University Panthéon-Assas, also known as Assas, is a public university, primarily focused on legal studies. It was founded in 1971, but is viewed as the successor institution to the University of Paris’ Law School, which began life in the 13th century before closing in 1970.
Assas is often considered as the top law school in France. Many members of the French political elite studied at the university, including recent French president Francois Hollande. The current president of Greece Prokopis Pavlopoulous is also a former student.
The university has 19,000 students enrolled. As well as law courses, Assas also offers degrees in journalism, economics, management and political science.
Graduates of law degrees at Assas earn more on average than those of any other competing school in France, according to the French Ministry of Higher Education.
The university’s headquarters are based in an 18th century building in the city’s Latin quarter, close to the Panthéon. Its name, Panthéon-Assas is derived from the original address of the University of Paris’s former law school.
There are dozens of student societies based around sports, culture and much more at the university. Beyond that there is the cultural life offered by Paris, which, though an expensive place to stay is well-loved by many of its student inhabitants.
The Latin Quarter, in which the university is based, is known as the city’s student district. It derives its name from the concept that well-educated people used to speak in Latin there. It is now very popular with tourists, but retains many student cafés and bars.
