At the heart of the Mediterranean Basin, the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis has developed a vivid cosmopolitan spirit. A prestigious training and research institution, a broad range of high-quality teaching programs and a privileged study environment has drawn an ever-growing number of scholars from around the world to the French Riviera.

The University of Nice was officially established by decree dated 23rd October 1965.  However, its historic roots go back to the XVII century, with the famous “Collegium Jurisconsultorum Niciensium” created in 1639 by the Princes of Savoy; it was composed of an important body of jurisconsuls (law consultants and lawyers) and its fame lasted until Nice was incorporated to France, in 1860. In the XVII century, courses, renowned throughout Europe, were given at its College of Medicine.

The University of Nice's vocation asserted itself at the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to the combined efforts of certain great university members, such as the Dean Louis Trotabas or Maurice Mignon.  With the help of local communities and in particular, the town of Nice, in 1933, they created, the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen located on the Promenade des Anglais (nowadays a Conference Center) whose first Administrator was the great French poet, Paul Valéry.  Then followed the Institut d'Etudes Juridiques in 1938, the Institut d'Etudes Littéraires in 1941, and the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques in 1945.  The decree of 2nd August 1962 gave birth to the Faculté de Droit et des Sciences Economiques (College of Law and Economics) connected to the Université d'Aix-Marseille.

A decree, promulgated in 1965, sees the start of a multidisciplinary university, articulated around the Faculté de Lettres, de Sciences, de Droits et Sciences Economiques, on the three campuses just as they were situated in 1968.  In 1989, the Université de Nice adds Sophia Antipolis to its name, taking into consideration the boost that is given by the technology park.

The headquarters of Nice University are situated since 1965 in an exceptional environment: the Château and park of Valrose, which covers around 10 hectares and integrates the buildings of the Sciences University. 

Established throughout the 'département' (district area) of the Alpes-Maritimes, the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis is the second University of France as for the number of students.
At the start of the 2006 academic year, the UNS registered 24,942 students of which 17,1% were foreigners (4,275). Nowadays, UNS students are more or less 30,000.

The University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis is also:

-  8 training and research units, 2 institutes and 1 University Polytechnic School with:
- 8 main campuses and 29 university sites
- 266,898 sq m of lecture areas and research areas (of which 58,637 m² are dedicated to research)
- 375,203 sq m non-built up areas. 
- 1,408 teachers, teacher-researchers and instructors
- 770 administrative employees and engineers, technical  workers, services or health and library employees. 

- 11 shared departments:
- ASURE Formation: continuing education, block release training, validation of assets
- Bibliothèque universitaire (BU) - Library: Service commun de documentation (SCD)
- Centre de Ressources Informatiques (CRI)
- Institut de Recherche sur l'Enseignement des Mathématiques (IREM)

- Institut des Langues
- Service Commun Universitaire d'Information et d'Orientation (SCUIO)

- Service Universitaire de Médecine Préventive et de Santé (SUMPS)

- Service Universitaire des Activités Physiques et Sportives (SUAPS)
- Collège des écoles doctorales (CED)
- Service d'Activités Industrielles et Commerciales (SAIC)
- Institut Robert Hooke de la culture scientifique (IRH)

- 1 specialized department :
- Observatoire de la vie étudiante (OVE)

Research figures:

Research occupies a very important place at the UNSA. Extremely developed, it is recognized internationally.  It has at its disposal: 
- 62 research units recognized by the Ministry
- 116 research teams and more than 35 laboratories associated to important research organizations (CNRS, INSERM, INRA, CEA, ...)
- 6 doctorate schools
- 2 Instituts Fédératifs de Recherche (IFR)
- 9 Programmes Pluri Formation (PPF)
- 25 Welcoming teams
- 3 Young teams
- 1 Maison des Sciences de l'Homme
- 1 Agrobiotech platform
- 208 Defended thesis in 2005
- 1,448 PhD students

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More information at: www.unice.fr

Source

Database source: results of SISE survey dated 15/01/2007, updated 5/03/2007