Sapere Aude

Mission statement

The vision of Université PSL was born out of the long intellectual and scientific history of its schools, which decided to join forces and build a common future in order to create a radical new institution. Wholly committed to excellence in education, training and research, PSL is a global university, which aims to reflect, represent and influence society today and the world of the future in all its diversity. The university’s collegial ethos is a major asset, ensuring that dialogue takes place between all areas of knowledge, innovation and creativity in science, humanities, social sciences, arts and engineering.

PSL offers an education led by the research carried out in its laboratories while encouraging discussion and mobility between disciplines and across schools. Our university exercises critical thinking and fosters creativity. Students are selected on the basis of their potential and talent. The university champions equal opportunities and promotes social, cultural and geographic diversity, and students are guaranteed individual mentoring, small class sizes and personalized academic pathways. The PSL student community enjoys a rich network of student societies and makes the most of the many opportunities that Paris can offer. Whether they opt later for a career in senior management, academia, business, the artistic or cultural world or the non-profit sector, PSL students become citizens who are fully aware of their individual, social and environmental responsibilities.

PSL champions independent research and academic freedom. The range of our disciplines and the ways in which PSL approaches them lead to disruptive thinking and breakthrough innovations and ensure that our university can contribute to solving today’s major problems and challenges. It has one of the world’s strongest scientific environments. It maintains strong partnerships with leading international universities and contributes pro-actively to the global circulation of ideas, skills and talent.

PSL is active in promoting science, technology, knowledge and the arts in all sectors of society. We consider it essential to communicate to leaders in the public and private sectors the full importance of the scientific method and the urgency of engaging with the most up-to-date and rigorous research findings. Our approach is based on wide and effective scientific and cultural dissemination, innovation transfer, and the creation of new businesses. PSL also has a large and diverse world-wide community of alumni.

PSL is a responsible university. Our staff members have a public service role, and they contribute to national debates and the development of public policies. Our university encourages and values the social commitment of its students, both individually and through their student societies. Awareness of sustainable development goals is incorporated into all our research, teaching and all our other activities. We champion the value and importance of research integrity, and we are committed to an open data policy. Our human resources policy prioritizes quality of life at work, career development and inclusivity.

PSL includes eleven Schools: Collège de France, Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique - PSL, Dauphine - PSL, École nationale des chartes - PSL, École nationale supérieure de Chimie de Paris - PSL, École normale supérieure - PSL, École Pratique des Hautes Études - PSL, ESPCI Paris - PSL, Institut Curie, Mines Paris - PSL, Observatoire de Paris - PSL.

PSL works closely with three research entities: CNRS, Inria, Inserm.

PSL from A to Z

They Made PSL What It Is

By coming to Université PSL, students and researchers follow in the footsteps of our most illustrious alumni and can likewise have an impact on society, whether in academia or in the private sector.