Welcome Days: international students begin their academic journey at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

One week to settle in at the university

The Welcome Days kicked off on 8^th September at the Centre Lourcine with a welcome meeting for exchange students introduced by Rémi Bazillier, Vice President for International Relations, and Fabienne Peraldi Leneuf, Vice President for Europe. “We have over 320 partners around the world, and you represent this diversity that is so important to us,” emphasised Rémi Bazillier in his welcome speech.

The 400 students who attended the meeting were introduced to the university’s support services and resources through presentations by the International Relations Department, the sports and student life services, and the ISAP1 association, which strives for the integration of international students. One of the highlighted tools was the Buddy System, launched last year at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. This mentoring platform connects international students with local students to ease their arrival and integration, both within the university and in Paris.

Throughout the week, more than 250 exchange students also took French as a Foreign Language courses run by the department of languages to help them prepare for their academic journey.

On 10^th September, another 250 full degree international students, enrolled in programmes taught in French or English, were welcomed at the Centre Lourcine.

Building relationships to facilitate orientation

The Welcome Days ended on 12^th September with a social gathering for students joining the university as part of an exchange programme. Nearly 300 students enjoyed this friendly moment to meet and connect in an informal setting at the Fondation Deutsch de la Meurthe, located within the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CiuP). 

Among them were Jose and Jorge, law students from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil) and the University of Alicante (Spain). “I learned French specifically to come study at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne,” shared Jorge, who recently returned from a mobility programme in the United States and is considering a career in diplomacy, particularly at the European Parliament. He is one of 40 international students from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne housed at the CiuP via the existing partnership between the university and the CiuP. Jose added, “Being housed at the Crous made my arrival much easier.” Also experienced in international mobility, he previously spent six weeks in Ireland studying English and hopes to work in the field of environmental law.

Last March, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University renewed its "Bienvenue en France" label, upgrading to three stars. This achievement reflects the university’s commitment to providing optimal welcoming support for international students.