A preliminary course in mathematics at Collège Royal in Besançon in session 1820-21 prepared him for entry to École Normale Supérieur in Paris which he entered in 1821. However his time there was disrupted when the École Normale Supérieur was closed down. Cournot remained in Paris and, along with his fellow student Dirichlet, was taught mathematics at the Sorbonne by Lacroix and Hachette .
Ang isang paunang kurso sa matematika at kolehiyo sa Royal Besançon sa session 1820-21 handa siya para sa entry sa École Normale Supérieur sa Paris kung saan siya ipinasok sa 1821. Subalit ang kanyang panahon doon ay disrupted kapag ang École Normale Supérieur ay sarado down. Cournot naiiwan sa Paris at, kasama ng kanyang mga kapwa mag-aaral Dirichlet, ay tinuturuan sa matematika at sa Sorbonne sa pamamagitan ng Lacroix at Hachette.