FRENCH UNIVERSITIES.

American students will henceforth find in France educational attractions as great as those which they find in Germany.

A decree has passed the Conseil Superieur de l'Instruction Publique opening the French faculties of science to foreigners on very advantageous conditions.

This has been effected by the reforms of the licence-es-science, a degree which must be taken before the doctorate. American students have hitherto frequented Germany almost exclusively, because of the liberty the universities of that country offer in the choice of studies, in permitting a change of university and in requiring no examinations excepting when the student applies for a degree.

The recent decree introduces all the best features of the German system into the French faculties of science. Hereafter a student will be admitted to these faculties on an American bachelor's degree, and will be permitted to choose his studies. After pursuing any scientific course a year, he can, if he wishes, apply for an examination in this branch, and if successful obtain a certificat d'etude. Three such certificates, taken, for instance, say, in calculus, pure mechanics and astronomy, will make him a licencie, and he can then secure the French doctorate, which is decidedly superior to the German, upon the presentation of a satisfactory thesis. If the student has the ability, and so desires, be can discharge all three subjects the same year; or, if he prefers to do so, he can do it in successive years, migratiug, if he wishes, from one university to another, and studying at the same time whatever other subjects he may choose.

The French system possesses one distinct advantage over that of Germany. It is this: that in Germany the student presents his thesis first, and if this is accepted he is admitted to examination. Everything hangs upon one chance. He receives the doctorate or nothing.

In France, on the contrary, the examinations coming first, each step is punctuated, the student receiving independent credits for every portion of his work. If he acquits himself in one branch only he still has his certificat, while three, as has been explained, give him the licence. If interrupted in his work, before securing a degree, he can withdraw with honorable credentials for at least that portion of the work which he has accomplished.

A vague idea of what is offered by the French faculties of science may be gathered by considering that in mathematics and chemistry France leads the world at present. Hardly less can be said for her in many other branches. As concerns material equipment the department of natural history in Paris alone represents an item of over 100,000,000fr. A similar extension will probably be made in the case of letters.

The men who have been most active in accomplishing these reforms are M. Breal, of the Institute; M. Darboux, Dean of the Paris Faculty of Science, and M. Liard, Director-General of Higher Instruction in France.

Besides these men, the Comite Franco-Americain includes the Rector of the University of Paris, and the heads of many of the leading schools.

An American branch committee has been formed under the presidency of Professor Simon Newcomb, of Washington. On its list are the names of Mr. William T. Harris, head of the United States Bureau of Education; the presidents of Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Cornell and Columbia Universities, the University of Michigan, Mr. E. R. L. Gould, Mr. Carroll D. Wright, Mr. Andrew D. White and others.

The distinctly new features introduced by the new decree are the following: (1) wider selection of studies; (2) liberty to migrate from one university centre to another; (3) the privilege of taking examinations either successively or en bloc, just as the student wishes.

The French degrees are open to women as well as to men.

The foreign students will be able to pursue courses at the special schools as well as in the Faculties.