Paris Descartes University

In 1971, René Descartes - Paris V University was created as a result of the reform of the University of Paris, whose Faculties of medicine, pharmacy, humanities, sciences and law were split and divided into 8 universities located in Paris. The University Institute of Technology, the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education (STAPS), the Faculty of Odontology, the Saints Pères Faculty of Biomedical Sciences were first added to the original René Descartes - Paris V University created in 1971, then in 1976, the Faculty of Law of Malakoff also joined the University.

In 2004, the University underwent once again some significant changes. The three faculties of medicine of Paris (Necker, Cochin and Broussais) merged to become the Faculty of Medicine of Paris Descartes (MP5), and hence could offer students decompartmentalised general and specialised teaching, and constitute a federative centre, representative of medicine in Paris.

Furthermore, the University was one of the first to implement the Bologna Process (LMD - Degree, Master, Doctorate or 3-5-8) aimed at making the diplomas European. The reform, based on the organisation of the academic teaching in semesters and the capitalisation of credits (ECTS), provides a greater understanding of the students’ skills and makes it easier to study abroad.

When it was created, the University chose to be under the patronage of René Descartes (1596-1650) whose scientific approach was truly modern, encompassed all human knowledge and was perfectly adapted to a multidisciplinary university.

With its nine Training and research departments (UFR) and its Institute of Technology (IUT), Paris Descartes University encompasses all the fields of knowledge of human and health sciences. It is the only university of the Ile-de-France region to offer medical, pharmaceutical and odontological studies; its health department is renowned in Europe and in the whole world for the high quality of its training and the excellence of its research.

Its history starts like that of all French universities with its creation within the framework of Edgar Faure legislation. As years went by, various faculties (UFR) were added to the original medical faculty.

The University welcomes the general public on National Heritage Days (journées du Patrimoine), and the Musée d'Histoire de la médecine is open for the general public all year round.

It was placed from the beginning under the patronage of the philosopher René Descartes and is open to all academic subjects.

Paris Descartes University owns 50 acres of buildings, some of which are both prestigious and listed buildings such as la Sorbonne and the headquarters of the University, on 12 rue de l’École de medecine, in the 6th arrondissement, formerly the Royal College of Surgery.

In 1769, Louis XV trusted the architect Jacques Gondoin with the building of what was to become the Faculty of Medicine at the beginning of the 19th century; the king himself placed the “last stone” of the amphitheatre in 1774. The building was a master-work in the “Greek style,” very fashionable by the end of the reign of Louis XV. It was extended between 1875 and 1900, and was the centre of the teaching of medicine until the 1950’s.

At that time, the New Faculty of Medicine, located on rue des Saints-Pères, took over. It was built in the massive “art deco” style on the site of the former Hospital of the Charity and was inaugurated in 1953 by President Vincent Auriol. The exterior walls of the University Centre of the Saints-Pères are decorated with 45 medallions, 120 cm in diameter, representing subjects from Antiquity to the Middle Ages; the main gate in bronze was the work of Paul Landowski and represents scenes of men and women in Nature and scenes from Mythology.

The Faculty of Law of Malakoff, formerly the École supérieure d’électricité, is one of the rare buildings devoted to teaching to be built in the 30’s style, in Paris. The Faculty of Pharmacy, on the avenue de l’Observatoire, was built between 1877 and 1882; it was extended many times between 1932 and 1965, and constitutes an impressive architectural ensemble with its “Salle des actes,” an extended reconstruction of the original model dating from the 17th century.

Other more recent buildings are located near hospitals or other prestigious buildings: Cochin and the Convent of Port-Royal, les Enfants Malades and Necker Hospital or Laennec Hospital, notably.

The headquarters of the University contains works of outstanding quality: a set of Gobelins tapestries called “The Four Elements,” designed by Charles Le Brun and bearing the arms of Louis XIV, numerous pictures by Van Clève, Philippe de Champaigne, Rigaud, Nattier, and Girodet, and some marble statues by J.B. Lemoyne and Houdon. The architecture of the 18th century (colonnades, great staircases, amphitheatres) and the noble additions from the 19th century create an elegant décor for these works of art.

Paris Descartes University is proud to house many museums. Since 1905, the Musée d’histoire de la médecine has been located on the second floor of the headquarters of the University. The collections of the Anatomical Cabinet created under the reign of Louis XV were the first items of the museum, which increased as a result of donations and legacies. Paintings, engravings, lithographs, tokens and medals are exhibited together with an outstanding collection of surgical and physiological instruments. This museum, restored and largely open to the public, has become “The Museum of University Teaching and Research” (Musée de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche).

The beautiful collection of china pots and bronze mortars of the Faculty of Pharmacy must be noted, together with the Museum of Medical Matters (Musée des matières médicales), which is one of a kind in the world, and whose collections have been regularly enriched since the beginning of the 18th century.