University of Montpellier – Driven by Excellence & Innovation
“An internationally recognized research-intensive university, with a history that dates back 8 centuries, yet committed to the key challenges of its time.”
The University of Montpellier (UM) is the 6th largest university in France, with about 50,000 students including 7000 come from abroad to study in Montpellier. One of the most innovative higher education institutions in the world, UM ranks very high in many international rankings : first in the world in the 2018 Shanghai ranking for Ecology, first most innovative French university in 2018 Reuter’s ranking, 5th in France in 2018 Leiden’s ranking for the quality of its scientific publications, 3rd French university in the 2019 “University Impact ranking” of Times Higher Education.
These increasingly outstanding results reflect the dynamism triggered by the Montpellier University of Excellence I-SITE project since the prestigious certification was obtained in March 2017.
Research
Internationally recognized for its expertise, the University of Montpellier is one of the few selected French institutions to have received the Initiative of Excellence award by the French government, after a highly selective process. UM has established many strong partnerships with renowned institutions. It also provides research teams with state-of-the-art equipment and shared technological platforms.
Campus life
The University of Montpellier campus is comprised of 4 main sites located in the city of Montpellier and accessible by public transportation. With many services and amenities, including sports facilities available nearby, students enjoy optimal study and working conditions in a growing, dynamic and sun-bathed European metropolis located in the South of France.
Today’s University News
Quinoa is a beacon of hope for the Andean communities in a time of global crisis
It’s been 7,000 years since indigenous rural communities of the Andes first grew quinoa. Among these deserted highlands, recognised by the United Nations as “globally important ingenious agricultural heritage systems” (GIAHS), farmers have always faced drought, frost and the difficulties
Privacy, perceptions and effectiveness: the challenges of developing coronavirus contact-tracing apps
To control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 50 countries have implemented applications to trace the contacts of people who may be infected.
Debate: Smile, you’re under surveillance!
Will history remember the Covid-19 pandemic as a moment during which citizens gave up their civil rights for health reasons?
Debate: Smile, you’re under surveillance!
Florence Rodhain, Université de Montpellier Will history remember the Covid-19 pandemic as a moment during which citizens gave up their civil rights for health reasons? Two elements can be used together to exert pressure on citizens: the first is fear,
Debate: in the West Bank, the palm trees of discord
On January 28, 2020, US president Donald Trump announced a “peace plan” that would involve the annexation of most of the Jordan Valley by Israel. Most reactions focused on its contradiction with international law – the Israeli occupation of the
I-SITE MUSE assessment: the international jury validates the continuation of the project
On November 28, the I-SITE Montpellier Université d’Excellence (MUSE) reported on its first two years of existence and succeeded to prove its worth and convince the international jury of the IDEX-ISITE program.



