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Student Club Life

Make your college life meaningful: join a club!

With so many student organizations, campus life at theUM is both vibrant and diverse! Whether you want to get involved in culture, sports, humanitarian work, environmental causes, or your field of study, there’s sure to be an organization for you.

Getting involved in a college club is much more than just an activity: it’s an opportunity to fit in, meet students from different majors, and develop new skills beyond your academic studies. Getting involved in a club means opening yourself up to the world, thriving in your college life, and fostering your academic success.

Student organizations play a key role in promoting the University of Montpellier. They help bring the campuses to life, enhance students’ daily lives, and provide a valuable setting for learning and gaining experience for those who get involved.

Download the Associations Charter – PDF 777 KBDownload

Set Up, Register, Manage: The Keys to a Successful Start

1. Before You Get Started

Why start a nonprofit organization?

Creating a student organization serves several purposes:

Facilitating integration: Joining a club is a great way to meet new people and integrate more easily into campus life.
Expressing one’s passions and advocating for causes: whether through cultural, athletic, or socially engaged activities, the association provides a space conducive to self-expression and action.
Showcasing Your Commitment: Involvement in student organizations is an asset worth highlighting throughout your academic career, especially when looking for an internship or a job.
Developing Skills: Volunteering with an organization helps you develop key skills such as project management, teamwork, and public speaking. Running an organization means learning how to plan events, manage a budget, and communicate effectively—all valuable skills for the professional world.

Download the volunteer guide from the State Secretariat for the Social and Solidarity Economy and Community Life.

Choose a goal and define a status

Before setting out to establish a nonprofit organization, there are certain steps that must be taken to ensure its official recognition and guarantee its smooth operation.

First and foremost, you must choose a name, establish a purpose, and identify the founding members. The law of July 1, 1901, on freedom of association, establishes a legal framework and governs the operation of associations. To create your association, you will need to follow certain steps, including drafting the bylaws. These bylaws, drafted by the association’s members, define its purpose and ensure its proper functioning.

Drafting Articles of Incorporation: Sample Articles of Incorporation for Associations, Drafting Articles of Incorporation | Associations.gouv.fr

Other Useful Resources

2. The Steps

Contact the SVE and the BVE: An Essential First Step

Before taking any steps, it is essential to contact the Student Life Office (SVE) and the Student Life Office (BVE) and include your draft bylaws. They are your primary points of contact and will guide you through the entire process of establishing a student organization.

After your bylaws have been reviewed and verified, you will be offered an appointment with the SVE and the BVE.

Registration with the Prefecture

The registration with the prefecture can only be completedafter the university has approved the articles of incorporation.
Only after that can you complete your registration online.

This process involves filling out a form and submitting the required documents. Once your association is registered, it will receive an RNA number and will be automatically listed in the Official Journal (a mandatory formality that requires a fee).

Registering your nonprofit organization in theUM

The registered address determines the association’s administrative address. It is amandatory requirement for recognition as a student association at the University of Montpellier. It is managed by the university’s Student Union (SVE).

There are two possible scenarios:

For academic discipline associations (affiliated with a faculty, school, or institute):
- The SVE submits the application for registration to the relevant department for review by the UEI Council (faculty, school, or institute).
- Once the council has issued its approval, the SVE forwards the application for affiliation to the Academic Council of the University of Montpellier (CAC).
- The founders of the association must sign the association charter once the application for a registered office has been approved by the CAC.
For general-interest organizations (not affiliated with an educational division of theUM):
- The process consists of a single step: the SVE submits the application for registration directly to the Academic Council of the University of Montpellier.

In both cases, the application for a registered office, along with the articles of incorporation, must be sent by email to the following addresses:

dvc-associations-etudiantes@umontpellier.fr

For organizations that have already been established but wish to register their official address at the university, the process remains the same. All that is required is to change the official address on record with the Prefecture and, if necessary, update the articles of incorporation.

Registration of the association in the “single file” application of theUM

Final step: Complete the single application form, which formalizes the creation of your association with the University via this link: “Single Application Form / FSDIE.”

Please note: A registered student organization may submit a request for the assignment of a space, subject to availability. On the Triolet campus, requests should be submitted to the SVE by email. For otherUM campuses, please contact your UEI (academic unit, school, or institute).

Please note: Being registered at the University of Montpellier does not automatically entitle you to a room; rooms are assigned only subject to availability.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Campus Life.

3. Financing Your Project

Applying for FSDIE funding:

The FSDIE (Fund to Support the Development of Student Initiatives) is a financial grant awarded to student projects related to campus life: culture, sports, community service, etc.

Are you looking to secure funding for a nonprofit project? Check out the steps involved.
Ready to submit an application? Go to the " Home – Association" platform .
Receive support from the SVE: For each project, a meeting with the Student Life Office is required. Contact .

4. Organizing and Managing a Nonprofit

Tools for managing your nonprofit:

To request a room reservation (for student organizations elected to the central councils): see the procedure.
Complete the required policies and documents necessary for organizing compliant social events: Guide to Student Social and Orientation Events (enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr).

The BVE organizes training sessions to introduce associations to the university’s dedicated services and programs and to provide them with all the tools they need for effective management, responsible event planning, and raising awareness about discrimination prevention.

The student organizations at theUM

IUT Associations

SGM – Materials Science and Engineering – IUT Nîmes

Student Organizations, College of Education

Student Organizations, School of Medicine

Student Organizations, School of Dentistry

Montpellier Dental Students' Association

Student Organizations, School of Pharmacy

Polytech Associations

Polytech Student Union

Student Organizations, School of Economics

General-purpose organizations

Student Organizations, School of Law and Political Science

Student Organizations, College of Sciences

IAE Associations

Montpellier Management Associations

Student Organizations in the School of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (STAPS)

Category: Orientation Day
Date: Sep 16 - Sep 17, 2026
Hours: 3 :00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Jardin des Plantes - Bd Henri IV, 34000 Montpellier