International solidarity: our welcome initiatives

The university diploma, aimed at exiled individuals wishing to return to study (DU RESPE - diplôme universitaire de retour aux études supérieures des personnes exilées) is open to students who do not have a B2 level in French. 

Designed as a one-year “crossover” course towards a university programme in the French higher education system, the diploma allows students to improve their French and take refresher classes. Students also have the possibility of receiving personalised support with the help of a student mentor. 

The diploma is a not a French-language programme, but a comprehensive course designed to support students in their return to study with:

• French as a Foreign Language classes (FLE) which prepare students for a B2 level
• Theatre and general culture classes
• Science methodology and refresher classes (biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics) and humanities classes (English, art, economics, history, geography, literature, philosophy)
• Tutoring sessions to revise lessons and support with individual study projects
• A mentoring scheme

Every year, approximately 40 people living in exile, whose studies have been disrupted, are able to restart a university programme. 

• Conditions and more information
• First-hand accounts
• Images

For exiled students who already have a B2 level in French, the adapted admission application procedure for exiled students (DAA) is open to students who would like to enrol at university for the first time, particularly for the first year of an undergraduate degree. 

• Conditions and more information

Spotlight on the social support available for exiled students

Sorbonne University possesses an emergency fund to support students who are waiting to obtain refugee status. 

The city of Paris also has various support initiatives for accommodation, food and administrative procedures: 

• CROUS social support with proof of a precarious living situation for ASAP (aide spécifique allocation ponctuelle) applications before applying for AILE (student accommodation support or aide à l'installation dans un logement pour les étudiants in French). See the information on the Maison étudiante website
• Participation in the Welcome Desk at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (a physical and online welcome desk for international students in France, including the prefecture, CPAM health insurance, job hunting, IDF Mobilités, etc.).
• Permanent sessions which provide support with administrative procedures, with the association “Nouvelles voies” from 10 or 17 September; legal support sessions with Apaso; French as a Foreign Language lessons on Mondays and Wednesday evenings at the Maison étudiante (student centre). 
• Psychological support sessions (to come) on psychological trauma with foreign language interpretation. 
• Free student food aids in Paris: see the information on the Maison étudiante website. Please note that only Linkee is open in the summer. 
• See the existing social aids provided by Sorbonne University. 

For several years, Sorbonne University has been committed to the PAUSE programme, aimed at hosting exiled researchers and artists at the university. 
Coordinated by the Collège de France, the PAUSE programme organises three regular calls for applications. Additional calls (e.g. emergency calls) can be launched by the Collège de France depending on the urgency of certain geopolitical situations. 

Applications: 

All applications must be reviewed by the Vice President for International Relations at Sorbonne University prior to submission via the online PAUSE programme platform. Applications are then reviewed by the PAUSE programme’s scientific committee according to several criteria: 

• The level of urgency and threat affecting the candidate
• The quality of the scientific or artistic dossier
• The quality of the support measures for social and professional insertion

Find out more about the application procedures on the PAUSE programme website. 

Once laureates have been selected by the PAUSE programme and have settled in France, they then join their laboratory at Sorbonne University for a one-year period, accompanied throughout their integration at the university by one or more colleagues from the laboratory. They also receive funding from the PAUSE programme and Sorbonne University.

At the end of the first year, they can request the renewal of their contract for an additional year (maximum). All requests are reviewed by the PAUSE programme and must be awarded prior approval by the university. 

Each year, Sorbonne University works hard to host and support several laureates of the PAUSE programme in the best possible conditions. 
 

In 2025, the French National Research Agency (ANR) launched the Choose France for Science programme, aimed at hosting scientists who are working abroad in fields which are particularly impacted by funding cuts in their country (climate science, health, etc.) 

This programme of research chairs for high-level researchers and engineers working abroad aims to give leading scientists the necessary funding to carry out their cutting-edge research projects in France for a period of three years. 

Successful applicants must present a host laboratory or research team, a financial package (often in coordination with a national research organisation), which covers salary and living costs, as well as the candidate’s commitment to submit an ERC (European Research Council) project. 

An additional €30K can be awarded by the Region to candidates under the age of 40.

See the information on the ANR website.