621 avenue Centrale, 38400 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France
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Université Grenoble Alpes is one of the largest institutions of higher education in France. Located primarily in the city of Grenoble, it is home to nearly 60,000 students, with 17% of them coming from more than 150 countries.
The University has 13 campuses spread over the Alpine region of France. The main campus location is in Grenoble, and the other locations in the city together account for over 90% of the student population of the University. The main campus occupies 432 acres, and provides world class academic and sports facilities to its s...
| Establishment year | 1339 |
| Total Students | 59,000 |
| International Students | 10,500 |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | 294 |
| Campus Size | N/A |
| Total Number of Campuses | 13 |
| University Website | https://www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/english/ |
| No. of Schools and Divisions | 6 Academic Divisions |
| Nobel Prize Winner Alumni | 1 (Gerard Mourou) |
| No. of Education Programs | 3 (undergraduate), 19 (Master’s) |
| Student to Faculty ratio | 9.8:1 |
Université Grenoble Alpes offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 6 Academic Divisions, each of which is made up of Academic Units.
There are three other Academic Units at the University: the Alpine Geography and Urban Planning Institute, Grenoble Law School, and the Economics Department. It also partners with 5 other Institutes, including the University Center for French Studies.
The entry requirements for international students applying to Université Grenoble Alpes vary according to the Academic Division and type of course. In general, all applicants must satisfy these criteria:
Course specific requirements include the submission of a portfolio or detailed curriculum vitae, for creative arts and business programs, respectively. Highly competitive programs may also require applicants to appear for entrance tests or interviews. All international applicants must prove their language proficiency according to the medium of instruction. For courses taught in French, the required level is B2 or C1. For courses taught in English, TOEFL or IELTS minimum score requirements can be found on the individual course webpages.
All applicants to the University must follow these steps:
Students of the University do not have to pay tuition fees, as these are subsidized by the Government of France. Instead, they pay annual registration fees. There are four different registration fee amounts based on the type of degree program:
As a compulsory registration step, students of the University must pay the Campus Amenities and Services (CVEC) fee. This amounts to approximately 90 Euros per year, and is used to fund healthcare, sports, cultural, and campus facilities for students. A certificate of successful payment of this fee is needed to confirm acceptance of the offer of admission. The CVEC fee is applicable to all students except those admitted under exceptional circumstances, e.g. refugees and asylum seekers.
There are several one-time costs when an international student arrives in France. These include the accommodation deposit (one month’s rent), residence permit fees, insurance costs, purchase of transportation passes, and visa validation fees.
The University estimates accommodation fees for different categories of housing as follows:
Other living costs include food (200 to 300 Euros per month), mobile phone, travel, personal items, and study materials.
Universitè Grenoble Alpes occupies 13 different campuses spread over multiple cities. Most of the locations are within the greater Grenoble metropolitan area, with the main campus spread over 175 hectares in the heart of Grenoble. It is filled with green open spaces; 3,000 trees can be found on the main campus, in addition to several sports fields and walking paths. All the campuses benefit from their location in the French Alps, offering stunning views and access to healthy activities like hiking and mountaineering.
There are many categories of student associations at the University: for example, business and entrepreneurship, art, cultural events, radio stations, sports, and social service. Université Grenoble Alpes supports these clubs with exhibition areas, theaters, concert venues, dance studios, meeting rooms, and orchestral areas.
Athletes at Université Grenoble Alpes can pursue their chosen sports either alone or under the guidance of a certified fitness trainer. SUAPS is the academic body at the University that oversees the usage of sports facilities at all campus locations and ensures that all students are able to access the coaching that they need. The location of Université Grenoble Alpes allows its students to take part in recreational sporting pursuits such as skiing and snow sports.
Even though many of the campuses are located in smaller cities of France, they still give students access to shopping centers and malls. All locations also have emergency health services on site, and partnerships with nearby clinics and hospitals in case treatment is needed.
The full set of scholarships available to students of Universitè Grenoble Alpes is available on the Campus France website. International students are recommended to begin the application process a year before their planned arrival at the University.
The flagship financial award for Master's students at the University is the Graduate School @ UGA Scholarship. This is awarded to first year Master's students based on academic excellence and research potential, and entails an amount of 16,000 Euros paid over two years. This is usually enough to cover most of the living costs and registration fees.
Other scholarships that offer yearly stipends include the Eiffel Excellence Scholarships, Master’s Grants from the Excellence Initiative Idex, Graduate Scholarships from the PERSYVAL Lab of the University (intended for second year Master’s students), and the Erasmus+ Scholarship, which funds international mobility and exchange programs for students of the University.
