PSL University: Fees & Ranking

The short answer

PSL University (Université PSL) is a public collegiate research university in Paris with about 17,000 students, two thirds of them in master’s or PhD programmes.^[1] It is ranked 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and is the top-ranked French university in that edition.^[2]

PSL does not publish one fee table, because tuition depends on the member school and the diploma.^[3] At Dauphine-PSL, for example, a national master’s diploma costs €255 in 2026/27, and non-EU students pay €3,950 unless they request the partial exemption that brings the fee down to €255.^[4] Teaching is in French or English depending on the programme; English-taught programmes generally require C1 English, French-taught ones B2 or C1 French.^[5]

Key facts

Official name	Université PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres)
Location	Paris, France (head office 60 rue Mazarine, 75006 Paris)^[6]
Type	Public collegiate research university and grand établissement^[7]
Founded	2010 (Paris Sciences et Lettres – Quartier Latin, statutes approved by decree); Université PSL created as a collegiate university by decree in November 2019^[7]
Students	17,000, of whom two thirds are in master’s or PhD programmes^[1]
International students	25 % according to one PSL page, 20 % according to another^[1]
Member schools	11: Chimie ParisTech, Conservatoire national supérieur d’art dramatique, Dauphine, École nationale des chartes, École normale supérieure, École pratique des hautes études, ESPCI Paris, MINES Paris, Observatoire de Paris, ENSA Paris-Malaquais, École des Arts Décoratifs^[8]
Associated institutions	Collège de France and Institut Curie^[8]
Graduate programmes	18^[1]
Research	140 laboratories^[1]
QS World University Rankings 2027	34th^[2]
Language of teaching	French or English, depending on the programme^[5]
Tuition 2026/27	Set by member school and diploma; e.g. Dauphine-PSL national master’s €255 (non-EU €3,950 unless exempted)^[4]
Official website	psl.eu

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About PSL University

PSL began as the scientific cooperation foundation “Paris Sciences et Lettres – Quartier Latin”, whose statutes were approved by decree in 2010.^[7] It became a university community in 2015, and a decree of November 2019 created Université PSL as a collegiate university.^[7] In January 2025 two more schools, ENSA Paris-Malaquais and the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, joined as constituent colleges.^[7]

PSL is a group of schools rather than a single faculty. Its 11 member schools include the École normale supérieure, Dauphine, MINES Paris, ESPCI Paris, Chimie ParisTech, the École pratique des hautes études and the Observatoire de Paris. Collège de France and Institut Curie are associated institutions, not members.^[8] Each school keeps its own campus and, in many cases, its own admission rules and fees.^[3]

PSL is not one school: “PSL University (Paris-Dauphine, ENS, Mines)” in rankings means the whole group. When you apply, you apply to a programme at one of its schools or to a PSL-wide programme, and the rules of that programme apply.

How is PSL University ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, PSL is 34th in the world and the top French university.^[2] PSL’s own news page lists 28th for the previous year, so the position fell by six places.^[2] The same page says PSL is 3rd in the world and first in the EU for the QS indicator “international research network”.^[2]

Behind PSL come Institut Polytechnique de Paris (43rd), Sorbonne University (73rd) and Université Paris-Saclay (76th).^[9] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at PSL University?

PSL offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes, and its 18 graduate programmes cover: astrophysics, arts, chemistry, law, economics, finance, computer science, engineering, management, mathematics and applications, physics, earth science and biodiversity, religious studies, life sciences, historical sciences, social sciences, cognitive sciences and translation and literature (“Translitteræ”).^[1] Roughly 140 laboratories carry out the research.^[1]

The programme you choose decides the school that awards the diploma, the language of teaching and the fees. Some master’s programmes are taught partly or fully in English.^[3] For the full list, use the education pages of psl.eu.

How much does PSL University cost in 2026/27?

PSL’s international-students page says that every student pays registration fees plus the compulsory student contribution CVEC, that fees depend on the profile and the diploma, and that the amounts are listed on each programme’s own website.^[3] The only complete grid we could read is the one Dauphine-PSL publishes for 2026/27; use it as an example, not as a PSL-wide price list.

Dauphine-PSL diploma	EU / French residence	Non-EU tax residence
Master’s, national diploma	€255	€3,950, or €255 with the partial exemption (on request)
Master’s, Dauphine own diploma (DGE)	€258 to €11,100 by household income	€6,831
Bachelor LSO (Dauphine’s own licence)	€0 to €4,848 by household income	€2,349
Bachelor Mathematics-Computer Science (MIDO)	€0 to €2,424 by household income	€582

The Dauphine grid excludes the CVEC of €105. Income-based fees depend on the parents’ gross household income for 2024. The page warns that some rates may change for 2027/28.^[4]

National rates for comparison

For national diplomas at public institutions, Campus France lists €178 (bachelor’s), €255 (master’s) and, for non-EU students, €2,902 and €3,950 in 2026/27. Doctoral students pay €398 if they are non-EU.^[10] Some groups are exempt from the higher rate, and French government scholarship holders receive a full waiver.^[10] Dauphine also fully exempts CROUS and Campus France scholarship holders on proof.^[4]

Why older figures differ

You may see “€2,770 and €3,770” quoted for PSL. Those were the non-EU rates announced for 2019, and PSL’s own 2019 page described how it planned to soften them with a partial waiver.^[11] They are no longer the current national rates. For living costs in Paris, see our France guide and the Study in France guide.

How do you apply to PSL University?

There is no single PSL application; the route depends on the level and on your nationality.^[12]

Bachelor’s, first year: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens apply through Parcoursup, as French students do. Non-EU applicants living in a country covered by “Études en France” (EEF) use Parcoursup if they hold a French or European baccalaureate; with a foreign diploma they use the EEF portal for programmes such as the International BSc in AI and Dauphine-PSL bachelor’s degrees. Some bachelor’s have their own platform, for example I-BE³.^[12]
Master’s: EU citizens follow the same procedure as French students, through Mon Master or a PSL portal. Non-EU applicants in an EEF country apply through Mon Master or a PSL portal, then complete the EEF pre-consular procedure after admission and request a student visa. Dauphine-PSL programmes require both the EEF portal and the Dauphine-PSL portal.^[12] Selection is by application alone or by application plus interview, written or oral exam, or competition. Year 1 needs BAC+3 (180 ECTS), Year 2 needs BAC+4 (240 ECTS).^[5]
PhD: EU citizens apply through the Doctoral College. For non-EU applicants the EEF procedure does not apply; after a positive answer you request a “researcher-talent passport” long-stay visa.^[12]

We give no deadlines because calendars and platforms vary by programme and change every year. PSL points applicants to its admission form on the procedure page to find the calendar and portal for their profile and programme.^[5]

Which language level do you need?

Requirements are set per programme. In general, English-taught programmes ask for at least C1 in English, and French-taught programmes ask non-French speakers for B2 or C1 (DELF/DALF).^[5] The CEFR is the European scale from A1 to C2; B2 is upper-intermediate and C1 advanced.

Accepted English proof includes TOEIC, TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS and Cambridge certificates; French proof includes DELF/DALF, TEF and TCF. Results must be certified and dated as the programme requires. Some programmes run their own language test, and applicants without a certificate may be offered one.^[5] English-taught tracks need no French.^[5]

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does PSL University cost for international students?

It depends on the school and diploma. At Dauphine-PSL in 2026/27 a national master’s costs €255, and non-EU students pay €3,950 unless they get the partial exemption; Dauphine’s own master’s diploma costs €6,831 for non-EU tax residents.^[4] Check the fee page of your programme.^[3]

Is PSL University the same as ENS or Dauphine?

No. PSL is the university group; the École normale supérieure and Dauphine are two of its 11 member schools.^[8] Each school has its own programmes and, in many cases, its own admission rules.^[3]

How is PSL University ranked?

It is 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the top French university, after 28th the year before.^[2]

Do I need to speak French to study at PSL?

Not always. English-taught master’s programmes generally ask for C1 English and no French, while French-taught programmes ask for B2 or C1 French.^[5]

How do non-EU students apply to a PSL master’s?

Apply through Mon Master or the PSL portal of your programme, then complete the Études en France procedure after admission if you live in a covered country, and request a student visa.^[12]