Did you know? You can take free courses at the Collège de France, opposite the Sorbonne.

Published by Graziella de Sortiraparis · Photos by Graziella de Sortiraparis · Updated on April 30, 2026 at 02:33 p.m.
If you suddenly feel like sitting in on a course at the Collège de France, it’s possible! Since 1530, teaching there has been free and open to everyone, making knowledge more accessible. So, ready to explore the mysteries of the atom or the Mesopotamian civilization?

Since its founding by Francis I in 1530, the Collège de France has followed a golden rule: education is free, public, and open to everyone, with no pre-registration required. You can sit in an amphitheatre alongside renowned researchers to listen to some of the great professors of our time.

The unfettered freedom of knowledge

Unlike universities, the Collège de France is not there to award degrees. Its mission is to disseminate science as it is being built. Professors (as in the days of Claude Bernard or Umberto Eco) do not recycle their old lectures: they must present each year original research. Access to the rooms is restricted to available seats, often on a first-come, first-served basis, and the amphitheatres fill up very quickly, so come early!

An institution truly accessible to everyone

Whether you’re into quantum physics, medieval history, or literature, you can view the course timetable directly on the official site. If you can’t make it to the 5th arrondissement, rest assured that nearly all lectures are recorded and freely available as video or podcast. It’s a true on-demand university, accessible from your couch or from the historic walls opposite the Sorbonne.

If admission is free, the lectures are pitched at a high level. The professors don’t talk down to their audience; they address fellow scholars as much as the public. So it isn’t uncommon to leave a session with more questions than answers!

Practical information

Location

11 Place Marcelin Berthelot
75005 Paris 5

Route planner

Accessibility info

Access
Metro Maubert-Mutualité (line 10), Odéon (lines 4 and 10)

Prices
Free

Official website
www.college-de-france.fr

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