Université de Bretagne Occidentale

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The University of Western Brittany - Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO) is a multidisciplinary university, attuned to the social, economic, political, cultural or environmental changes of our societies and the associated challenges. With a strong local foothold and network, its focus is naturally turned towards the sea (we are ranked 12th in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities for the oceanography category) but its national and international influence also reaps the benefit from, in particular, its strengths in both the information and technology sciences and the human and social sciences.

As a multidisciplinary university, it has an ambitious research and training policy with 32 research units, 11 doctoral schools, 27 bachelor degrees and 100+ master’s degrees and engineering degrees.

With long-standing experience in continuing vocational training, it offers numerous placement-study programmes, mainly through apprenticeships. As an innovative university, it supports local economic development through the inventiveness of its researchers and the creativity of its graduates. Open-minded and outward looking, UBO enhances and structures its positioning, both through its research-led activities and its quality in teaching, and through its numerous partnerships with universities around the world, notably China, Canada, Australia, South Africa and, of course, all of the EU countries. In this respect, pursuing the development of the European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), with the universities of Cadiz (Spain), Kiel (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Split (Croatia) and Malta will be one of UBO’s central activities in the coming year.

 

Exchange program fact sheet

Facts and figures

Web https://www.univ-brest.fr
Year Established 1971
Total Number of Staff 2300
Number of Academic Staff 965
Number of Students 23000
Focus Areas

Research at UBO is carried out through 32 research units organised along 4 strategic lines:

  • Marine Sciences
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Health-Agri-Environment-Materials
  • ICT and Mathematics

Research work at the European Institute of Marine Studies is carried out within its seven Joint Research Units (UMRs), four International Joint Laboratories (LMI), within the framework of projects and programmes funded in particular by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the European Union, and two International Associated Laboratories (LIA). Research is organised along 4 thematic focus areas:

- Ocean, a major player in the biogeochemical cycles and climate of our planet

- Marine ecosystems and biodiversity

- Unexplored deep ocean

- Coastline, a complex and fragile interface

Additionally, researchers are gathered in 3 transversal groups to work on cross-cutting themes:

  • Polar research (60+ researchers)
  • Marine biotechnologies
  • Renewable energies
  • Research & observation in Southern countries
Web link for international students https://www.univ-brest.fr/international/
Fields of Study Offered Basic/broad, general programmes
Humanities (broad programmes)
Social and behavioural science (broad programmes)
Economics
Law (broad programmes)
Biology and biochemistry
Physical science (broad programmes)
Earth science
Health (broad programmes)
Environmental protection (broad programmes)