Student Club Life

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

With so many student organizations, campus life atUM both vibrant and diverse! Whether you want to get involved in culture, sports, humanitarian work, environmental causes, or your field of study, there’s bound 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 student 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 learning and experiential environment for those who get involved.

Create, Register, Manage: The Keys to a Successful Start 

1. Before You Get Started

Why start a nonprofit organization?

Creating a student association 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. Managing an 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 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

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

2. The Steps

Contact the SVE and the BVE: An Essential First Step

Before taking any action, it is essential to contact the Student Life Office (SVE)at 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 reviewing and verifying your bylaws, you will be offered 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 that 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 Journal (a mandatory formality that requires a fee).

Registering Your Association with 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:

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 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 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 sent by email 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 “Dossier Unique” 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: An association with a registered address may submit a request for the allocation 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 (UFR, school, or institute).

Please note: Being registered at the University of Montpellier does not automatically entitle you to a room; rooms will be assigned only 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 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? 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 to organize festive events in compliance with regulations: Guide to Festive and Student Integration 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.

UM Student Organizations

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
• BDE la MEEF – FDE, 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 Orthoptics Students (AMEO)
• Montpellier Association of Midwifery Students (AMESF)
• Nîmes Midwifery Students' Association (BDESFN)
• Corpo of the Carabins Crocodiles
• 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
• Œnologie Corporation
• Link4pharma
• Louis Fine and Daisy Bel (BDE Audio Montpellier – Agea Mtp)
• Objectif Officine
• 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
• University of Montpellier 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)
• La Parenthèse
• 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!
• VoixUM
• Amateur Theater at the University of Science and Technology (TAUST)

Student Organizations, School of Law and Political Science

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

Student Organizations, College of Sciences

• ABM – Montpellier Biology Association
• AGM – Montpellier Geosciences Association
• ACES – Cosmetics Track, ICAP Master's Program
• AMBPM – Association of Master's Students in Plant Biology, Montpellier
• AQUASSO – BAEMT specialization within the BGA master's program
• ARTIO
• A Glimpse of the Forest
• 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

• IAE Alumni
• BDE IAE
• IAE Startup Lab

Montpellier Management Associations

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

Student Organizations in the Faculty of Science and Technology of Physical and Sports Activities (STAPS)

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