Practical information
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Access to university
Courses of PSME are given at 4 centers of the University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne. They are:
- Maison des Sciences Economiques: Boulevard de l'Hôpital 110
- Center Sorbonne: 1, rue Victor Cousin, 75005 Paris
- Center Pantheon: 12, place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris
- Center Pierre Mendès France (Tolbiac): 90, rue de Tolbiac, 75013 Paris
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Arriving in Paris
From CDG the easiest and fastest is to take the RER B. It takes you to Chatelet, one of the biggest public transport hubs and the most central in Paris, within one hour. From there you can access any metro station within 30 Minutes.
If you get to Orly, there are several options. You can either take the Orly Bus or the transfer to Antony by train. In Antony you can get on the RER B aswell. If you are patient for a cheaper and longer trip, you can also take the Tram. It will take you to Villejuif - Louis Aragon, where you can take Metro 7 directly.
You can find more practical information about airports in Paris here.
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What campus accommodation is available?
We book a limited number of rooms at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, but they are allotted on a first come first served basis. You can find more information about accommodation here.
Program
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Does M1 (PSME) lead directly to a second year of Master (M2) ?
After the M1 you can apply to any of our M2 (second year) programs. There are over 20 specialty areas in economics alone. There is a selection process for the M2. You must apply to the second year of master studies as any French student would. In the second year, successful candidates are enrolled as regular French students. In the past, all serious students have succeeded in finding an M2.
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I went to a French high school and I have French culture. Can I apply to the PSME ?
PSME is designed for international students who want to study in France in English. However, its tuition fees are higher than traditional French higher education. If you already speak French (you have a DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) level C1 - C2, or equivalent certificate) and want to study in France in French, you can apply to a regular Master Program. You can find more information on the website of Paris 1.
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I am going to participate in the Erasmus program. Now I’m wondering if I could also attend in courses of the PSME, taught in English.
Unfortunately, we cannot grant you full access to the PSME courses, but depending on space availability you can be admitted in one or two of the PSME courses.
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Can I receive the Master in Economics degree after M1 ?
In Europe, the Master is in two years. The first year, called M1, is normally followed by a second year, called M2. At the Sorbonne, our M1 is rather generalist, while most of our M2s are specialized. If you stop at the M1 level, you will have a certificate issued by Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne University, corresponding to the old French "Maitrise". In France, there is a selection process at the end of the M1, to enter the M2 programs.
Foreign students graduating from our PSME program will be allowed to apply to all specialized M2 programs in economics, as if they were French students. Entrance in some M2 programs, which have large numbers of candidates, is highly selective; for other programs the selection process is less severe. A student who has obtained good results for his/her M1 is normally recruited without difficulty in M2s.
The PSME M1 program for foreign students is specifically designed to help foreign students enter the French system, and we expect that serious PSME M1 students (who are already selected to enter this M1 level) will succeed without difficulty in the competition to enter the M2 level.
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What are the differences between PSME 1 and a regular Master 1 in economics ?
The PSME is a program specially designed for selected international candidates who prefer receiving teaching in English. In the PSME, fees are about 6500 euros. For the regular M1 taught essentially in French, the fee is about 500 euros.
If you apply to PSME program, you do not need to speak French when you arrive and we propose intensive French lessons which fit your French level. Regular students in M1 are supposed to have a good oral and written level in French. A French certification is required for foreign students: DALF (at least C1); DELF (at least C2); TCF (at least 5) or other equivalent certificate.
Deadlines for the regular programs: between 15 November and 15 March. For PSME program, the deadline is 1 May.
Application
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When is the last date for registration? When do courses start ?
Classes begin in mid September and students are advised to arrive 2 weeks prior to the start date of classes. This year, classes began on September 14th. The international office can provide assistance for accommodation search, but the sooner you register the better. We cannot guarantee accommodation search assistance to latecomers. For lodging at the CROUS or CIUP, you must arrive by September 1st.
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What is the approximate time it takes for admission committee to consider candidates profile and decide whether she/he is accepted or not ?
We examine applications on an on-going basis until May 1st each year. You may send your application documents starting October 15th. We will give you an answer within one month starting in January.
Note that early application is a pre-requisite to be able to apply to scholarship programs, notably those offered by the French foreign affairs services.
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Can I still apply to the Spring semester ?
The program is for a full year only, starting in the Fall semester.
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I do not have training in Economics but in Sciences. Can I apply to the PSME ?
The PSME Program is open to all candidates holding a Bachelor degree in Economics. However, we accept a few students with a minor in Economics.
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I hold a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from the London School of Economics and would like to know if I can still apply because it was not an economics degree.
We require at least a minor in economics, and some intermediate level in mathematics. If you have not taken any economics courses, the PSME program is not well suited for you, because all of our students are supposed to have a background in economics.
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I don't speak French at all. Can I apply to the PSME Program?
The PSME Program is specially designed for English-speaking international students who do not speak French. This program includes both economics and French language training in one package: it allows non-French speaking bachelor-level students to prepare optimally for further specialization in one of the regular Master programs at the University of Paris. So of course you can apply!
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What are the main points to be included in the recommendation letter that would be of your university's interest ?
Letters of recommendation are usually provided by your professors, who give their opinion on your capacity to succeed in a Master program in Economics.
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I will complete my undergraduate studies in June/July. I cannot send my diploma until then. Am I still able to apply to PSME this year ?
We can process your application if you submit transcripts up to the first term of the current academic year. Of course the decision will be conditional on submission of your BA degree.
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Is there an age limitation for students applying to the PSME program ?
There is no age limit. The only constraint is that after 28 you cannot be insured by the student social security system.
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I am currently working full time in the financial sector. Can the recommendation letters be written by my supervisor or must they be from university professors ?
It is preferable that at least one letter of recommendation come from one of your former professors, but this is not compulsory.
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Can I apply to the PSME program as an Erasmus student ?
The PSME program is a paying and selective program, so you cannot enter it as an Erasmus student.
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In my country I have studied BAC+4 for the bachelor degree. Can I directly apply to a Master 2 ?
The PSME is a one-year program, corresponding to the first year of Master (M1), for international students. After the PSME, successful students can apply to M2 programs. If you wish to apply directly to an M2 program, you have to follow the regular procedures for M2 programs.
Courses and Exams
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I have already learnt French for 2 months. Will I have a French course which fits my level ?
Normally you can have a French course which fits your level of French. You will be classified according to your test results at the beginning of the semester.
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Can I accomplish the Master degree in economics (2 years) in English only ?
The PSME programme is a one-year program fully in English (with courses of French as foreign language). For the 2nd year of Master, we don't have yet a program specifically designed for foreign students. After the PSME, students can apply to any of our 2nd year level Master programs. The proportion of courses given in French/English varies from one program to the other. Most students who have gone through the PSME should have sufficient fluency in French to attend some classes in French during of their second year. Aside of this, there are several research master programs in which all courses are taught in English. The tendency in some 2nd year programs is to switch to English when there is at least student who does not understand French, but this is not yet common practice.
We are also offering a double Master degree program on Globalization with Fudan University (Shanghai) which is totally in English. After the two PSME semesters, students in this program will have a Summer semester in Paris and then two semesters in Shanghai. Students in this program will learn Chinese instead of French as foreign language.
Fees and payment
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What are the tuition fees of the programme? Does it cover accommodation fees ?
The tuition fees for the academic year of the PSME is set to 6500 euros. The fee covers 60 ECTS credits in the Fall and the Spring semesters, which corresponds to what is required per year in the Bologna system. These fees do not cover Xerox, books, accommodation, health insurance), meals, or general expenses. However, accommodation reservation, library access, health insurance (for students below 28), and internet access will be provided.
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What is the exact scheme for payment of tuition and registration fee ?
Students admitted for the PSME program will be directed to a specific webpage for payment. The 6500 euros fees must be paid by mid-July.
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Could you give me any information about approximate amount of living and accommodation expenses ?
You can find information about living expenses in: Living in Paris and its guide.
Language
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I have always been studying in English. Do I have to take the TOEFL test?
If you have been studying in English, normally, you don't need the TOEFL test. However, you have to send all documents to the admission committee to confirm it.
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I want to apply to the PSME Programme, but I haven't taken the TOEFL test yet. Can I apply and take the test at the same time?
Yes, you can send your application documents now and take the TOEFL test as soon as possible.
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I have already learnt French for 2 months. Will I have a French course which fit my level ?
Normally you can have a French course which fit your level of French.
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My TOEFL test dated more than 3 years. Can I use this for the application?
Your TOEFL test is a bit old. You can send all your application documents. If you are likely to be accepted in our programme, you can take another TOEFL test before 15th June to confirm your English level.
Scholarships
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I would like to know whether any scholarship is available for the PSME and if yes what the procedure of applying for it is.
The Paris 1 University does not provide any scholarship. However, up to 5 outstanding students can be exempted partially from the tuition fees (500 euros instead of 6500 euros).
You can also find all information about scholarship here.
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What are the deadlines for scholarships' application?
The University Paris 1 does not provide any scholarship. However, students can directly apply to one of the following scholarships:
Eiffel Scholarship: the deadline is the end of October.
Scholarship Master Ile-de-France: the deadline is the end of March.
You can find all information about scholarship on our website.