The University of Clermont Auvergne was created on 1 January 2017. This decision was the result of a process of reflection since 2012 on how best to structure the site to make the most of the new framework introduced by the 2013 Act on higher education and research. The stakes are high. While deliberately participating in national and international networks for the production and spread of knowledge, the University also contributes to the ecosystem in Auvergne alongside regional socio-economic players and local authorities; the aim of this new University is to be a driving force for the development of higher education and research in Auvergne, for the benefit of users and all players in the region, and to further enhance its quality, influence and attractiveness. By doing so, it also contributes to the national territorial restructuring and to the construction of a major, European-scale Auvergne Rhône Alpes region.

In effect, this creation forms a fundamental part of a new ambition for the University to fulfil more effectively its role to provide a public service, to increase its presence and influence at regional, national and international level and to harness all the resources, capabilities and skills available in the two institutions to this end, for the benefit of both students and society as a whole.

This new ambition is rendered achievable through optimal use of the teaching, scientific, administrative and technical skills available. The aim is to create a new, dynamic, attractive and responsible university, open to its social, economic and cultural environment and to the wider world and fully equipped to meet the five major challenges facing our university community.

The University of Clermont Auvergne intends to apply an innovative policy in terms of higher and further education programmes, research and the professional insertion of its students, across all disciplines, while playing a major role in the heart of the city and on the international scene. 

Key figures

University of Clermont Auvergne represents:
  • close to 35,000 students, including 858 PhD students
  • 4,600 foreign students, including 500 as part of inter-university partnerships and 150 under joint thesis supervision
  • 3,320 staff, including 1,281 researchers and faculty members and 1,937 technical and administrative staff
  • 3,204 staff (all positions combined) in the 35 research laboratories in partnership with numerous institutions and bodies (CNRS, Inserm, INRA, IRD, VetAgroSup, IRSTEA, etc.) and 3 federating structures
  • 5 faculties (collegia) based on 5 doctoral schools covering the fields of Law-Economics-Management, Life Sciences-Health-Environment, Languages-Literature-Human and Social Sciences, Technology-Engineering Sciences and Basis Sciences
  • 20 components: 10 UFR, 2 IUT, 4 Schools, 1 observatory, 1 Polytech institute, 1 ESPE et 1 Computer Science Institute
  • Over 170 courses including 17 DUT, 2 DEUST, 1 PACES (first year common to all health studies), 3 paramedical courses, 3 preparatory programmes, 27 Bachelor's degree courses, 51 professional undergraduate courses, 7 engineering degrees, 1 law course and 54 Master's degree courses
  • €300m provisional budget
  • 350,000m² of premises
  • 550 partnership agreements in Europe and worldwide