Avignon University (French: Avignon Université; formerly known as Université d’Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse) is a public university located in Avignon, France, and founded in 1303.
Avignon University is situated on two campuses: the Hannah Arendt Campus, located in the city centre of Avignon, and the Jean-Henri Fabre Campus, which is on the outskirts of town and includes the Agroparc facility for STEM teaching and research, as well as the Avignon University Institute of Technology.
The university is well regarded for its international education outreach, and was awarded the ERASMUS University Charter for Higher Education by the European Commission in 2021.
Avignon University is a member of the Association of Francophone Universities, the European Association for International Education, and the University Network of the European Capitals of Culture.
Contents
History
The university was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, and closed in 1792 during the French Revolution. It was re-opened as L'Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse in 1984 following the 1963 establishment of an annex of Faculté des Sciences d'Aix-Marseille in Avignon. The university was renamed Avignon Université in 2018.
Academics
Avignon University offers bachelors, masters, doctoral, and BUT/DUT certifications in the following disciplines:
Business
Computer Science
Economic and Social Administration
Economy, Management
Engineering
Foreign Languages
French Literature
Geography
History
Information and Communication
Languages, Literatures and Foreign Civilisations
Law
Life Science
Mathematics
Packaging
Physics, Chemistry
Public Administration
Sports
Campus
The Hannah Arendt Campus is located in the heart of Avignon. It includes several historic buildings, including the former Sainte-Marthe Hospital. The Hannah Arendt Campus is principally used for arts, humanities, and law courses. University administration, the Maurice Agulhon university library, and a fitness center are also housed on Hannah Arendt.
The Jean-Henri Fabre Campus is located 9 km (5 miles) southeast of Hannah Arendt. It features more modern buildings and spacious lawns. Being home to the Agroparc STEM facility and the Institute of Technology, the Jean-Henri Fabre Campus is principally used for science and technology courses. It is also home to the Agroparc library.
Avignon University has several Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires student residences and dining halls, as well as a number of student clubs and organisations.
Avignon University is the place of study for students from 96 different countries, as of the 2018–2019 academic year. International students comprise 13% of the student body.
Notable faculty
Ancient
Jean de Tulles (died 1608) - university chamberlain and abbott
Louis Bancel (1628–1685) - Dominican theologian
Joseph Galien (1699–1762) - Dominican professor of philosophy and theology, meteorologist, physicist, and writer on aeronautics
Pierre-Louis Moline (c. 1740–1820) - dramatist, poet and librettist
Modern
Anna Livia (author) (1955–2007) - Irish feminist author and linguist
Marie-Claude Arnaud (born 1963) - mathematician,
Notable alumni
Pre-Modern
Honoré Bonet (c. 1340 – c. 1410) - Provençal Benedictine, the prior of Salon
Jean-Allarmet de Brogny (1342–1426) - Catholic Cardinal
Paulus Castrensis - Italian jurist
Thomas de Buittle (died c. 1420–1422) - Scottish prelate, clerk and papal auditor
Michel de Nostredame, (1503-1566) - astrologer and physician
Jérôme Nadal (1507–1580) - Spanish Jesuit priest; known as the Ignatian theologian for having developed the theology behind Ignatian spirituality
Bernado Luis Cotoner y Ballester (1571–1641) - member of the Dominican Order; Apostolic Inquisitor of Sardinia
Pierre Gassendi (1592–1655) - philosopher, Catholic priest, astronomer, and mathematician
Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680) - German Jesuit scholar and polymath
Nicolas Saboly (1614–1675) - poet, composer and choirmaster
Girolamo Grimaldi (1674–1733) - catholic cardinal who worked in the Vatican diplomatic service
Dominique Magnan (1731–1796) - learned French abbot
Claude-François Achard (1751–1809) - physician and author
Modern
Charles de Ferry de Fontnouvelle (1877–1956) - diplomat and pedagogue
Ina Hartwig (born 1963) - German writer, literature critic
Mehdi Soltani (born 1971) - Iranian actor
Vincent Almendros (born 1978) - novelist
Hamidou Tembine (born 1982) - game theorist
Astrid Vayson de Pradenne (born 1985) - professional golfer.