Université Grenoble Alpes

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Université Grenoble Alpes

The current Université Grenoble Alpes was formed on 1 January 2016 by the merger of three Grenoble universities: Joseph Fourier, Pierre Mendès-France and Stendhal.^[7] It traces its roots to the University of Grenoble, founded on 12 May 1339 by Humbert II of Viennois.^[7] On 1 January 2020, Grenoble INP (Grenoble Institute of Technology), the Grenoble Institute of Political Studies and the Grenoble School of Architecture (ENSAG) joined it.^[7]

UGA describes itself as multidisciplinary and one of nine French universities with the “initiative of excellence” (IDEX) label. Its components include Grenoble INP-UGA, Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA, ENSAG-UGA, the Faculty of Science, the university institute of technology (EUT) and the faculty Humanités, santé, sport, sociétés. The main campuses are in Grenoble and Valence.^[1]

The student figures differ between UGA’s own pages. A press release of 24 November 2025 gives 57,000 students including 10,000 international students and 3,000 doctoral candidates.^[1] The study pages give about 57,000 students and about 11,000 international students.^[8] The international office’s page on degree programmes still says “nearly 6,000” international students (page updated 5 October 2026), which looks out of date.^[10] We use the press-release figures.

How is Université Grenoble Alpes ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Université Grenoble Alpes is 387th in the world. In 2026 it was 321st, a fall of 66 places.^[2] The figures come from the ranking table published by the French student magazine L’Étudiant, because QS’s own site blocks automated access.

UGA’s own statements go further: it says it is in the top 200 of the Shanghai ranking and the first European university by number of patents filed.^[1] We have not checked those claims against the original lists. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Université Grenoble Alpes?

UGA lists about 600 programmes and courses at 30 schools, faculties and institutes.^[8] The offer is grouped by level:^[8]

• First cycle: licences, professional licences, BUT (university bachelor of technology), DEUST, preparatory classes for engineering schools and master’s-in-engineering curricula.
• Second cycle: master’s degrees, engineering degrees, political science diplomas and the magistère.
• Doctorate: doctoral studies. UGA has about 3,000 doctoral candidates.^[1]

The four broad fields are arts, literature and languages; law, economics, management and political science; humanities, social sciences and architecture; and science, technology, health and engineering.^[1] Most degrees are taught in French. UGA says it offers “a wide variety” of licence, bachelor, master’s and engineering programmes taught entirely in English; its page does not list them, so check the international students page for the current list.^[5]

How much does Université Grenoble Alpes cost in 2026/27?

These are the rates UGA publishes for the academic year 2026/27; they are set by the State.^[3] The higher “differentiated” rate generally applies in licence and master’s programmes to students who are not nationals of the EU, the EEA, Monaco, Andorra, Québec or Switzerland.^[3] UGA also lists lower rates for a supplementary diploma taken at UGA, for example €167 for a second licence or master’s at the national rate.^[3]

Exemptions

Some students are exempt automatically: holders of a French government scholarship, pupilles de la Nation, exchange students under an agreement, and Crous scholarship holders.^[3] Others can apply on grounds such as financial hardship, family situation, a crisis in the home country or disability. If granted, differentiated-rate payers pay the national rate (€178 in licence, €255 in master’s). The exemption is valid for one academic year, so you must apply again each year, and admission through Études en France is not an exemption.^[3] UGA says it applies the national rules and describes no additional UGA scheme.^[3]

Exemptions that UGA granted before 21 May 2026 are kept until the end of the licence or master’s cycle in the same programme, under the decree of 19 May 2026.^[3] Moving from licence to master’s, or joining from another university, needs a new request.^[3]

CVEC and other costs

Before you enrol you must pay the Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC): €105 for 2026/27, with some exemptions, for example for scholarship holders and refugees.^[9] Tuition is only part of the bill; for rent and living costs, see our France guide and the Study in France guide.

How do you apply to Université Grenoble Alpes?

The procedure depends on the degree, your status, your nationality and your place of residence. UGA’s application page names these routes: Parcoursup, Mon Master, eCandidat, Études en France, the preliminary admission request (DAP) “verte” and “blanche”, and a separate first-year route for students in exile.^[11] It does not say which route belongs to which level, so use UGA’s “Laissez-vous guider” tool on that page.^[11]

• First year of a licence, non-EU applicants living abroad: UGA describes the DAP “blanche” as the required procedure for students who are not EU citizens and do not live in France. You file the paper “dossier blanc” at the cultural service of the French embassy in your country of residence.^[12]
• TCF: the TCF (Test de connaissance du français, 2 hours 25 minutes, €75) is mandatory with the DAP unless you are exempt, for example if you come from a country where French is the only official language, completed most of your secondary education in French, or hold a DELF or DALF that matches your programme’s required level.^[12]
• Master’s and doctorate: the page does not map these to a platform. Check the programme sheet in the UGA catalogue and the application page.^[11]

We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the timetable of your programme before you start. Visas can take several months, so contact the French consulate early.

Which language level do you need?

For French-taught programmes, UGA’s international office says non-French-speaking applicants must prove their French level with a DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF certificate. It recommends B1 or B2 on the CEFR scale (the European scale from A1 to C2; B2 is upper-intermediate) for licence and master’s studies, and says some courses may require C1 or C2. An AEFE baccalauréat holder is exempt.^[4] That page is from February 2022 and says B2 is required for first-year admission via the DAP.^[4] The current DAP page does not state one level; it tells you to check the required level on the programme’s catalogue sheet.^[12] Treat the programme sheet as the final word.

For programmes taught in English, the 2022 page says good French is not needed, but you must show proof of English.^[4] UGA does not publish an English score on the pages we read. Ask the programme before you book a test.

More about studying in France

• France: best universities
• Study in France: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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