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Université Paris Saclay is a comprehensive institution of higher learning located primarily in the southern part of Paris, France. Of the 48,000 students enrolled in the University, 10% are PhD candidates, thereby ensuring a solid research base, and nearly half are undergraduates.
Saclay University is one of the largest universities in France, with 9 campuses spread across the city and suburbs of Paris. Each campus usually hosts a different Faculty, with some locations dedicated to cutting edge research. Saclay is also home to four large Schools, and ...
| Establishment year | 1956 |
| Total Students | 48,000 |
| International Students | N/A |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | 71 |
| Campus Size | N/A |
| Total Number of Campuses | 9 |
| University Website | https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en |
| No. of Schools and Divisions | 5 Faculties, 3 Technical Institutes, 1 University Engineering School |
| Nobel Prize Winner Alumni | 5 students and faculty members |
| No. of Education Programs | 67 (Master’s) |
| Student to Faculty ratio | N/A |
Université Paris Saclay offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 5 Teaching and Research Faculties, which are further subdivided into Departments.
Saclay is home to three Technical University Institutes (IUTs) at Cachan, Orsay, and Sceaux. These typically concentrate on two or three specialised areas of research.
Polytech Paris Saclay is the University Engineering School. It awards a wide range of diplomas and degrees in practical fields of engineering and technology. The University is associated with four Big Schools (grandes ecoles); these focus on teaching and research in one field of excellence.
Undergraduate applicants to University Paris Saclay must satisfy the following requirements:
Master’s course applicants must satisfy a similar set of requirements. However, many Faculties run postgraduate courses in English; applicants from non-English speaking countries must submit TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, or Pearson test scores to prove their proficiency in the language. All Master’s applicants must submit degree certificates and academic transcripts from a Bachelor’s course, certified by the relevant University authorities.
Applicants to three year Doctoral programs at Saclay must hold a Master’s degree and prepare a detailed research plan in consultation with their prospective PhD supervisors.
Undergraduate applicants to University Paris Saclay must follow these steps:
Applicants to Master’s programs at University Paris Saclay follow a similar procedure. However, the list of documents to be uploaded during the online application process is much larger. Certain courses may require additional materials to be submitted - for example, research project details, portfolios, and performance videos. The Master’s Scholarship application process is also more elaborate, and is spread over the second and third weeks of May every year.
At the time of registration, students of the University must pay the student life and campus contribution (CVEC) fee. This amounts to 95 Euros per year, and is used to fund healthcare, sports, cultural, and campus facilities for students. A certificate of successful payment of this fee is needed to confirm acceptance of the offer of admission. The CVEC fee is applicable to all students except those admitted under exceptional circumstances, e.g. refugees and asylum seekers.
Registration and tuition fees are calculated in two parts. National tariffs are generally low; Bachelor’s students pay 170 Euros per year, Master’s candidates pay 243 Euros, and PhD students pay 380 Euros per year. Tariffs charged by Saclay University vary by course, with most degrees having tuition fees of 4,000 to 6,000 Euros per year. Registration fees can be paid in three instalments.
The University maintains an online living cost calculator for the benefit of international students. Depending on the type of housing chosen, housing costs can range from 500 to 1,000 Euros per month. The monthly food budget for a student is at least 200 Euros, with transport, entertainment, and shopping costs adding up to 100-200 Euros per month.
Université Paris Saclay was formed from several constituent Schools and Universities. Because of this, it has 9 campuses spread throughout suburban Paris. It also has two affiliated Universities in different areas of France: Evry and Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines.
Over 40 types of cultural activities are part of student life at Saclay University. From theatre to dance, music to writing, and photography to filmmaking, events and training classes take place through the academic year. These are organised by student associations along with world famous Parisian cultural bodies, and are mostly free of charge.
The Sports Activities Association of the University Paris Saclay allows students to pursue over 80 different sports and fitness opportunities. Each campus gives students access to swimming pools, gyms, and indoor and outdoor sports facilities, with some campuses having tennis courts, equestrian centres, dance studios, martial arts dojos, and weight training equipment.
International students can acclimatise to campus life at Saclay University through the buddy program. This mentorship initiative connects new students to senior members of the University community.
CASA is the online Saclay University platform that allows students to view, compare, and choose housing options. This is especially useful for students who are new to the Paris metropolitan area; all members of the University community can easily find accommodation options that fit their budget.
Each campus of University Paris Saclay has approximately ten different University restaurants and cafeterias; these ensure that all students have access to nutritious food at a reasonable price. For students who hold scholarships and those who are undergoing financial difficulties, meals at these restaurants are available at a nominal price of 1 Euro, thereby ensuring that no student goes hungry.
Student Health Services are an important part of life in all Faculties and campuses. These include compulsory comprehensive medical checkups for new students, and occupational checks for students engaged in hazardous work or research activities.
University Paris Saclay provides several scholarships to meritorious international Master’s students. These financial aids aim to increase access to the best postgraduate programs in France and build up a community of global research experts who continue studying PhD programs at Saclay. These scholarships are provided separately by each Faculty and Institute of the University with French Government funding. They last for either one or two years, depending on the duration of the program, and award 10,000 Euros per year to their winners. This covers the average living costs for a period of 10 months. In addition, students who travel to France from distant countries may be paid an amount of 1,000 Euros to assist with travel and visa expenses.
The application process for Master’s scholarships has multiple steps. After submission of the online application, the University automatically invites some international candidates to apply for Master’s scholarships based on academic excellence and research potential. These students must submit an online scholarship application. The most important components of this application are two Letters of Reference. The process takes place in mid-May every year, and the University releases the list of awardees by the end of June. Winners of the scholarship cannot receive any other type of financial aid that exceeds 650 Euros per month.
The scholarship can be suspended if the awardee does not maintain robust attendance and academic records. In addition, internships during the course must be completed within a Paris Saclay research laboratory; the scholarship is suspended during any internship in an external organisation.
