Staff and disability
Disability is everyone's business.
In 70% of cases, disability occurs during a person's career. Furthermore, disability is mainly invisible. It can take many forms (hearing loss, herniated disc, inflammatory diseases, dys disorders, bipolar disorder, etc.) and is generally not noticeable unless the person concerned mentions it to their personal and professional circles.
Beyond the provisions set out in regulations, UM offers concrete and specific measures concerning recruitment, support, job retention, and participation of people with disabilities in activities both inside and outside the university. These measures are described in UM's Multi-Year Disability Plan (SDPH).
Essential services: Handiversité and the Joint Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion Service (SCMPPS)
Would you like to come and work at UM, or are you a university employee and would like to know if your health condition can be recognized as a disability? Do you have questions about the accommodations offered by the university? Come and meet us!
The Handiversité service and the SCMPPS work closely together to provide you with personalized and confidential support throughout your career. These two services participate in the disability accommodation committee dedicated to staff, which meets monthly. This allows individual situations to be examined by a multidisciplinary team.
The Handiversity service
The Handiversité staff office is available to assist you with your procedures through various measures:
- initial contact to obtain information in complete confidentiality before even embarking on the process of obtaining Recognition of Disabled Worker Status (RQTH);
- preparation of the RQTH application file, which, under certain conditions, entitles the applicant to certain rights and benefits;
- workstation adjustments recommended by the SCMPPS occupational health physician (ergonomic equipment, funding for hearing aids, teleworking for disability reasons, reduced workload, etc.);
- providing information to staff and raising awareness of disability within the university community;
- referral to other contacts depending on the individual situation and with the prior consent of the agent.
Contact:
Campus Life Department
Handiversité Service
Montpellier, Triolet Campus, Ground Floor, Building 5
04 67 14 48 53 / 23
Email
The SCMPPS
The SCMPPS assists you in assessing your needs during a medical examination in order to define recommendations for workplace adjustments and prescribe them for implementation by the Handiversité service.
Contacts:
- SCMPPS Triolet Branch
Montpellier, Triolet Campus Building 16
+33 (0)4 67 14 30 73
Email - SCMPPS Downtown Branch
Montpellier, Institute of Biology
04 34 43 30 87
Email
Career information
Contractual recruitment of BOEs (beneficiaries of the employment obligation)
Each year, the University opens positions for recruitment on a contractual basis for people with recognized disabilities to perform administrative, research, or health-related duties. This is an additional route for people with disabilities to become permanent civil servants, in addition to the standard competitive examination.
Promotion of BOE civil servants through secondment
In 2024, the University is offering positions through secondment to its permanent employees with disabilities.
The National Campaign for Doctoral Contracts for People with Disabilities
Are you a student with a master's degree or enrolled in a master's program or equivalent, and eligible for mandatory employment? Would you like to continue or resume your studies at the doctoral level?
You may be eligible for a doctoral contract for people with disabilities.
Since 2011, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research implementing a plan to award doctoral contracts reserved for students with disabilities.
The University of Montpellier attaches great importance to efforts to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities. It is involved in the "doctorat handicap" campaign and thus demonstrates its support for students who hold a Master's degree (or are enrolled in a Master's program or equivalent), have a thesis project, and are recognized as beneficiaries of the employment obligation (BOE).
1. Presentation and terms of the doctoral contract
Successful candidates will be offered a three-year contract (36 months), subject to re-enrollment in the doctoral school each year.
In addition, the University of Montpellier is committed to funding a doctoral contract for people with disabilities from its own resources, in accordance with the provisions set out in the institution's multi-year Disability Master Plan.
The doctoral program must be carried out within a research structure supervised by the University of Montpellier. Students must enroll in a doctoral program at the University of Montpellier in one of the nine doctoral schools. An information sheet lists the research units and doctoral specializations available at UM.
2. Compiling the file and schedule
Each year, the calendar and documents are updated and made available in January/February.
Interested candidates should contact a thesis supervisor as soon as possible to present their project.
Interested candidates must contact the Handiversité service before March 7, 2025, the deadline, which will assist them in putting together their application:
- information and exchange meeting: from March 10 to March 17, 2025;
- Deadline for submitting applications to the Handiversité service: before March 28, 2025;
- Communication of results by the Handiversité service: early July 2025.
Contact:
Tel: +33 (0)4 67 14 48 23 or 53
Email
Download information notes and sample files:
- 2025 Application File
- 2025 Application Guide
- Request for extension of a doctoral contract for persons with disabilities
- Information notice on the extension of a doctoral contract for persons with disabilities
3. Documents to be provided
- The application form completed and signed by the thesis supervisor, the doctoral school, the research unit, and the institution.
- A resume.
- The thesis proposal (maximum 4 pages) including a provisional three-year schedule – relevance and feasibility – statement of motivation.
- A copy of your degree (master's or equivalent).
- A copy of the corresponding transcripts.
- Proof of status as a beneficiary of the employment obligation: a copy of the notification of the RQTH approval decision or proof of an admissible application currently being reviewed by the Maison Départementale de l’Autonomie (departmental office for independent living).
Other useful services
Social assistance
The UM offers specific assistance for participating in sports or cultural activities, with no income requirements, for staff who have been recognized as disabled workers (RQTH):
- increased individual subsidies for access to culture (performance vouchers and reading vouchers);
- increase in individual financial assistance for participating in sports or cultural activities (awarded without means testing).
Other forms of assistance are available. Please contact the social services and recreation department and social service assistants for more information.
Contacts:
Sports and culture
The UM is committed to raising awareness about disability and promoting the participation of people with disabilities in university and extra-curricular activities.
Sport
The SUAPS offers free sports activities for staff and can adapt certain activities for people with disabilities.
Culture
The art and culture department offers art workshops, meetings with artists, the Culturesponsable program in partnership with local theaters, visits to cultural institutions, and much more. Some events and shows are translated into French Sign Language (LSF) or offer audio description.
University Libraries (BU)
The 12 university libraries at UM are managed by the shared documentation service, which offers tailored services.
