Institut Catholique de Paris

What Institut Catholique de Paris does

Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP) is a private, nonprofit Catholic higher education institution founded in 1875 and located at the historic Couvent des Carmes site (21 rue d'Assas, 75270 Paris Cedex 06). It operates as an EESPIG (Établissement d'Enseignement Supérieur Privé d'Intérêt Général) under French law and delivers both state-recognized diplomas and canonical degrees under the 2008 France-Vatican agreement. ICP serves approximately 11,000 students annually across three campuses (Paris, Reims, Rouen) and two satellite antennas (Tours, Cergy), with 1,500+ international students and 90+ courses taught in English. The institution is structured around six faculties (Theology/Canon Law, Philosophy, Letters, Social Sciences/Economics/Law, Education) and a portfolio of specialized schools and research institutes, including IVHM, Institut Ozanam, ESQESE, ILCF, IFOMENE, and five research institutes (Augustinian, Medieval, Byzantine, Mission History, Biblical Sciences), supported by four academic chairs.

ICP's core "product" is a comprehensive academic portfolio spanning licences/bachelors, masters/magistères, doctorates, preparatory classes, canonical degrees, university diplomas, and certificates, delivered through faculty-led instruction, four academic chairs, and a doctoral college. Supporting technology is administrative and pedagogical rather than proprietary AI: a student information system (SesamICP), an e-learning platform (formation.icp.fr), video conferencing for international collaboration, and specialized research libraries. ICP holds QUALIOPI certification (renewed until July 22, 2027) for continuing professional development and the 'Bienvenue en France' 2-star label (2022–2026) for international student reception.

The business model is multi-stream: tuition and fees (income-tiered, ranging from ~€5,457 to €8,918/year for the English-language Master International Affairs), continuing and professional education (executive certificates, IVHM programs, VAE), donations and legacies ('Nous soutenir' programs), and corporate partnerships including apprenticeship tax and venue rental. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via Parcoursup for undergraduates, direct application for graduate programs, the Direction des Relations Internationales for international recruitment, and partner schools (Saint-Jean de Passy, Stanislas) and 250+ university partners (FIUC, ERASMUS+) for ecosystem distribution. As a nonprofit, ICP has no parent company, no funding rounds, and no equity ownership; governance rests with a rector (Emmanuel Petit) and board, with funding sourced from tuition, EESPIG state recognition, donations, and corporate engagement.

Name

Institut Catholique de Paris

Legal name

Institut Catholique de Paris

Website

https://icp.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Institut Catholique de Paris is a private, nonprofit Catholic university founded in 1875, serving ~11,000 students annually across three French campuses (Paris, Reims, Rouen) with programs spanning theology, philosophy, social sciences, law, education, and executive education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Theological Universities & Pontifical Universities (EDAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Theology programs
• Humanities education
• Professional certificates
• Doctoral studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs including canonical degrees, professional certifications, and continuing education courses. Pricing varies by program and student income level.
2. Continuing and professional education: Revenue from professional certificates, executive education programs like IVHM management courses, and corporate training services for businesses
3. Donations and legacies: Support through donations, insurance policies, and legacies as part of 'Nous soutenir' (Support us) programs, contributing to heritage preservation and scholarship funding
4. Corporate partnerships and apprenticeship tax: Enterprise engagement through sponsorship, corporate social responsibility programs, apprenticeship tax contributions, and venue rental for corporate events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Institut Catholique de Paris is a private Catholic higher education institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, canonical, and preparatory programs across six faculties and multiple specialized schools, supplemented by continuing professional education, executive education (IVHM), French-as-a-Foreign-Language (ILCF) instruction, mediation and negotiation training (IFOMENE), and distance learning. It serves approximately 11,000 students annually through campuses in Paris, Reims, and Rouen, with research activity organized through five specialized institutes and four academic chairs.

Product overview

Institut Catholique de Paris is a Catholic higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across six faculties (Theology, Philosophy, Letters, Social Sciences/Economics/Law, Education, Canon Law), multiple specialized schools (health, languages, mediation, management), and research institutes. Programs include traditional degrees (Licences, Masters, Doctorats), preparatory classes, canonical degrees, professional certificates, and distance learning options. The institution operates campuses in Paris, Reims, and Rouen with associated schools, and maintains research chairs and institutes focused on humanities, religious studies, and social sciences. The institution has launched new English-language programs including the International Affairs Master and continues to expand professional education offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Licences / Bachelors
• Masters / Magistères
• Master International Affairs, Strategic Policy Analysis and the Global Economy
• Doctoral programs (Doctorats)
• Canonical Degrees (Baccalauréats, Licences, Doctorat canoniques)
• Préparatory Classes (Prépas)
• Diplômes Universitaires (DU)
• Certificat Diriger et manager en incertitude et penser l'éthique de la fonction managériale
• Continuing and Professional Education (Formation professionnelle et continue)
• Formation à distance (Distance Learning)
• IVHM - Institut Vaugirard Humanités et Management Programs
• ILCF - French as a Foreign Language (FLE) Programs
• IFOMENE - Mediation and Negotiation Training
• Cours publics (Public Courses)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Saint-Jean de PassycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious Catholic school founded in 1839 with 2,900 students from kindergarten to preparatory classes (ECG). Contributes professors to ICP's Institut Ozanam bachelor programs. Shares pedagogical expertise combining university methodology with preparatory class approach.
• StanislascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate Catholic school associated with the state by contract since 1855, hosting 3,800+ students from kindergarten to preparatory classes. Provides teaching staff for Institut Ozanam programs combining university and prépa pedagogical methods.
• FIUC (Fédération Internationale des Universités Catholiques)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of Catholic universities worldwide. ICP students benefit from the international network and can participate in exchange programs and collaborative research initiatives.
• ERASMUS+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean mobility program enabling student and staff exchanges with partner universities across Europe. ICP has active participation in ERASMUS+ with dedicated coordinator for outgoing European mobility.
• 250+ Partner Universities WorldwidemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partnership network spanning five continents. Enables student exchanges, joint programs, and academic collaboration. Part of global Catholic university ecosystem and bilateral agreements.
• EI-TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner for IVHM's 'Atelier Digital et Humanism' program, combining technological innovation with humanistic management approaches.
• Secrétariat Général aux ministères financiers et ENAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in IVHM's 'Non! l'usager n'est pas un client!' workshop, bringing together public administration expertise and academic reflection on service ethics.
• Chaire ICP-ESSEC Entreprises et Bien CommuncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic chair jointly operated with ESSEC Business School, focusing on business ethics and common good. Combines academic research and professional practice in sustainable business leadership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Université Catholique de Lille: Long-standing French Catholic university offering theological, humanities, social science, and professional programs with multiple campuses. Direct peer: comparable EESPIG status, faith-based identity, similar pricing and admissions channel mix, and overlapping research and international mobility programs.
• Institut Catholique de Toulouse: Catholic higher education institution in Toulouse offering theology, philosophy, and humanities programs. Direct peer: same Catholic accreditation framework, canonical degrees recognized under France-Vatican agreement, similar faculty-student ratios and tuition structure.
• Université Catholique de Lyon: French Catholic university and direct peer – similar EESPIG-accredited private institution offering multi-faculty programs (theology, humanities, social sciences, business) to a comparable domestic and international student base. Both compete for the same niche of Catholic humanist higher education in France.
• Université Catholique de l'Ouest (UCO): French Catholic university with a network of campuses (Angers and regional satellites). Direct peer: identical EESPIG / Catholic identity, multi-faculty structure, comparable tuition model, and similar focus on personal accompaniment and internationalization.

Broad incumbents

• Université Paris Dauphine-PSL: Major French public university specializing in social sciences, economics, and management (organization, decision sciences). Broad incumbent: targets an overlapping student segment in political science, economics, and management where ICP's IVHM and Institut Ozanam operate.
• Sciences Po: Elite French public institution focused on political science, international relations, and social sciences. Broad incumbent: competes for the same high-achieving French and international students as ICP's Faculty of Social Sciences and new Master International Affairs, especially for humanities/social science candidates.
• Georgetown University: Leading international Catholic-affiliated research university. Broad incumbent: shares Catholic/Jesuit intellectual tradition, FIUC global network ties, and comparable humanities and international relations offerings targeting globally mobile students.
• ESSEC Business School: Top French business school and joint operator of the ICP-ESSEC Entreprises et Bien Commun chair. Broad incumbent: competes for executive education and master-level talent in management while sharing research and academic infrastructure with ICP.
• Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain): Large Belgian Catholic research university and FIUC member. Broad incumbent in the Catholic higher education space: same Catholic identity and global university network participation, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader STEM and medical offerings.

Emerging players

• INALCO: Paris-based public institution specializing in languages, regional studies, and international civilizations. Emerging player in the international humanities/area studies space that competes with portions of ICP's Letters and Social Sciences faculties for international students seeking French-language academic credentials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/univcathoparis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UnivCathoParis
• Facebookfacebook.com/institutcatholiquedeparis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-catholique-de-paris
• Instagramicp.fr/instagram
• TikToktiktok.com/@icp_officiel?lang=fr

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institut Catholique de Paris