🎓 Bordeaux Montaigne University, France – A Humanist Hub of Arts, Languages and Social Sciences
Introduction
Nestled in Pessac, just outside Bordeaux, Bordeaux Montaigne University—formerly Bordeaux 3 and named after philosopher Michel de Montaigne—has become a leading institution in humanities and social sciences since its establishment in 1970 (en.wikipedia.org). With around 18,000 students and over 1,300 academic staff, it blends humanist values with modern academic innovation (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr). Inspired by Montaigne’s ideals of independence, humanism, civic engagement, and creativity, the university is a vibrant intellectual community committed to equality of opportunity (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr).
1. 🏛️ Establishment & History
- 1970: Created after Bordeaux’s universities were reorganized; initially called Bordeaux 3 (en.wikipedia.org)
- 1990: Renamed Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux 3 to honor the French philosopher (en.wikipedia.org)
- 2014: Became Bordeaux Montaigne University after merging into the University of Bordeaux group (en.wikipedia.org)
- 2020: Marked its 50th anniversary
2. 🌐 Affiliations & Accreditations
- Member of Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), ComUE d’Aquitaine, and European University Association (EUA) (en.wikipedia.org)
- Compliant with the European Bologna Process and LMD framework, offering DAEU and DUT certificates (en.wikipedia.org)
- Accredited to offer bachelor’s, vocational bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs
3. 🎓 Courses Offered & Academic Structure
Faculties & Institutes
- Three main UFRs: Humanities; Languages & Civilisations; Territorial & Communication Sciences (en.wikipedia.org, u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Institutes: IUT Bordeaux Montaigne and Bordeaux Aquitaine Journalism Institute (IJBA) (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
Programs
- Bachelor’s, BUT (vocational), Master’s, PhDs across 138+ nationally recognized diplomas (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Fields: literature, arts, performing arts, linguistics, geography, philosophy, media, environmental studies and more (bachelorsportal.com)
- Offers evening and foreign language courses, including Cantonese
- Double‑degree options in partnership with other Bordeaux universities (en.wikipedia.org)
4. 🏫 Campus & Facilities
Main Location
- Suburban campus in Pessac, with central sites in Bordeaux (en.wikipedia.org)
Facilities
- Libraries: Humanities & social sciences (CADIST Latin America & Lusophone Africa) (mastersportal.com)
- Maison des Étudiants (MDE): auditorium, meeting halls, info services (mastersportal.com)
- Sport: DAPS offers 55 activities, 5 indoor complexes, Olympic pool, field & gyms (mastersportal.com)
- Cultural spaces: student theatres and cultural clubs promoted by the university (ardentoverseas.com)
- Accessibility support: dedicated Disability Pole and student aid (mastersportal.com)
- Transport: Tram stop ‘Montaigne‑Montesquieu’ and regional network connections (ardentoverseas.com)
5. 📍 Address & Contact Details
Bordeaux Montaigne University
Office of Academic Affairs, Bâtiment A22,
University Domain, 33600 Pessac, France (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr, en.wikipedia.org)
📞 +33 5 40 00 60 00
🌐 www.u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr
6. 🎖️ Academic Excellence
- Focus on humanities and social sciences research, with CNRS-associated mixed research units (UMRs) (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Doctoral College Montaigne‑Humanités: one of France’s largest, serving ~600 PhD students, 34% international (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Receives external grants (ANR, IdEx, Labex) and supports over 100 projects/year (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Ranked #101–150 in QS by Subject (2024–25)
7. 💼 Career Development & Placement Cell
- SUIO/DOSIP offers personalized guidance: job fairs, workshops, CV/interview prep, alumni networking (ardentoverseas.com)
- Internship placements, part-time jobs, stress management workshops
- Employment support via Jobaviz, JobEtudiant, and DOSIP services (ardentoverseas.com)
8. 🔬 Research Activities & Innovation
- Research policy & impact: supports 10 research groups, 5 UMRs, 1 cluster in archaeological sciences (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Fields: humanities, archaeology, languages, art history, digital communication, environmental studies (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Doctoral support: ~100 thesis defenses annually, extensive training and international cotutelle (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
- Notable institute: Les Afriques dans le monde (LAM) – Africa and diaspora studies (en.wikipedia.org)
- IJBA & IUT lead in journalism and social careers; highly ranked nationally (fr.wikipedia.org)
- Publishes humanities journals via Presses Universitaires de Bordeaux Montaigne (fr.wikipedia.org)
9. 👨🎓 Notable Alumni & Faculty
- Bernard Miège – Renowned media theorist and emeritus professor (edurank.org)
- Stéphane Bijoux – Former MEP (2019–24) (edurank.org)
- Sandra Marsaud – Member of French National Assembly (edurank.org)
- Mohamed Toihiri – Diplomat, writer, Niamey UN Ambassador (edurank.org)
- Historic figures from original Bordeaux faculty: Émile Durkheim, Jacques Ellul, Francis Jeanson, François Mauriac (u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr)
10. 🌍 Reputation, Rankings & Awards
- Ranked #101–150 in QS by Subject (2025)
- Recognized in 2023 Global Student Satisfaction Awards with high scores in student life (bachelorsportal.com)
- IUT sector leads national ranking for student success (fr.wikipedia.org)
- Distinct reputation for humanities, environmental studies, journalism, languages
✅ Conclusion
Bordeaux Montaigne University is a distinguished centre of humanities, arts, and social sciences, driven by intellectual curiosity and a humanist ethos. Anchored in Michel de Montaigne’s legacy, it nurtures creativity, critical thought, and equal opportunity. With strong research programs, career‑focused initiatives, vibrant campus life, and international engagement, it’s a premier choice for students pursuing arts, languages, communication, and culture.
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