Université de Lorraine

About Université de Lorraine

Université de Lorraine is an independent public institution whose legal form is a grand établissement within the French public higher-education system. A 2011 decree created the institution by combining the Institut national polytechnique de Lorraine with the universities of Metz, Nancy I, and Nancy II; the new university replaced those institutions on 1 January 2012. This modern founding date is distinct from the region’s much older university tradition, which the university traces to Pont-à-Mousson in 1572. The institution is deliberately multi-site. Its legal seat is in Nancy, while the founding decree identifies Nancy and Metz as its principal locations. In the Nancy metropolitan area alone, facilities extend across Nancy, Maxéville, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, and Villers-lès-Nancy. Students may therefore study in a city-centre humanities setting, a science or health campus in the surrounding urban area, an engineering school, or another regional location. The relevant experience depends more on the selected faculty or school than on a single unified campus. This structure is suited to applicants seeking a broad public-university environment that combines general academic disciplines, professional programs, engineering education, health fields, and research training. It also makes program-level research essential: applicants should confirm the teaching site, language, timetable, prerequisites, and student services for their exact course rather than relying only on university-wide information.

Admission follows the French national and university-specific systems, with the route determined by the applicant’s status and intended level. For 2026-2027, most first-year post-secondary applicants use Parcoursup and complete university enrollment only after receiving an offer. Applicants to the first year of a master use Mon Master; the university states that the 2026 application process opened on 17 February. Transfers, later-year entry, professional licences, and various selective pathways generally use eCandidat, with many 2026 applications opening from 15 March. Selection may involve examination of the academic file, and individual programs can impose their own prerequisites and capacity limits. Applicants from another French or EU university must submit a new application rather than assuming an automatic transfer. Non-EU applicants in countries covered by Campus France normally apply through Études en France. Those outside that procedure may instead need Mon Master, eCandidat, or a first-year licence procedure appropriate to their residence and level. International candidates should follow the route shown for their precise program and avoid relying on older general guidance. After admission, students complete administrative enrollment, obtain the required CVEC certificate where applicable, and follow instructions from the responsible faculty or school. For 2026-2027, the university states that most teaching begins from 1 September 2026, but component calendars and arrival deadlines can differ. No university-wide GPA, test score, or single acceptance rate is published for all programs.

The university’s official catalogue covers arts, languages and literature; law, economics and management; humanities and social sciences; science, technology and engineering; health and sport; and teacher education. Available credentials include the three-year licence, professional licences, the three-year BUT, masters, engineering diplomas, health pathways, and doctorates. Because the catalogue is extensive and regularly updated, applicants should use its filters to compare entry level, location, study mode, and the responsible academic component. A standard licence is organized over six semesters, normally carrying 30 ECTS credits per semester. The university describes a mix of lectures, tutorials, practical classes, and substantial independent study, with progressive specialization across the degree. Master and engineering structures differ by discipline; some programs include professional placements, laboratory work, work-study formats, or selective entry. Doctoral study is research-based and administered through the university’s doctoral structures. The academic model combines broad disciplinary teaching with specialized faculties and schools. Examples of fields visible in the catalogue include computing, mathematics, chemistry, physics, earth and life sciences, engineering, law, economics, management, psychology, history, languages, education, and health. These examples illustrate breadth rather than guaranteed availability at every campus. French is the normal language for much of the curriculum, while a separate catalogue filter identifies programs taught in English. International applicants should verify the actual teaching language and any required evidence of proficiency on the individual program page.

Key Highlights

• Public French grand établissement with authority to award national degrees
• Created in its current form on 1 January 2012 through a four-institution merger
• Headquartered in Nancy and principally based in Nancy and Metz
• Multi-site structure spanning faculties, institutes, and engineering schools

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across the university’s different sites rather than concentrated on one residential campus. The university operates Maisons de l’Étudiant in Nancy and Metz as shared places for meeting, group work, relaxation, cultural activities, workshops, and student projects. University-wide services also cover libraries, sport, health and social support, culture, disability support, dining information, and student initiatives, although access and facilities vary by location. Housing is not automatically included with enrollment. Students commonly investigate CROUS residences, private rentals, shared accommodation, or other local options. The international Welcome Desk advises students to begin early because accommodation in Lorraine is booked quickly, particularly during summer. International students can also seek practical guidance on housing, health insurance, visa validation, residence permits, banking, and other arrival procedures. Campus choice has practical consequences. A student based in central Nancy will have a different daily routine from someone studying in Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, Villers-lès-Nancy, Metz, or another regional site. Before accepting an offer, students should check the exact teaching address, transport connections, dining options, library access, and whether activities associated with their faculty take place elsewhere.

Location & Surroundings

The database record lists Nancy, which is the university’s legal seat and one of its two principal academic centres. It should not be interpreted as identifying a single Nancy campus. Within the Nancy metropolitan area, the university operates across Nancy, Maxéville, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, and Villers-lès-Nancy. Named settings include the central humanities campus, science facilities at Aiguillettes, health and engineering facilities around Brabois, and the ARTEM area. Metz is the other principal university centre, and some programs are delivered elsewhere in Lorraine. This geography gives students access to both city-centre and suburban academic environments, but it can also create travel requirements. The official location page connects individual faculties, schools, laboratories, addresses, accessibility information, and campus maps. Applicants should identify the location attached to every year or pathway of their intended program, particularly where a course involves laboratories, clinical study, sport facilities, or teaching shared between components. Housing decisions should be based on that confirmed location rather than the university’s Nancy postal address alone.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For national diplomas in 2026-2027, the university lists annual registration charges of €178 for licence and BUT programs, €255 for masters, and €630 for engineering study. Non-scholarship students subject to the Contribution de vie étudiante et de campus must also pay a €105 CVEC. These figures do not cover housing, food, transport, insurance, study materials, or other personal expenses. Doctoral, health, continuing-education, and institution-specific programs may follow different schedules. Fee treatment for non-EU students requires particular care. The university explains that differentiated national fees can apply, while exemptions depend on citizenship, program level, and university policy. For example, some first-year master students may qualify for a partial exemption, whereas other non-EEA students may owe differentiated fees. Candidates should consult the current fee decision and their admission instructions rather than assuming that the standard domestic amount applies. Living costs are not published as one reliable university-wide total because students are spread across several cities and housing markets. International students are advised to budget for higher initial setup costs and secure accommodation early. Career support is provided through the Service d’Orientation et d’Insertion professionnelle in Metz, Nancy, and Vandœuvre. Its services include individual guidance, CV and interview preparation, internship and work-study resources, and a Career Center carrying internship, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities. Outcomes vary by program, so applicants should consult program-level graduate surveys rather than infer a university-wide salary or placement rate.