Avignon University
Avignon Université is a French public university operating two campuses in Avignon with undergraduate through doctoral programs spanning humanities, sciences, technology, agrosciences, and law, anchored by two doctoral schools and approximately 250 teacher-researchers with deep INRAE, CNRS, and INRAE co-managed research partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAvignon, France
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Avignon University does
Avignon Université is a French public higher education and research institution headquartered in Avignon, Vaucluse, France, with two main campuses — Campus Hannah Arendt in the city center (arts, letters, languages, humanities, social sciences, law, economics, and management) and Campus Jean-Henri Fabre at Agroparc (science, technology, health, and the IUT University Technology Institute). The institution, founded in 1303 during the Avignon Papacy and re-established as an independent public university in 1984 (renamed Avignon Université in 2016 under the Loi ESR), delivers undergraduate through doctoral programs and sustains two doctoral schools: ED 536 Agrosciences & Sciences (federating 14 research units across UMR, UPR, and INRAE experimental units) and ED 537 Culture & Patrimoine (eight research units in communication, political science, theater studies, law, geography, history, linguistics, and comparative literature). Approximately 250 teacher-researchers and researchers staff these schools, of whom roughly 100 hold HDR in agrosciences.
Revenue is anchored in direct appropriations from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, supplemented by nationally regulated tuition and CVEC fees, competitive research grants (ANR, CNRS, INRAE, Horizon Europe), continuing education (FC/VAE), philanthropy via La Fondation de l'Université, and facility rentals (including the Villa Créative cultural venue). Domestic recruitment flows through the Parcoursup platform, doctoral admissions through the national ADUM platform, and international recruitment via Campus France, Erasmus+, Eiffel scholarships, and bilateral exchange agreements. Student life services — housing, dining, social assistance — are delivered through CROUS Aix-Marseille Avignon.
Operationally, the university runs an ENT digital work environment, a PARTAGE collaborative platform, a Moodle-based pedagogical platform, AVISTA video conferencing, and the state-operated Tchap secure messaging service (via DINUM), with IT services centralized in DOSI. Research partnerships are deep and multi-agency: INRAE PACA is the dominant research partner in agrosciences, complemented by joint UMR units with CNRS (IMBE, ESPACE, CIHAM, CNE), CIRAD (Qualisud), IRD (ESPACE-DEV, IMBE), and EHESS (CIHAM, CNE). The institution also hosts the LSBB (Laboratoire Souterrain à Bas Bruit) underground low-noise laboratory in Rustrel and is selected to host the 15th European Restoration Ecology Congress in August 2026.
Avignon University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Avignon University
- Legal name
- Avignon Université
- Website
- https://univ-avignon.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Avignon Université is a French public university operating two campuses in Avignon with undergraduate through doctoral programs spanning humanities, sciences, technology, agrosciences, and law, anchored by two doctoral schools and approximately 250 teacher-researchers with deep INRAE, CNRS, and INRAE co-managed research partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Avignon University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)
Keywords
Where Avignon University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Avignon
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Avignon University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public funding and government subsidies: As a French public university, Avignon University receives core operational funding from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, including subsidies for teaching, research, and administration.
- Student registration fees: Students pay national registration fees set by the French government. International students may pay differential fees. Additional CVEC (Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus) is collected.
- Research funding and grants: Research activities are funded through competitive grants from national agencies (ANR, CNRS, INRAE) and European programs (EU Horizon projects). Doctoral contracts and thesis financing are provided through the university.
- Professional and continuing education (FC/VAE): Revenue from continuing education programs, professional certifications, and Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) for non-traditional learners seeking degree equivalency.
- University foundation and philanthropy: The university operates a foundation (La Fondation de l'Université) that raises funds from private donors and corporate partners to support development, research, and student services.
- Rental and facility services: Revenue from renting university facilities (Villa Créative, amphitheaters, conference spaces) and services such as university restaurant operations managed through CROUS.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Standard registration fees for French and EU students |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | International student differential fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | CVEC (Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus) |
| Other | Annual | Doctoral contract doctoral funding requirement (ED 536) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Continuing education and professional training |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (Doctorate) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Avignon University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Avignon University is a French public higher education institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across arts, humanities, law, economics, sciences, technology, and health on two campuses in Avignon. It operates two doctoral schools (ED 536 Agrosciences & Sciences and ED 537 Culture & Patrimoine), an IUT technology institute, continuing education programs, university press publishing (Éditions Universitaires d'Avignon), and research services through 14+ affiliated research units including partnerships with INRAE, CNRS, CIRAD, and IRD.
Product overview
Avignon University is a French higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across two main campuses: Campus Hannah Arendt (Arts, Letters, Languages, Human and Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Management) and Campus Jean-Henri Fabre (Science, Technology, Health, University Technology Institute). The university provides research doctoral programs through two Graduate Schools: ED 536 Agrosciences & Sciences and ED 537 Culture & Patrimoine, along with research laboratories, international programs, university publishing services (Éditions Universitaires d'Avignon), and campus support services including library, health, cultural, and sports activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- École Doctorale 536 Agrosciences & Sciences (ED 536) Doctoral school program in sciences, technologies, and health with a dominant focus on agrosciences including plant physiology, food science, agro-food processing, nutrition, environment, ecology, and agro-system economics. Federates 14 research units including UPR, UMR (with INRAE, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD), and INRAE experimental units. Targets master's graduates pursuing doctoral research.
- École Doctorale 537 Culture & Patrimoine (ED 537) Doctoral school program in humanities and social sciences covering Communication, Political Science, Theater Studies, Law, Geography, History, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature. Federates eight research units with approximately 50 HDR-qualified teacher-researchers and researchers. Targets master's graduates pursuing doctoral research in cultural and heritage fields.
- Institut Universitaire d'Avignon (IUT) Technology Programs Vocational technology degree programs (DUT/BUT) offered through the University Technology Institute on the Jean-Henri Fabre campus. Provides professionally oriented undergraduate credentials for students seeking technical careers.
- Continuing Education and Professional Training (Service Formation Tout au Long de la Vie) Lifelong learning service delivering continuing education programs, apprenticeship (alternance), professional certifications, skills blocks (blocs de compétences), and Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) for working adults and career changers seeking formal credentials.
- Éditions Universitaires d'Avignon (EUA) — University Press University press that publishes academic works, theses, and research publications from Avignon University researchers. Distributes scholarly content to academic audiences.
- Villa Créative Venue and Facility Rental Services Rental of university heritage venue Villa Créative, amphitheaters, and conference spaces for cultural events, ceremonies, and external programming. Includes active participation in Festival d'Avignon.
- CIFRE Industrial Doctoral Contracts Industrial doctoral contracts (Conventions Industrielles de Formation par la Recherche) that allow companies to fund doctoral theses hosted at Avignon University with a research tax credit mechanism. Facilitates industry-academic research partnerships and talent pipeline development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50 doctoral graduates from the 2020 cohort across diverse disciplines (biologie, informatique, chimie, histoire, géographie, sciences agronomiques, etc.)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Avignon University
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Avignon University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Avignon University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- INRAE (Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement)coreDeep research partnership with INRAE PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) center, hosting multiple UMR and UR units at Avignon University. Collaboration spans plant pathology, food quality, biodiversity, bee research, eco-development, horticulture, and biostatistics. ED 536 is heavily integrated with INRAE research infrastructure, and the EUR Implanteus program is co-developed with INRAE.
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreCo-ownership of multiple UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche) including UMR 7263 IMBE (biodiversity), UMR 7300 ESPACE (geography), UMR 5648 CIHAM (medieval history), and UMR 8562 CNE (social dynamics). CNRS researchers supervise doctoral theses and co-direct research labs.
- CIRAD (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement)coreCo-manages UMR 95 Qualisud (fruit and vegetable physiology) with Avignon University, focusing on integrated quality approaches for food products and post-harvest research.
- IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement)corePartners in UMR 228 ESPACE-DEV (development geography) and UMR 7263 IMBE, contributing to international development research and doctoral training in Global South contexts.
- EHESS (École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales)coreCo-manages UMR 5648 CIHAM (medieval history and civilizations) and UMR 8562 CNE (social dynamics and museology) with EHESS involvement in humanities and social sciences research.
- Campus FrancecoreNational agency managing international student recruitment. Avignon University nominates candidates for Eiffel Excellence Scholarships through Campus France, and international students apply through Campus France procedures for study in France.
- EURAXESS FranceminorAvignon University is a local EURAXESS contact point (Point de Contact Local), part of the European Researchers in Motion network facilitating international researcher mobility, career services, and cross-border research collaboration.
- Innov'AllianceminorEuropean competitiveness cluster for plant-based value chains that Avignon University participates in, supporting innovation in agroscience research and industry collaboration.
- CRITT Agroalimentaire PACAminorRegional innovation transfer center for agri-food in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Supports technology transfer between Avignon University research labs and food industry companies.
- CROUS Aix-Marseille AvignoncoreRegional center of the National University Works Service managing student housing, university restaurants, and social financial assistance for Avignon University students.
- ADUM (Accès Doctorat Université de France)coreNational doctoral management platform used by Avignon University for all doctoral applications, enrollment, thesis tracking, committee composition, and dissertation submission. Run by the ABDES (ABES) for thesis dissemination via STAR.
- Festival d'AvignonminorAvignon University's Villa Créative cultural venue actively participates in the Festival d'Avignon, hosting cultural events and programming that connect the university's creative industries with one of France's premier performing arts festivals.
- France Culture Plus (Radio France)minorPartnership with France Culture Plus radio program for science and culture communication, extending the university's cultural reach through broadcast media.
- ANRT (Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie)minorANRT manages the CIFRE (Conventions Industrielles de Formation par la Recherche) program, through which companies can fund doctoral theses with a research tax credit mechanism. Avignon University facilitates CIFRE doctoral positions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Avignon University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aix-Marseille Université: Largest public university in PACA region (Avignon's academy parent), sharing the Aix-Marseille academy structure, multi-campus model, comparable humanities/science mix, and doctoral school framework. Closest comparable by geography and scope.
- Université de Montpellier: Major Mediterranean French public research university with comparable multi-campus model, agrosciences/INRAE partnership DNA, and similar doctoral school structure. Competes for the same regional research talent and PACA-Occitanie research funding.
- Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3: French public university specializing in humanities, letters, languages, and social sciences—directly mirroring Avignon's Campus Hannah Arendt profile. Comparable model with similar student size and doctoral school framework.
- Université de Toulon: PACA-region public university of similar scale, multi-campus structure, and public-research mission. Closely comparable as a regional mid-size French public university competing for the same student pool in southeastern France.
- Université de Perpignan Via Domitia: Smaller Mediterranean French public university with comparable regional positioning, similar scale, and parallel doctoral school framework. Useful reference for the same Mediterranean niche positioning.
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur: Mediterranean French public university that restructured into a comparable multi-campus model with strong research partnerships and EUR programs. Direct competitor for Mediterranean research talent and doctoral recruitment.
- Université de Nîmes: Newer-generation French public university (former Nîmes branch of Montpellier) at similar scale with comparable humanities/law focus. Useful comparable for the regional French public university cost structure.
- Université de La Rochelle: Mid-size French public university in a similar regional city context with parallel multi-disciplinary structure and EUR/doctoral school framework. Reference comparable for monetization of mid-scale assets and faculty.
Broad incumbents
- Sorbonne Université: Top-tier French public research university (post-2018 merger) that competes with Avignon in doctoral recruitment and national funding allocation, though at substantially greater scale. Useful broad-incumbent reference for funding dynamics and program differentiation.
- Université Paris-Saclay: Large-scale French research-intensive university that dominates competitive national funding (IDEX, EUR, ANR) and competes for top-tier doctoral candidates and research partnerships that would otherwise reach smaller institutions like Avignon.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Avignon University social profiles
Digital presenceAvignon University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Avignon University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Avignon University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Avignon University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Avignon University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Avignon University
What does Avignon University do?
Avignon University is a French public higher education institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across arts, humanities, law, economics, sciences, technology, and health on two campuses in Avignon. It operates two doctoral schools (ED 536 Agrosciences & Sciences and ED 537 Culture & Patrimoine), an IUT technology institute, continuing education programs, university press publishing (Éditions Universitaires d'Avignon), and research services through 14+ affiliated research units including partnerships with INRAE, CNRS, CIRAD, and IRD.
Is Avignon University a public or private company?
Avignon University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Avignon University founded?
Avignon University was founded in -1. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Avignon University based?
Avignon University is headquartered in Avignon, France, in the Europe region.
How does Avignon University make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Public funding and government subsidies are the primary driver. The others are student registration fees, research funding and grants, professional and continuing education (FC/VAE), university foundation and philanthropy and rental and facility services.
Who are Avignon University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aix-Marseille Université, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Université de Toulon, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Université de Nîmes and Université de La Rochelle. Broad incumbents are Sorbonne Université and Université Paris-Saclay.
Does Avignon University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Avignon University.
What industry is Avignon University in?
Avignon University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems, with a secondary code of EDAHAEAA, Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.