Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas University is a multi-campus university in Paris specialising in law and political science, and it is the second oldest faculty of Law in the world and is regarded as the most prestigious law school in France. It was part of the wider University of Paris network (generally known as the Sorbonne) until 1968.
The majority of Paris 2’s nineteen campuses are located in the Latin Quarter of central Paris, which can be easily accessed from all neighbourhoods of the city via public transport.
This exchange is only open to students in the School of Law.
Law bilateral agreement: Very competitive ***
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
French – students are required to be fluent in French due to the intensive nature of the course. To be considered for an exchange space at this partner institution, students must have followed the mandatory French classes with the Queen Mary Language Centre during years 1 and 2, unless exempted by the School of Law.
Autumn semester: September – January, with teaching ending in December and exams taking place in January and FebruarySpring semester: January-May, with teaching taking place between February-May and exams taking place in May and June
You must attend the mandatory Induction Week at the beginning of the academic year before classes start, as this is critical to your successful integration and enrolment at the university and will include important general information for international and exchange students. Bear in mind that your successful enrolment at the university is integral to being able to apply for your French social security number (required for many things in France including accessing healthcare and French government benefits, such as for housing; see next tab).
Students will have around two weeks off for Christmas, in addition to various public holidays. Additionally, Paris 2 is closed for a week during the middle of the first semester. It is also compulsory for students to stay in Paris until the end of each examination period, which is early February for the first semester and late June for the second semester.
At Queen Mary (pre-departure): The School of Law at Queen Mary strongly recommends for you attend the French Law Methodology classes in your second year as preparation for your exchange, once you hold a Conditional offer for the Panthéon-Sorbonne. Taking place every spring over several dates (typically March), these classes are organised primarily for the students completing the four-year double degree programme between Queen Mary and the Panthéon-Sorbonne, yet all students who studying in Paris the following year are encouraged to attend. Attending these pre-departure will support you in your understanding of crucial aspects of French Law, critical for the success of this year abroad integral to your English and European Law degree. Contact the School of Law for more details on when the classes are organised. See also this important resource (created by the other Queen Mary exchange destination for Law students in Paris, Panthéon-Sorbonne: French legal methodology for foreign students (in English) [PDF 209KB]
At Assas: Students are assessed either by oral or written examinations. Exchange students studying Law have the option of studying abroad with the partner as either a general exchange student (with more flexibility towards module selection), or to study the integral licence 3 programme (fixed schedule, no flexibility in terms of module selection). If a student successfully passes the licence 3 programme, this awards them an undergraduate Law degree from Paris 2.
However, the third year of the licence is academically challenging and time-intensive both in terms of contact hours and workload, as students are required to overload in terms of contact hours. This programme has a very low rate of successful completion by Queen Mary Law students, even those for whom French is their mother tongue. If a student fails this licence 3 programme, they do not pass the year abroad. Students are advised to consider opting for the standard exchange student option with more module flexibility and a more feasible number of contact hours. Full information about the licence programme can be found here.
For more general information about courses and the online course catalogue, please visit Cours proposés selon les disciplines. Here, you will find an explanation of academic requirements and options joining Assas as a general exchange student (not the Licence route), as well as the ability to consult a downloadable PDF file with the current year's timetable and full class listings. Read the first page of that PDF document carefully, as it also explains the types of classes on offer and the corresponding ECTS, depending on the format.
Corpo Assas (see also "Student Experience" tab of this page) also publish some video recordings summarising select Law taught subjects that provide a glimpse into what studying Law at Assas is like.
Queen Mary students interested in or preparing to study at Panthéon-Assas should consult former student feedback and/or speak to Global Opportunities Ambassadors to gain a better, more in-depth understanding of the French education system and the differences in French teaching and learning styles (and expectations) compared to the UK.
Students completing a general exchange at Assas must enrol on a full courseload: 30 ECTS per semester / 60 ECTS for the full academic year (equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits per semester / 120 Queen Mary credits for the full academic year).
Note: ECTS requirements for students enrolled under the licence 3 programme remain the same, although the 'set menu' of courses that Assas requires students to follow for that programme contains more contact hours.
Find out more about credit transfer and grade conversion.
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
All incoming students will be assisted by the Incoming Exchange Programme Co-ordinator in finding accommodation.
Accommodation in public French student residence halls (all subsidised and managed by each region's student welfare office known as the Centre régional des œuvres universitaires, abbreviated as CROUS) is price-controlled in Paris yet varies depending on if any facilities are shared or private/en-suite. Typically accommodation in these halls reserved exclusively for students studying in France includes a single bed, kitchenette, shower, toilet, desk and all utilities (water, electricity and internet).
It should be noted that both navigating the French housing market and finding accommodation can be quite difficult in Paris (not only privately but also in student residence halls), as many students (French and international) are trying to reserve and secure housing across the city via many routes. Students without any French language skills may find this challenging especially if they are searching for accommodation late at the start of the academic year. Students are advised to begin researching options and consulting advice from former participants as soon as possible, once they are nominated to the host institution.
Students in France who meet certain conditions are entitled to modest, monthly fiinancial housing assistance payments from the French government to help with the cost of rent, whether they rent student accommodation or privately, alone or in a flat/houseshare (referred to as colocation); procedures to apply will slightly differ depending on the situation. These housing benefits are commonly referred to as "la CAF" or "the CAF" in both French and English (Caisse des Allocations Familiales), as this is the service of the government delivering the financial support. The type and amount of the funding you may be eligible for will depend on your living and renting situation, yet most students are eligible to receive Custom Housing Assistance (aide personnalisée au logement, abbreviated as "APL") in the amount of €180-€200 per month. You must open a French bank account in order to be eligible to receive payments. You must also eventually have a French social security number (enrolment and registration at Panthéon-Sorbonne facilitates this), yet you may be able to begin the application process without this. Learn more here about eligibility and further conditions for applying; guidance for international students applying for the first time can also be found here.
Private accommodation: Students can rent privately either through an estate agent, homestay or private student halls. However, the cost will be higher, and students will likely be asked to provide details of a caution (or guarantor) required for signing any rental contract. Studapart is a useful resource to search for accommodation and, as an organisation, can also serve as a caution (learn more here). Due to the size and popularity of Paris as a global destination, finding secure and affordable private accommodation is competitive and challenging year round, especially at the start of the academic year. Queen Mary students looking for private accommodation in the Paris metropolitan area are advised to follow the above guidance and any guidance from the host institution as soon as possible to begin their accommodation search safely. Guidance about searching for private accommodation safely is also available on the QMplus resource page, “Pre-departure” tab from early spring.
You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Paris here.
Living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle, especially in Paris where renting private accommodation can be as (if not more) expensive than renting privately in London. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Important: Students considering to live and study in Paris must be realistic about financial matters, this being one of the most expensive cities in the world. In the decision-making process, Queen Mary students must calculate their forecasted budget with confirmed funding to which they will have access against the rising cost of living.
Students may also be expected to pay local student/administrative fees just like other full-degree local students, which in France may include the fee to register for sécurité sociale as a student.
As a current Queen Mary student you will be able to find a summary sheet for this partner university on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention
Paris 2 offers a wide range of student-led societies, ranging from the arts, volunteering and academic pursuits. Students are also encouraged to set up their own society.
There are also over sixty sporting societies and teams for students to join – these are provided at all levels, from recreational to competitive sports.
Corpo Assas and Assas.net at Paris 2 are also societies/students' bureau who assist enrolled Law students, organise events and represent general student interests. Both societies have been recommended by current exchange participants (see links to Instagram accounts under "Find out more" tab).
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