2014–2017: Thierry Coulhon
• 2017 – present: Alain Fuchs

What You Can Study at PSL

PSL offers many study programs, from your first university degree (undergraduate) all the way to a PhD. You can study almost anything, including life sciences, physical sciences, humanities, social sciences, creative arts, economics, and management. All of PSL's schools teach students through research. This means you learn by doing actual research projects.

The École normale supérieure, part of PSL University.

Undergraduate Programs

PSL has a special three-year undergraduate program. It's called the CPES Multidisciplinary undergraduate course. It's offered with several other schools like Lycée Henri IV and Mines ParisTech.

At Université Paris-Dauphine, which is part of PSL, you can get Bachelor's degrees in subjects like management, economics, finance, computer science, and journalism.

Mines ParisTech, a school within PSL University.

Focus on Sustainability

PSL is a leader in France for a network called SDSN, which is part of the United Nations. This network works on making the world more sustainable. PSL wants all its students to learn about climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability. In 2020, PSL even started a new Bachelor's program just for sustainability sciences. They also host a summer school for European students to learn about sustainable development.

ESPCI Paris, one of PSL University's engineering schools.

Graduate Studies

PSL offers many programs for graduate students (those studying for a Master's degree). These programs cover a wide range of fields. You can study engineering, arts, management, economics, biology, humanities, social sciences, and astronomy.

Doctoral Programs

More than 70% of PSL students are studying for a Master's or PhD degree. PSL's PhD programs are like "graduate schools" found in top research universities worldwide. For example, they have a PhD program in Humanities and one in Cognitive Science.

The École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, an art school in PSL University.

SACRe Doctoral Program

The "Science Art Creation Research" (SACRe) PhD program is very special. It helps students explore how arts, science, and humanities connect. It's a new kind of PhD for artists. It combines hands-on art practice with deep thinking and theory. This program brings together the École normale supérieure with five top French schools for creative and performing arts. These include schools for acting, music, dance, visual arts, and film.

The Observatoire de Paris, a science school in PSL University.

Research at PSL

PSL has about 140 research labs. Around 2,900 teachers and researchers work there. They have also received about 100 ERC grants, which are important research funds. PSL's research focuses on specific subjects and also on projects that combine different fields.

Some examples of combined research programs include:

• Scripta: This program studies the history and different ways of writing.
• OCAV program: This looks into the origins of life and what conditions are needed for it to appear.
• Q-Life Institute: This institute focuses on life sciences.

PSL researchers study many areas, such as:

• Law, economics, and business
• Literature and philosophy
• Arts and art theory
• Life and health sciences
• Energy and engineering
• Physics and chemistry
• History and anthropology
• Computer science and data science
• Mathematics and materials science
• Cognitive science and sociology
• Earth and space science
• Religious studies and archaeology

International Rankings

Universities are often ranked to see how good they are compared to others worldwide. PSL first appeared in the Times Higher Education ranking in 2017. It was ranked 72nd globally and 1st in France. By 2018, it moved up to 41st place globally.

In 2020, PSL University also appeared in two other big rankings: the CWTS Leiden Ranking and the ARWU (also known as the Shanghai ranking). In the Shanghai ranking, it was 36th in the world and the 2nd best French university. PSL is ranked among the best in the world for 39 out of 54 subjects. For example, it's 10th in the world for Mathematics and Physics, and 12th in Ecology. In 2022, PSL University was ranked first in the Young University Rankings.

Global Partnerships

PSL works with many universities around the world. It has agreements with famous schools like the University of Cambridge, UCL, Columbia, Berkeley, and Peking University. These partnerships help students and researchers work together across different countries.

PSL Orchestra and Choir

PSL has its own Orchestra and Choir! It's open to all students and staff at PSL University. The group performs different types of music, including modern pieces from various countries.

Famous People from PSL

Many talented people have studied or taught at PSL University. Here are some of them:

Nobel and Fields Medal Winners

• Marie Curie – Won Nobel Prizes in Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911).
• Pierre Curie – Won Nobel Prize in Physics (1903).
• Jean Perrin – Won Nobel Prize in Physics (1926).
• Frédéric Joliot-Curie – Won Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1935).
• Irène Joliot-Curie – Won Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1935).
• Jean-Paul Sartre – Won Nobel Prize in Literature (1964).
• Esther Duflo – Won Nobel Prize in Economics (2019).
• Cédric Villani – Won Fields Medal (2010), a top award in mathematics.
• Hugo Duminil-Copin – Won Fields Medal (2022).

Notable Alumni in Business

• Emmanuel Roman, CEO of PIMCO (a big investment company).
• Olivier François, President and CEO of Fiat (a car company).
• Anne Rigail, CEO of Air France (an airline).
• Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies (an energy company).
• Carlos Ghosn, former CEO of Nissan and Renault-Nissan (car companies).
• Eugène Schueller, founder of L'Oréal (a beauty company).

Notable Alumni in Politics

• Laurent Fabius, former Prime Minister of France.
• Alain Juppé, former Prime Minister of France.
• Georges Pompidou, former Prime Minister and President of France.
• Bruno Le Maire, current Minister of the Economy in France.
• Najla Bouden Romdhane, former Prime Minister of Tunisia.
• Boni Yayi, former President of Benin.

See also

In Spanish: PSL Research University para niños