Universite Aix-Marseille

Did you know that right here at Aix-Marseille University, we’re standing on the grounds of one of the oldest academic institutions in France? Aix-Marseille University, or AMU, has a history as vibrant as the city of Marseille itself. Founded way back in 1409 by Louis II of Anjou, it began as the University of Provence. Imagine, students from centuries past walking these very grounds, debating philosophy, and studying law. Originally, Louis II even made it mandatory for students from Provence to study only in Aix, ensuring the university’s initial success. Over the centuries, AMU evolved. It weathered revolutions, saw the rise and fall of empires, and witnessed countless advancements in human knowledge. In the 18th century, the Collége Royal de Bourbon, initially a separate institution focusing on arts and philosophy, merged with the university, broadening the scope of learning. A young Paul Cézanne even graced these halls, studying at the college before he became the renowned painter we know today. The university, in its current form, is actually a reunification of three institutions: the University of Provence, the University of the Mediterranean, and Paul Cézanne University. This merger, finalized in 2012, created the largest university in the Francophone world, a bustling hub of over 80,000 students. Today, Aix-Marseille University boasts a budget of 750 million euros, the largest of any French-speaking academic institution. Its five main campuses, located across Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, plus facilities in other surrounding towns, form a vast network of learning. Here at AMU, history isn’t just something you read in textbooks; it’s woven into the very fabric of the buildings, echoing in the footsteps of past scholars.