Presentation

One of the oldest universities in France

A long time ago, somewhere in Provence... In 1303, Pope Boniface VIII founded a university in Avignon, only a few months after the one in Rome and more than a century before the one in Aix. Soon, other popes came to live in the city, and students flocked to learn law.

Suppressed like everywhere else during the Revolution, higher education was reborn in Avignon in 1964, before becoming a real university in 1984.

Today, its two campuses, Hannah Arendt and Jean-Henri FabreThese are proof that the Agrosciences, Environment and Health Institute (AgES), the Culture, Heritage and Digital Societies Institute (CPSN), the Centre for Research and Teaching in Informatics (CERI) and the University Institute of Technology (IUT) are the cornerstones of a credible future for Provence, for its young people and for living together.

Our university's centuries-old history has led to active, recognised research and solid, appropriate training, with the aim of forging talent, supporting graduates and launching nuggets.

Two campuses and four components with their own training programmes and a shared ambition

Avignon University is organised into four components located on two campuses:

The Agrosciences, Environment and Health Institute comprises 6 teaching and research centres (CER)

  • Biology (Manager: Catherine Duport)
  • Chemistry (Manager: Raphaël Plasson)
  • Mathematics (Manager: Thierry Barbot)
  • Physics (Manager: Slimane Arhab)
  • Soil, water, environment (manager: to be appointed)
  • STAPS - Health (Manager: Stéphane Nottin)

The Culture, Heritage and Digital Societies Institute (CPSN) comprises 8 teaching and research centres (CER)

  • History (Manager: Benjamin Landais)
  • Geography and planning (Manager: Guilhem Boulay)
  • Culture and communication (Manager: Yannick Hascoet)
  • Intercultural studies and creation (Manager: Florence Belingard)
  • Theatre, literature(s), language(s) (Manager: Marianne Beauviche)
  • Law (Manager: Bérengère Gleize-Perrouty)
  • Social sciences, political science, economics and management (Manager: Ouassim Hamzaoui)
  • Applied foreign languages (Manager: Xavier Calmettes)

The Centre for Education and Research in Computer Science (CERI)

The Centre for Education and Research in Computer Science (CERI) brings together in the same building and under a common structure all of Avignon Université's computer science courses (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate) and the Avignon Computing Laboratory (LIA).
This proximity means that the LIA's teacher-researchers involved in each course are in constant contact with their students, providing them with optimum support.

Avignon University Institute of Technology (IUT)

Since its creation in 1990, Avignon University's Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT) has built up a coherent, responsive training system tailored to the employment needs of the various economic sectors. The close links forged with companies and professional circles have enabled the development of 4 BUT specialities.
Opting for a course at the IUT today means preparing your career plan and giving yourself the means to exceed that goal. With a Bac +3 (BUT), professional integration corresponds to the expectations of the job market.

 The Hannah Arendt campusThe centre is located in the former Sainte-Marthe hospital in the heart of the city:

The Jean-Henri Fabre campusThis project, located on the Agroparc technology park, brings together :

  • The Agrosciences, Environment and Health Institute
  • The Centre d'enseignement et de recherche en informatique (CERI)
  • The University Institute of Technology (IUT)
  • The Agroparc library

Updated on 9 September 2025