Erasmus guide Universite Paris Cite
Courses, housing, visa, campus life and exchange basics for studying at Universite Paris Cite in Paris, France.
Study abroad at Universite Paris Cite: overview
Study abroad at Universite Paris Cite makes sense when the academic fit is stronger than the destination brand alone and you are honest about everyday logistics. Université Paris Cité (formerly Université de Paris, merging Paris Descartes and Paris Diderot) is a major French research university with around 63,000 students across health sciences, humanities, social sciences, and exact sciences. Useful proof points: Visible university community; verify the current headcount on the official page.; Visible international community; confirm the current figure before making decisions.; Health and Medicine (PASS/LAS), Linguistics and Languages, Social Sciences. Before choosing, confirm teaching language, faculty seats and housing near the campus.
Enrollment
Visible university community; verify the current headcount on the official page.
International Mix
Visible international community; confirm the current figure before making decisions.
Why students choose it
Best for students who want Health and Medicine (PASS/LAS), Linguistics and Languages, Social Sciences and are willing to check language, seats, campus rules and housing before choosing.
Language of instruction: French (primary); English available for some international master's and exchange tracks
Exchange & application at Universite Paris Cite
Start with home-university nomination, then application, Learning Agreement, insurance and course approval. At Universite Paris Cite, rules can sit at faculty level, so do not promise yourself courses before they are validated.
✅Requirements
Students complete the online application after nomination, submit a signed learning agreement, and follow the faculty-specific document checklist.
📨Nomination Process
Exchange students apply through MoveOn after nomination by the home institution. Housing requests can be made during the online process.
🛂Visa Support
Students should prepare the appropriate French visa path early if their nationality and stay length require it.
👥Buddy System
Universite Paris Cite includes buddy-programme registration in the welcome kit for incoming exchange students.
🧭Orientation Week
Welcome webinars run before arrival and a Welcome Week takes place before the start of each semester.
🗓️Deadlines by intake
| Intake | Nomination deadline | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| First semester or full academic year | Before May 15 | Before May 15 |
| Second semester | Before October 30 | Before October 30 |
Arrival Checklist
- Complete the learning agreement before you submit the final application.
- Request housing during the online application if you want a CROUS option considered.
- Join the welcome webinars before arrival so you do not lose time on admin in Paris.
- Check which campus and department you are attached to before building your course timetable.
Academics & courses at Universite Paris Cite
Academics combine credits, exam calendars and faculty-level rules. Check prerequisites, the real teaching language of each course and whether course lists can change before enrolment.
📝Course Registration
Course choice is tied to the department and campus in your signed learning agreement. Cross-campus mixing is limited for logistical reasons.
🎓Credit System
Your exchange workload is organized through the learning agreement and local course availability in the host department.
💯Grading System
French university assessment conventions apply by faculty and department.
✍️Exam Culture
Universite Paris Cite expects students to stay aligned with the department they signed into, so timetable planning matters more than many exchange students expect.
📚Library Access
A large multi-campus university with extensive libraries, labs, and study infrastructure across Paris.
Tuition & fees at Universite Paris Cite
For exchange, separate home tuition, local admin fees, insurance and living costs. Full-degree tuition is a different category and must be checked on the official fee page.
| Student Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EXCHANGE | EUR 0 tuition + EUR 105 CVEC (mandatory) | CVEC (Contribution Vie Étudiante) €105 for 2025–2026 academic year — mandatory at all French universities. Pay online at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr BEFORE enrollm… |
| Full degree – EU/EEA | EUR 170–243/year | EU/EEA: €170 (Licence) or €243 (Master) + CVEC €105. Paris Cité is one of France's largest universities — strong in medicine, science, humanities. Sorbonne q… |
| Full degree – non-EU | EUR 2,770–3,770/year | Non-EU: €2,770 (Licence) or €3,770 (Master) + CVEC €105. Exemptions available — check Paris Cité admissions office. Paris living costs main expense (~€900–1,… |
EUR 0 tuition + EUR 105 CVEC (mandatory)
CVEC (Contribution Vie Étudiante) €105 for 2025–2026 academic year — mandatory at all French universities. Pay online at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr BEFORE enrollm…
EUR 170–243/year
EU/EEA: €170 (Licence) or €243 (Master) + CVEC €105. Paris Cité is one of France's largest universities — strong in medicine, science, humanities. Sorbonne q…
EUR 2,770–3,770/year
Non-EU: €2,770 (Licence) or €3,770 (Master) + CVEC €105. Exemptions available — check Paris Cité admissions office. Paris living costs main expense (~€900–1,…
Fees change annually — verify current rates on the official exchange office page
Student housing at Universite Paris Cite
Housing near Universite Paris Cite should move in parallel with the application. Compare residence, private room, transport route and contract terms before arrival.
Full housing guide
Find housing in Paris
Official contacts, student residences, private platforms, tips & red flags.
Insurance & campus support at Universite Paris Cite
Use the international office, faculty coordinator, library, wellbeing services and student groups from week one. Asking early prevents small admin mistakes from becoming blockers.
🛡️Mandatory Insurance
Yes. Students should have valid coverage before arrival and follow the appropriate French registration path after arrival.
🇪🇺EHIC Accepted
Yes
🏥Campus Clinic
Use the welcome materials and campus contacts to identify the right health service route for your faculty and status.
🧠Mental Health
The welcome process is designed to help students connect quickly with practical support and local contacts.
EHIC
Varies by home-country eligibility
Appropriate for many EU students staying on exchange in France.
Private student insurance
Varies by provider
Helpful for non-EU students or anyone needing broader first-day coverage.
Campus services
Welcome Kit and webinars
Accepted exchange students receive a welcome kit with contacts, maps, and webinar registration before arrival.
Buddy programme
Buddy-programme registration is included in the welcome flow to help incoming students build social contact quickly.
Housing partnerships
Universite Paris Cite points students to CROUS and partner housing solutions such as Twenty Campus, Logifac, Fac-Habitat, and Visale guarantor support.
Student Health (SSE)
Paris Cité health service: free medical, dental, gynaecological, psychological, and vaccination consultations. Disability accommodations, nutrition counselling, and sports medicine certificates.
Sports (SUAPS)
100+ sports disciplines at Paris Cité with a focus on wellbeing, health promotion, and competition. Free registration for CVEC-paying students.
Libraries (Paris Cité)
20 teaching and research libraries at Paris Cité, including the Grands Moulins library (one of Paris's largest) and the Interuniversity Library of Health.
Career Centre
Paris Cité career and professional integration centre: job and internship listings, one-to-one career counselling, and workshops on career planning.
Student life at Universite Paris Cite
Student life depends on repeatable routines: associations, sport, ESN or faculty groups. Do not wait for the campus to do all the work; join repeated channels early.
Student Clubs
- The university's scale means student life depends heavily on your faculty, campus, and the neighborhoods around it.
Buddy Program
The buddy programme is the easiest structured route into the local student community.
Sports & Recreation
- Students access wider Paris university life and faculty-based activities depending on campus.
Your First 2 Weeks
- Attend the webinars before you land so your first admin days are lighter.
- Use Welcome Week to confirm contacts, campus geography, and your real commuting time.
- Double-check that your courses match the department in your learning agreement.
- Sort housing and guarantor paperwork before classes become busy.
Key exchange dates at Universite Paris Cite
The critical dates are nomination, application, fee or registration steps, course selection, housing, arrival and exams. Keep resit periods visible before booking return travel.
-
1
First semester or full-year application window
Before May 15
This is the key deadline for September arrivals in Humanities and Social Sciences exchange routes.
-
2
Second semester application window
Before October 30
Main cutoff for January arrivals.
-
3
Welcome Week
Before the start of each semester
Used for exchange briefings, practical information, and activities across Paris.
-
4
Nomination window (Autumn intake)
April – May
Home university must formally nominate before host opens the application portal.
-
5
Application window (Autumn intake)
May – June
Complete host university online application + learning agreement after nomination.
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