Student Club Life

Make the most of your college life: join a club!

With so many student clubs, campus life atUM both vibrant and diverse! Whether you’re interested in culture, sports, humanitarian work, environmental issues, or your specific field of study, there’s bound to be a club for you.

Getting involved in a college club is much more than just a hobby: 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 setting yourself up for academic success.

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

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

1. Before you get started

Why start a nonprofit?

Establishing a student association serves several purposes:

• Making it easier to fit in: Joining a club is a great way to meet new people and get involved in campus life more easily.
• Expressing one’s passions and advocating for causes: whether through cultural, athletic, or socially conscious activities, the association provides a space conducive to self-expression and action.
• Highlighting your commitment: Involvement in student organizations is an asset worth emphasizing throughout your academic career, especially when looking for an internship or a job.
• Developing skills: Volunteering helps develop key skills such as project management, teamwork, and public speaking. Running a nonprofit organization means learning how to organize 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 an association, 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 articles of incorporation. These documents, 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

• associations.gouv.fr
• vosdroits.service-public.fr
• At the University | Associations.gouv.fr

2. The steps

Contact the SVE and the BVE: the first essential step

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

After reviewing and verifying your bylaws, we will schedule a meeting 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 thisapproval can you complete your online registration.

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 Gazette (a mandatory procedure that requires a fee).

Registering Your Association atUM

The registered address determines the association’s official 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:

1. For academic program 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 board has given 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 address has been approved by the CAC.
2. For general-interest organizations (not affiliated with an academic department atUM):
   • 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 emailed to the following addresses:

• dvc-associations-etudiantes@umontpellier.fr

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

Registration of the association in theUM “single file” application

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 association may submit a request for the allocation of a room, subject to availability. On the Triolet campus, requests should be submitted to the SVE by email. For otherUM campuses, please contact your UEI (faculty, school, or institute).

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

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

3. Financing Your Project

Applying to the FSDIE:

The FSDIE (Fund to Support Student Initiatives) is a financial grant awarded to student projects related to campus life, such as culture, sports, and community service.

• Are you looking for funding for a nonprofit project? See the steps involved.
• Ready to submit an application? Visit 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 student organizations to the university’s dedicated services and resources and to provide them with the tools they need for effective management, responsible event planning, and raising awareness about discrimination prevention.

Student organizations atUM

IUT Associations

• SGM – Materials Science and Engineering – IUT Nîmes

Student Organizations, School of Education

• Carc’asso – FDE, Carcassonne site
• BDE Bête.d.e – FDE, Mende site
• BDE Crocoprofs – FDE, Nîmes campus
• MEEF–FDE Student Union, Montpellier Campus
• Axurits Student Union – FDE, Perpignan Campus

Student Organizations, School of Medicine

• Montpellier Rifle Association
• Association of Speech-Language Pathology Students (DIS-LALIE)
• AS Médecine Montpellier (ASMM)
• Montpellier Health Tutoring Association (ATSM)
• Montpellier Association of Orthoptic Students (AMEO)
• Montpellier Association of Midwifery Students (AMESF)
• Nîmes Midwifery Student Association (BDESFN)
• Carabins Crocodiles Corps
• Crocodiles of the World
• Med’ley Montpellier Association
• OrthoFaso
• Languedoc-Roussillon Resident Physicians' Union (SILR)
• Nîmes Health Tutoring (TSN)

Student Organizations, School of Dentistry

• Montpellier Dental Students' Association

Student Organizations, School of Pharmacy

• Montpellier Pharmacy Students' Association
• Montpellier Association for Cosmetics and Anti-Aging Strategies
• Association of Pharmacy Residents at Montpellier-Nîmes Hospitals
• Association of Pharmacy Tutors (ATP)
• Association for the Organization of the Monôme at the Montpellier School of Pharmacy (A.M.M.)
• Rabelais Health and Science Association
• AS Pharma
• Oenology Corporation
• Link4pharma
• Louis Fine and Daisy Bel (BDE Audio Montpellier – Agea Mtp)
• Pharmacy Focus
• Pharm&Cie
• Humanitarian Pharmaceuticals

Polytech Associations

• Polytech Student Union

Student Organizations, School of Economics

• Montpellier Economics Student Association (BDEEM)
• Association for the Benefit of Students (GIDE)

General-interest organizations

• ADOREM – Radio Campus Montpellier
• Association of Friends of Scientific and Technical Collections
• Montpellier University Aquarium and Terrarium Association (AATUM)
• Association of Retirees of the University of Montpellier (ARUM)
• University of Montpellier Sports Association (AS UM)
• What needs to be said, defended, and proven (QED)
• D’Clic
• Students for Sustainable Community Development (EDDA)
• Montpellier University Choir
• ESN Montpellier
• Naturalist Group of the University of Montpellier (GNAUM)
• Montpellier University Caving Club (GSUM)
• The Interlude
• The Old Bike
• Unicorns
• The Head Opener
• Music at the University of Science and Technology (MUST)
• Montpellier University Symphony Orchestra (OSUM)
• Montpellier Student Symphony Orchestra (OSEM)
• Pen!
• Voices of theUM
• Amateur Theater at the University of Science and Technology (TAUST)

Student Organizations, School of Law and Political Science

• ELSA Montpellier Association
• Association of Law Tutors
• Law and Political Science Department

Student Organizations, College of Sciences

• ABM – Montpellier Biology Association
• AGM – Montpellier Geosciences Association
• ACES – Cosmetics, ICAP Master's Program
• AMBPM – Association of Master’s Students in Plant Biology, Montpellier
• AQUASSO – BAEMT specialization within the BGA master's program
• ARTIO
• Forest Glimmer
• Montpellier Science Students' Association
• CBS² – Chemical and Biological Sciences in Health
• Group for Electronics, Electrical Engineering, and Automation in Robotics and Space (GEEARS)
• Hello World
• Ma’LICE – Chemistry Division
• Focus on Earth
• QUANTA
• Montpellier Student Chapter
• Xylo’sphere

IAE Associations

• Alum’IAE
• BDE IAE
• IAE Startup Lab

Montpellier Management Associations

• BAMM, the Student Association Office
• “MOMA Sport Club” Sports Office
• MOMA Junior Consulting

Student Organizations, School of Physical and Sports Sciences and Techniques (STAPS)

• STAPS Student Union
• PESAP Health: The Movement
• Prom’APA
• Pro STAPS Association
• PromPPC Association (PsyCoach)