Pierre and Marie Curie University

Back in 1970 the University of Paris, more commonly known as “La Sorbonne”, was divided into 13 independent Universities. Therefore, what used to be 'the Sorbonne Universtity' is now a grouping of Universities including the Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris 6), University Paris-Sorbonne (Paris 4), University Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle and INSEAD Business School and Université de Technologie de Compiègne. The Pierre and Marie Curie University (UPMC) is the largest science and medical complex in France. It was called after two famous Nobel laureates in physics (study of radioactivity) Piere and Marie Curie, who attended the Faculty of Science - a predecessor of the current Un. The Faculty of Science was a department of the former University of Paris. The UPMC has been a beacon for scientific research in France with a number of Nobel laureates and others with National Field Medals in its midst.

The School is known its extensive activity in the fields of scientific research notably thanks to its 5,000 researchers and professors working in over 120 laboratories across four divisions: Modeling & Engineering; Energy, Matter & the Universe; Living Earth & Environment; Life & Health. The Universities has partnered with major research such as CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research), INSERM (French National Institute for Health and Medical Research), CEA (Nuclear Energy Research Centre) and the CNES (French Space Agency)…

The University comprises of seven departments, known as UFRs (Research and Training Units) in Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Life Science, plus Earth and Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity. It also incorporates other institutes and three marine stations on the West and South Coasts. The UFRs all offer several courses at undergraduate (9), graduate (11 with 70 specialisations) and a 5-year engineering program. The University also includes a Faculty of Medicine located in the teaching hospitals of La Pitié-Salpêtrière and Saint Antoine.

The University is a prestigious authority for higher education and research in France and worldwide. In the international rankings it is 81st out of 500 best universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2012-2013). The ARWU has ranked UPMC as the 2nd best university in France, 8th in Europe and 42nd in the world.