Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie de Sorbonne Université

What Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie de Sorbonne Université does

Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie de Sorbonne Université is one of three constituent faculties of Sorbonne Université, established in 2018 through the merger of Pierre et Marie Curie University (UPMC) and Paris-Sorbonne University. Headquartered at 4 place Jussieu, Paris, it is a French public higher-education and research institution serving approximately 20,000–22,000 students across Licence (undergraduate), Master (graduate), doctoral, and continuing education programs. The faculty is organized into six Unités de Formation et de Recherche (UFRs) — Chimie, Ingénierie, Mathématiques, Physique, Sciences de la Vie, and Terre Environnement Biodiversité — alongside the Institut de Statistique de Sorbonne Université (ISUP), Polytech Sorbonne engineering school, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), Institut Henri Poincaré (IHP), and three marine biological stations at Banyuls-sur-Mer, Roscoff, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Its academic portfolio includes 80 Master programs, 17 doctoral schools (with ~2,500 doctoral candidates), the selective five-year Cursus Master en Ingénierie (CMI) engineering tracks through the FIGURE network, a Distance Learning (EAD) program operational since 1978 (~600 students, 160 teachers, 150 teaching units), and Formation Professionnelle Continue for working professionals. Research is delivered through 72 research laboratories (most joint UMR units with CNRS) organized into 22 research federations, supported by 33 technical platforms and three field stations generating marine and environmental datasets. Distribution is through national platforms MonMaster and e-candidat plus the Sorbonne Université Alliance (CNRS, INSERM, INRIA) and Erasmus+/4EU+ European alliances.

The business model is a public-sector model: state block grants from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research combined with nationally regulated tuition fees (~€170–€600/year), a mandatory €105 CVEC contribution, and contract-based continuing professional education. Distance learning is priced at €2.50 per ECTS. There is no proprietary technology platform; the faculty is an academic and research institution rather than a commercial enterprise, with no venture funding, no ownership outside the state, and revenue not separately disclosed at the faculty level.

Name

Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie de Sorbonne Université

Legal name

Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie de Sorbonne Université

Website

https://sciences.sorbonne-universite.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Faculty of Sciences and Engineering at Sorbonne Université is a French public higher-education and research institution, serving ~20,000–22,000 students across Licence, Master, doctoral, and continuing education programs through 6 UFRs, 72 research laboratories, and 3 marine field stations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Science and Engineering)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI), Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD) (EDAAALAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Science research
• Engineering programs
• Marine biology
• Doctoral training

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public higher education funding: As a constituent faculty of Sorbonne University (a French public institution), the faculty is primarily funded through government block grants and tuition fees regulated by the French state.
2. Distance learning fees: Distance education (EAD) generates revenue through per-ECTS fees (2.50 EUR per ECTS) charged to enrolled students. 160 teachers participate across 5 training departments serving approximately 600 distance students.
3. Continuing professional education contracts: Customized professional training programs for companies and public sector organizations, delivered as short specialization courses, seminars, and degree programs under the professional development (formation professionnelle continue) banner.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie de Sorbonne Université is a public higher education and research institution delivering undergraduate (Licence), graduate (Master), and doctoral (PhD) degree programs across six UFRs spanning Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Engineering, and Earth Sciences/Environment. It operates 72 research laboratories and 22 research federations, three marine biological stations, the Polytech Sorbonne engineering school, the ISUP statistics institute, and a Cursus Master en Ingénierie (CMI) selective engineering track. It also offers Enseignement à Distance (EAD) remote learning operational since 1978 and Formation Professionnelle Continue continuing education for working professionals.

Product overview

The Faculty of Science and Engineering at Sorbonne University operates as a comprehensive academic institution offering a unified educational platform with multiple interconnected programs. The portfolio includes undergraduate (Licence) and graduate (Master) degree programs across six UFRs (training units), supplemented by specialized engineering tracks (Cursus Master en Ingénierie), the Polytech Sorbonne engineering school, and ISUP statistics institute. Distance learning (EAD) extends reach beyond campus, while continuing education (Formation Professionnelle Continue) serves working professionals. Research is conducted through 72 laboratories organized into 22 research federations, with 3 marine stations supporting field research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation (Licences and Masters) Undergraduate (Licence) and graduate (Master) degree programs across Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Earth Sciences, and Life Sciences, with approximately 80 Master pathways and over 20,000 students. Includes pluridisciplinary first-year integration, 8 Licence disciplines, and double-licence options.
• Cursus Master en Ingénierie (CMI) Five-year integrated engineering curriculum within the FIGURE network offering specializations in Electronics, Mechanics, and Physics, with 72 ECTS per year and a mandatory international semester.
• Polytech Sorbonne Engineering school within the faculty offering degree programs in science and engineering disciplines.
• Institut de Statistique de Sorbonne Université (ISUP) Pioneering statistics and data science institute founded in 1922 by mathematician Émile Borel, offering actuarial science and data science for engineering programs, with BECEAS competitive entrance exam.
• Enseignement à Distance (EAD) Distance education program operational since 1978, offering remote courses in Mathematics, Physics, and other sciences with proctored online examinations (via ProctorExam), 160 teachers, ~600 enrolled students, and 150 teaching units across 5 training departments.
• FabLab SU Digital fabrication laboratory within the faculty supporting hands-on innovation and prototyping for students and researchers.
• Formation Professionnelle Continue Professional development and continuing education programs offering short specialization courses, seminars, and degree programs for working professionals and companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ students graduate annually across Licence, Master, and doctoral programs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Réseau FIGURE (Fédération des Instances Universitaires de Réseau d'Écoles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe faculty participates in the FIGURE network of universities offering Cursus Master en Ingénierie (CMI) programs. These are selective 5-year engineering tracks combining science fundamentals with specialization and mandatory international mobility. The network enables shared best practices and mutual recognition of engineering curricula across French universities.
• Sorbonne Université Alliance (Alliance Sorbonne Université)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional alliance including Sorbonne Université, several French national research institutions (CNRS, INSERM, INRIA), and partner universities. Enables interdisciplinary research initiatives including quantum computing, health engineering, digital humanities, and musicology. The faculty actively participates in Alliance institutes and initiatives.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CNRS is the primary national research partner for faculty laboratories. Most of the 72 research laboratories are joint units (UMR) between Sorbonne University and CNRS, pooling researchers and resources for collaborative scientific programs across all disciplines.
• European university alliances (Erasmus+, 4EU+)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty participates in European university alliance programs including Erasmus+ student and staff mobility, SEMP (Swiss-European Mobility Programme), and the 4EU+ alliance for enhanced European cooperation in education and research. Enables student exchanges, joint summer schools, and collaborative academic projects.
• Business and industry partnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanies and industrial organizations partner with the faculty for continuing professional education programs, research collaborations, apprenticeship tracks (formation en apprentissage), and student placement/internship agreements. Partnerships are structured through dedicated research and innovation support offices within the faculty.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ETH Zürich: Swiss public technical university with comprehensive science and engineering programs, top-tier research output, and large doctoral schools. Comparable in mission, research intensity, and European elite positioning; competes for the same international STEM talent pool.
• EPFL: Swiss federal institute of technology focused on engineering, science, and technology with strong doctoral programs. Comparable in scale, research intensity, and competition for top European STEM students and faculty.
• École Polytechnique: France's elite engineering grande école located in the Paris region, offering multidisciplinary science and engineering programs with very high research intensity. Directly comparable to Sorbonne Sciences & Ingénierie in mission (engineering + sciences), Parisian footprint, and integration with French research institutions.
• Imperial College London: UK public research university specializing in science, engineering, medicine, and business. Comparable in STEM focus, scale (~20,000 students), research intensity, and global brand prestige in scientific disciplines.
• CentraleSupélec: French engineering grande école formed from the merger of École Centrale Paris and Supélec, offering engineering and applied science programs. Comparable in engineering education focus, French institutional context, and industry-linked training.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM): German public technical university offering comprehensive natural sciences and engineering programs with strong industry integration. Comparable in polytechnic-style structure, research volume, and European STEM positioning.
• Université Paris-Saclay: French public university formed through a merger of multiple grandes écoles and universities, with a comparable sciences-and-engineering scope and similar scale (60,000+ students). Closest structural peer given recent consolidation model and STEM-heavy focus in the Paris region.
• École Normale Supérieure (ENS Paris): Elite French grande école with very strong focus on fundamental sciences and research training. Comparable in sciences depth, Paris location, and ability to attract top French and international researchers and students.

Broad incumbents

• University College London (UCL): Large UK public research university with broad STEM and non-STEM portfolio including engineering, mathematical sciences, and life sciences. Comparable in research scale and international student mix; broader in scope than the Sciences & Ingénierie faculty.

Emerging players

• Delft University of Technology (TU Delft): Dutch public technical university specializing in engineering and applied sciences with significant research output. Comparable in technical/engineering program breadth and European STEM positioning, though more narrowly engineering-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClHwPrAPJ_1dAe9pezSvfBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/sorbonne.univ.paris
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/facult%C3%A9-des-sciences-et-ing%C3%A9nierie-sorbonne-universit%C3%A9
• Instagraminstagram.com/sorbonne_sciences_vieetudiante

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie de Sorbonne Université