How was the University of Paris organized into faculties and student nations?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Gothic-style stone buildings of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, surround a large green courtyard in Cambridge, England. — University Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, England.

The University of Paris was organized into four distinct faculties, which were granted the authority to regulate the university's constitution by Pope Gregory IX in 1231.1

Faculty Structure

The university was divided into four faculties:1
* Three superior faculties: Theology, canon law, and medicine.1
* One inferior faculty: The faculty of arts.1

Each faculty was led by a dean.1

Student Nations

The faculty of arts was further organized into four student confederations, known as nations, which included both professors and scholars based on their geographic origins:1
* French
* Picard
* Norman
* English

Each of these nations was headed by a proctor. While the rector initially served as the head of the faculty of arts, this position eventually evolved to become the head of the entire university.1