Introducing AMU

Aix-Marseille Université

AMU, which stems from the merger of the three former universities of Aix-Marseille on January 1st, 2012, will offer to the doctoral researchers the ideal, high level scientific environment to conduct their doctoral thesis. Indeed, AMU is now one of the six French universities ranking in the top 150 universities in the world. Worldwide, it is the largest French-language University, gathering over 74,000 students (including 10,000 international students), 8,000 faculty and staff members, and over 3,400 Doctoral researchers.

A large research-intensive university

The doctoral researchers perform their work in one of 130 research facilities (in joint research units with major French research institutions such as IRD, INRA, INSERM, CNRS, CEA, IFSTTAR, INRIA, IRSTEA, MMSH, ADEME, IFREMER, IRSN or Hospitals such as Assistance Publique –Hôpitaux de Marseille or Institut Paoli Calmette). The 130 research structures benefit from broad and internationally recognised expertise, perform studies with a strong interdisciplinary character, and are backed by high performance technological platforms which are in open use for the site's scientific community and to external public and private partners. These structures are supported by 12 disciplinary doctoral schools, organised within a doctoral college which notably stimulates, supports and organises the professional and the interdisciplinary trainings and the professional insertion of doctoral researchers.

AMU high visibility and excellence in research

  • More than 80% of AMU’s research units have been ranked in the very good to excellent categories (A and A+) at the last national evaluation of the research Nationally, AMU has been selected by an international jury with 7 other French universities and granted the ‘Initiative of Excellence’ label
  • At the European level, AMU hosts 33 ERC Grantees
  • Internationally, AMU is ranked amongst the top 150 universities in the Shanghai ranking.