“Medical Students in the Interwar Period”: A Unique Immersion into the History of the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine

[Press Release] - Published on September 21, 2026 in the Press Room

The University of Montpellier is presenting an exhibition dedicated to the lives of students at the School of Medicine between the two world wars. Housed in the iconic dissection room of the historic building, the exhibition invites the public to explore, through a remarkable archival collection, the academic journeys and daily lives of future doctors during the interwar period.

A Rediscovered Collection of Historic Posters

At the heart of the exhibition is a remarkable collection of historical posters that were long difficult to access. Restored, cataloged, and digitized thanks to extensive work carried out by university teams and their partners, these posters now shed new light on student and institutional life during that era.

These rare documents serve as the starting point for an immersive narrative that chronicles the daily life of a medical student during a pivotal period marked by the transformations of French society following World War I.

From the First Day to the Thesis Defense: A Medical Student’s Journey

The exhibition traces a student’s journey from the moment they arrive in Montpellier until they complete their dissertation. Visitors will discover, among other things:

• Arrival in Montpellier and enrollment at the university;
• the courses taught, the subjects studied, and the teachers;
• the learning spaces within the Faculty;
• medical study trips (V.E.M.);
• the stages of outpatient and inpatient care;
• the preparation and defense of the dissertation.

Beyond the academic curriculum, the exhibition also explores students’ daily lives: housing, dining, health, student organizations, and social life.

A place steeped in history, where individual journeys intersect with collective memory

The choice of the historic dissection room lends this exhibition a special significance. As a true place of remembrance, it stands on its own as an exceptional testament to the history of medical education in Montpellier.

The presence of dissection tables designated as historic monuments, along with the constraints associated with preserving this heritage, guided the exhibition design, which was conceived with respect for the site and its history. The space thus becomes a full-fledged part of the narrative, offering visitors an immersive experience in which architectural heritage and archival materials engage in a constant dialogue.

To enhance the experience of exploring the archives, several educational programs enrich the visitor experience:

• a gallery of portraits featuring the professors and academic figures highlighted in the exhibition;
• a large map of Montpellier showing the main locations associated with medical education, clinics, and academic institutions of the time;
• Guided tours open to the general public^*.

An Exceptional Heritage Dedicated to Passing on Knowledge

Housed in the historic building of the University of Montpellier’s School of Medicine, this exhibition is part of the institution’s stated commitment to showcasing its collections and history. The archives of the world’s oldest medical school with legal status constitute an exceptional collection spanning nearly eight centuries of history, from^{the 13th} century to the present day.

This initiative aims to make these documentary resources more visible to both the academic community and the general public.

This exhibition is the culmination of a collaborative effort involving faculty members, students, university departments, as well as heritage services and academic partners. This collective effort illustrates a commitment to making the archives a tool for knowledge transfer, education, and cultural outreach, while highlighting the human story of generations of students who have shaped Montpellier’s medical excellence.