Overview

The University of Paris was established in the 1100's. By the 1200's, it had become the largest and most famous university in Europe. It served as one of the primary models for medieval European universities--and eventually, for modern institutions of higher learning. Although the university would not have marketed itself as shown in this feature, the descriptions of curriculum and student life in the 1100's are true to life.

Today, the University of Paris is a government-supported university system consisting of 13 units located in Paris and its suburbs. More than 296,000 students, about 51,000 of whom are from other countries, attend the university.