École Pratique des Hautes Etudes

The École pratique des hautes études (French pronunciation: [ekɔl pʁatik de ot zetyd]), abbreviated EPHE, is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions. It is highly selective and member of the elite Paris Science et Lettres (with ENS Ulm, EHESS or Ecole des Mines ...). Its degrees in religious studies and in history count among the best in the world. Closely linked to École française d'Extrême-Orient and Institut français du Proche-Orient, EPHE has formed continuously world-class experts in Asian and Islamic studies and among them investment bankers, diplomat and military officers specialized in these areas. Particularly, leading researchers in military strategy have taught in EPHE for more than a century (for example the famous Hervé Coutau-Bégarie). Moreover, famous researchers in natural sciences (especially neurosciences and chemistry) teach and taught in EPHE (among them Jean Baptiste Charcot and Marcellin Berthelot). Highly regarded for its top level in both natural and human sciences, EPHE has relations and exchange programs with world-renowned institutions such as Cambridge, Princeton, and Al-Azhar.