Université Savoie Mont Blanc, usually shortened to USMB, is a French university in the Alps. Its sites are Annecy, Jacob-Bellecombette near Chambéry, and Le Bourget-du-Lac in the Savoie Technolac park. It became a university in 1979, after a university centre and earlier colleges created in the 1960s and 1970s.
The university teaches about 15,000 students according to its own presentation. Teaching is organised in training and research units, together with two university institutes of technology, in Annecy and Chambéry, the engineering school Polytech Annecy-Chambéry and the business school IAE Savoie Mont Blanc.
Research is carried out in nearly twenty laboratories. The directory lists mountain environment and engineering, mechatronics and industrial engineering, and physics and materials science as the main specialties.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Geotechnics, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics, Transportations
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of UNITA Universitas Montium European University Alliance. Cross-border collaborations (Switzerland, Italy).
Research:
Physics of particles and astroparticles (LAPP Annecy), Mountain ecosystems and risks, Renewable energy and smart grids, Mechatronics and robotics.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1000
Current students***:
15000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Unique Alpine environment influencing research and programs, strong in physics (LAPP), good quality of life.
Cons
Geographically dispersed campuses, smaller university, job market in the immediate region can be specific.
Best For
University focused on mountain environment, mechatronics, and physics, with strong research in particle physics.
Université Grenoble Alpes, also an Alpine institution, is strong in physics and nanosciences, computer science and earth sciences.
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 offers life and health sciences, chemistry and materials science, and computer science nearby in Villeurbanne.
Université Côte d'Azur works on computer science and artificial intelligence, smart systems and earth and space sciences.
Université de Bourgogne has materials science and engineering, food science and agri-environment in Dijon.
Université de Technologie de Compiègne focuses on bioengineering, computer engineering and artificial intelligence.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Innsbruck (Austria) is an Alpine university teaching physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology.
In Switzerland, Université de Neuchâtel combines biology, computer science and hydrogeology.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology has engineering, technology and natural sciences in a northern mountain country.
AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland, covers materials science and engineering and computer science.
University of British Columbia (Canada) lists forestry, computer science and medicine among its main fields.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When did Université Savoie Mont Blanc become a university?
It was created as a university in 1979, building on a university centre and colleges set up in the 1960s and 1970s. The present name, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, was adopted later, in the 2010s.
Where are the campuses?
There are three sites: Annecy, Jacob-Bellecombette near Chambéry, and Le Bourget-du-Lac at Savoie Technolac.
How many students does it have?
The university reports about 15,000 students on its website.
Which professional schools are attached?
Two IUTs (Annecy and Chambéry), Polytech Annecy-Chambéry and IAE Savoie Mont Blanc are part of the university. They offer technical, engineering and management courses.
What are its research strengths?
The directory lists mountain environment and engineering, mechatronics and physics and materials science as its main specialties. The Alpine setting shapes much of this research.
Where can I find details of doctoral studies and admission?
The university website lists its programmes, laboratories and enrolment steps.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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