Paris Sciences et Lettres University in the context of "PhD Degree"

The Paris Observatory (French: Observatoire de Paris, pronounced [ɔbsɛʁvatwaʁ d(ə) paʁi]), a research institution of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University, is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centres in the world. Its historic building is on the Left Bank of the Seine in central Paris, but most of the staff work on a satellite campus in Meudon, a suburb southwest of Paris.

The Paris Observatory was founded in 1667 as the first public observatory. Construction was completed by the early 1670s and coincided with a major push for increased science, and the founding of the Royal Academy of Sciences. King Louis XIV's minister of finance organized a "scientific powerhouse" to increase understanding of astronomy, maritime navigation, and science in general.

The École normale supérieure – PSL (French pronunciation: [ekɔl nɔʁmal sypeʁjœʁ]; also known as ENS, Normale sup', Ulm or ENS Paris) is a grande école in Paris, France. It is one of the constituent members of Paris Sciences et Lettres University (PSL). Due to its selectivity, historical role, and influence within French society, the ENS is generally considered the most prestigious of the grandes écoles, as well as one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in France. Its pupils are generally referred to as normaliens, while its alumni are sometimes referred to as archicubes.

The school was founded in 1794 during the French Revolution, to provide homogeneous training of high-school teachers in France, but it later closed. The school was subsequently reestablished by Napoleon I as pensionnat normal from 1808 to 1822, before being recreated in 1826 and taking the name École normale in 1830. When other institutes called écoles normales were created in 1845, the word supérieure (meaning upper) was added to form the current name. In 1936, the institution started providing university-level education.

The Latin Quarter of Paris (French: Quartier latin, IPA: [kaʁtje latɛ̃]) is a district in Paris on the left bank of the Seine, around the Sorbonne. Located in the city's 5th and the 6th arrondissements, it is known for its concentration of universities.

Although there has been some exodus, new schools have appeared, and the Latin Quarter continues to be the heart of the universities, and Grandes écoles that succeeded the University of Paris, including the Sorbonne University, Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Paris Cité University, PSL University, Panthéon-Assas University, and Sciences Po.

Jon Elster (/ˈɛlstər/; born 22 February 1940) is a Norwegian philosopher and political theorist who holds the Robert K. Merton professorship of Social Science at Columbia University and since 2005 professor of social science at the Collège de France.

He received his PhD in social science from the École Normale Superieure in 1972. He has previously taught at the University of Paris, the University of Oslo, and the University of Chicago, where he became professor of political science in 1984. Since 1995, he has held the Robert K. Merton professorship of Social Science at Columbia University, as well as being professor of social science at the Collège de France since 2005.

The Conférence des Grandes Écoles (French pronunciation: [kɔ̃feʁɑ̃s de ɡʁɑ̃dz‿ekɔl]; French for "Conference of Grandes Écoles"; abbr. CGE), is a French national institution, created in 1973. It mainly acts as an association of Grandes Écoles, providing representation, research and accreditation. A Grande école is a French institution of higher education that is separate from, but parallel and often connected to, the main framework of the French public university system.

Since 2010, many of Grandes Écoles have been part of the new collegiate universities, that have emerged from prestigious universities and under the status of 'Grand établissement', such as the PSL University, the Saclay University, the Polytechnic University of Paris or the Assas University.