Employees and disability
Disability is everyone's business.
In 70% of cases, disability occurs during the course of a career. What's more, most disabilities are invisible. Of various kinds (hearing loss, herniated discs, inflammatory diseases, dysfunctional disorders, bipolarity, etc.), it's a disability that generally goes unnoticed if the person concerned doesn't mention it to their personal and professional environment.
In addition to the accommodations provided for in the regulations, the UM offers concrete and specific actions concerning recruitment, support, job retention and the participation of people with disabilities in intra- and extra-university activities. These actions are described in UM's Schéma Directeur Pluriannuel Handicap (SDPH).
Key services: Handiversité and the Service Commun de Médecine Préventive et de Promotion de la Santé (SCMPPS - shared preventive medicine and health promotion service)
Would you like to come and work at the UM, or are you an employee of the university and would like to know whether your health situation can be recognized as a disability? Do you have questions about the accommodations offered by the university? Come and meet us!
The Handiversité department and the SCMPPS work closely together to provide you with personalized, confidential support throughout your career. Both departments are involved in the Disability Planning Commission, which meets monthly. This enables us to examine individual situations as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Handiversity service
The staff office of the Handiversity department is here to help you with your requests through various actions:
- first contact to obtain confidential information before embarking on the process of obtaining RQTH (Reconnaissance de la Qualité Travailleur Handicapé - Recognition of Qualification as a Disabled Worker);
- preparation of an RQTH application file which, under certain conditions, opens up rights and entitles the employee to assistance;
- workstation adjustments on the recommendation of the SCMPPS prevention doctor (ergonomic equipment, financing of hearing aids, teleworking to accommodate disabilities, reduced working hours, etc.);
- information for staff and disability awareness for the university community;
- referral to other contacts, depending on the individual situation and with the agent's prior agreement.
Contact:
Direction de la Vie des Campus
Service Handiversité
Montpellier, Campus Triolet, RDC Bât 5
04 67 14 48 53 / 23
E-mail
SCMPPS
The SCMPPS will help you assess your needs during a medical check-up, in order to define recommendations for workstation adjustments and prescribe them for implementation by the Handiversity department.
Contacts :
- SCMPPS Triolet
Montpellier, Campus Triolet Bâtiment 16
04 67 14 30 73
E-mail - Antenne SCMPPS Centre Ville
Montpellier, Institut de Biologie
04 34 43 30 87
E-mail
Career information
Contractual recruitment of BOE (beneficiaries of the employment obligation)
Every year, the University opens up positions for recruitment on a contractual basis to people recognized as having a disability, for administrative, technical, research or health functions. This is an additional way for people with disabilities to gain tenure in the civil service, in addition to the regular competitive examination.
Promotion of BOE civil servants through secondment
In 2024, the University is offering positions for promotion through secondment to its permanent disabled employees.
The national campaign for disabled doctoral students
Are you a student holding a Master's degree or enrolled in a Master's program or equivalent, and eligible for compulsory employment? Would you like to continue or resume your doctoral studies?
You can benefit from a doctoral disability contract
Since 2011, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research has been implementing a plan to award doctoral contracts reserved for students with disabilities.
The University of Montpellier attaches great importance to the inclusion of people with disabilities, and is involved in the "doctorat handicap" campaign, showing its support for students with a Master's degree (or enrolled in a Master's degree or equivalent), presenting a thesis project and recognized as beneficiaries of the French Employment Obligation (BOE).
1. Presentation and terms of the doctoral contract
Successful candidates will benefit from a three-year (36-month) contract, subject to annual re-registration with the doctoral school.
The University of Montpellier is also committed to funding a PhD contract for disabled students from its own resources, in accordance with the provisions of the institution's multi-year Disability Master Plan.
The doctorate must be carried out in a research structure supervised by the University of Montpellier. Students must enroll in one of the 9 doctoral schools at the University of Montpellier. An information sheet lists the research units and doctoral specialties prepared at the UM.
2. File creation and timetable
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 07/03/2025, the deadline, which will assist them in putting together the file:
- information and exchange interview: from 10/03 to 17/03/2025 ;
- deadline for applications to the Handiversity department: before 28/03/2025 ;
- communication of results by the Handiversity department: early July 2025.
Contact:
Tel: 04 67 14 48 23 or 53
E-mail
Download information notes and sample files :
- 2025 Application File
- 2025 application form
- Request to extend a disabled doctoral contract
- Information on extending a disabled doctoral contract
3. Required documents
- The application file completed and signed by the thesis director, the doctoral school, the research unit and the establishment.
- A curriculum vitae.
- The thesis project (4 pages maximum) including a three-year forecast schedule – relevance and feasibility – statement of motivation.
- Copy of diploma (master's degree or equivalent).
- A copy of the corresponding transcripts.
- Proof of RQTH status: a copy of the notification of the decision to grant RQTH status, or proof of an admissible file currently being processed by the Maison Départementale de l'Autonomie.
Other useful services
Social assistance
The UM offers special assistance for the practice of a sporting or cultural activity, without means-testing, for staff with a Recognition of Disabled Worker Status (RQTH):
- increased individual assistance for access to culture (show and reading vouchers);
- increased individual financial assistance for sporting or cultural activities (not means-tested).
Other forms of assistance are also available: contact the social action and leisure department or social service assistants.
Contacts :
Sport and culture
The UM is committed to raising awareness of disability and promoting the participation of people with disabilities in intra- and extra-university life.
Sport
SUAPS offers free sports activities for staff and can adapt certain activities for people with disabilities.
Culture
The art & culture department offers workshops in artistic practice, meetings with artists, the Culturesponsable program in conjunction with local theaters, visits to cultural facilities, and much more... Some events and shows are translated into French Sign Language (LSF) or are offered in audiodescription.
University libraries (BU)
The UM's 12 university libraries are managed by the common documentation service, which offers you a range of services tailored to your needs.
