International outreach

Université de Lorraine organises a wide range of international education and research activities: double degrees, jointly supervised degrees, research collaborations (International Research Partnerships – IRPs) and outgoing mobility schemes for students, PhD students, research professors and administrative and technical staff… all with partners worldwide. With 9,500 international students enrolled, Université de Lorraine is the leading university in France for outgoing Erasmus mobility today.

It also plays a major role in the heartlands of Europe through the University of the Greater Region. It works with the German universities of Saarland, Trier and Kaiserslautern, the University of Luxembourg and University of Liège (Belgium).

Université de Lorraine’s international focus is an integral part of its Strategy, which highlights its efforts to become a recognised university at European and global level through its education and research activities.

Given the ever-steady rise in cross-border trade and communication, an international experience is essential for all students looking to take full advantage of their higher education studies today.
Karl Tombre, Pro-Vice-Chancellor “European & International Strategy” at Université de Lorraine

international AT A GLANCE

9,500

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

160

nationalitIEs

1,400

Erasmus+ AGREEMENTS

500

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
(NOT INCLUDING Erasmus+)

THE CROSS-BORDER DIMENSION IS IN THE universitY’s DNA

Université de Lorraine is ideally situated within Europe to be able to nurture cross-border partnerships. Alongside Saarland University, the University of Applied Sciences in Saarbrücken (htw saar), TU Kaiserslautern and the Universities of Liège, Luxembourg and Trier, Université de Lorraine is a partner of the “University of the Greater Region – UniGR”, one of the main objectives of which is to encourage and facilitate student mobility within the Greater Region.

The creation of the UniGR-Center for Border Studies (UniGR-CBS), a thematic scientific network on border studies, shores up this cross-border expertise.

Find out more about the University of the Greater Region

Université de Lorraine also delivers a wide choice of Franco-German courses which effectively meet the requirements of the Lorraine and German economic community and provide students with swift access to the workplace and career prospects on the global stage. Some courses are supported by the Franco-German University (UFA), the network in charge of strengthening cooperation between French-speaking and German-speaking countries in the higher education sphere.

Université de Lorraine is a member of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Studies and Research on Germany (CIERA). This network of institutions, to which 500 students and PhD students as well as 1,500 researchers belong, fosters and supports scientific cooperation and mobility in the social sciences and humanities between France and Germany.

PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY

Université de Lorraine forges targeted strategic partnerships with like-minded international universities, with which it shares joint research activities, jointly supervised theses and courses taught jointly or in partnership.

Université de Lorraine organises its research activities with its partners, especially on its key themes. In this regard, the International Research Partnership (IRP) provides a framework for the most strategic scientific partnerships between Université de Lorraine labs and international labs.

Moreover, Université de Lorraine is consolidating its presence in national and international networks and actively harnessing its role in ambitious European programmes (Erasmus +, Horizon Europe, European Higher Education Area, etc.) to enhance the international focus of its education and research activities and raise their profile within Europe and further afield.

Through education and research, Université de Lorraine delivers courses that address the key issues shaping the global society of tomorrow, with innovative Erasmus Mundus joint Masters, jointly supervised theses or common research centres, such as the Joint Research Center with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Recognised for its expertise, Université de Lorraine is involved in or coordinates countless European strategic partnership or capacity-building programmes.

Internationalisation@home: AN INCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL POLICY

Preparing students to become citizens of the world is one of Université de Lorraine’s core missions. In an increasingly globalised world, it is vital to teach them to engage with other cultures and to share their knowledge so as to understand the associated scientific, economic and political challenges.

At Université de Lorraine, our international outlook does not solely encompass outgoing mobility opportunities. Travel isn’t essential for an insight into new cultures, languages and skills. Some students simply don’t have the chance to head abroad during their studies, for various reasons.
Around 16% of students welcomed are international. The invaluable contribution they make is not only linguistic but also cultural and hugely rewarding in terms of sharing experiences, knowledge, hard and soft skills alike.

That is why the University capitalises on this strength to develop the intercultural skills of its students and staff. If it is not possible for everyone to gain an international experience abroad, let’s bring the international experience to the University. Whatever course students embark on at UL, they can look forward to international exposure.

There are increasing initiatives in this regard:

awareness-raising among faculty and administrative and technical staff of international engagement and intercultural changes,
students’ projects mentored with students from partner universities, via digital tools, particularly for students unable to embark on physical mobility schemes (virtual mobility),
organisation of international events (Chinese New Year, Carnival of Brazil, international galas, etc.),
knowledge-sharing between students and researchers and visiting professors via conferences, seminars and short programmes such as summer schools.

WELCOME OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS

Welcoming the international community forms the cornerstone of Université de Lorraine’s international strategy and the key to its international appeal. The institution was awarded the “Bienvenue en France” label with 2 stars in October 2019 in recognition of the excellence of its services for international students.

Université de Lorraine puts on an array of specific initiatives to welcome its 9,500 or so international students and PhD students every year:

Freshers’ events at the start of each new academic year (WooW Wonderful Online Orientation Week)
Website and guide for international students
Welcome Desk: information and guidance with residence and accommodation procedures in addition to tuition matters (residence permits in particular), together with external advisers.
Assistance with online procedures, via the Feel Français platform
Assistance with settling in, through the Buddy System for international students
Administrative and logical support for international researchers via the Euraxess service centre and LUE (Lorraine Université d’Excellence) programme Welcome@Lorraine.

Within the context of the Bienvenue en France programme, a project is currently being developed with roll-out scheduled in October 2021, to train UL staff in welcoming international students and researchers and the subsequent intercultural approach.

Université de Lorraine has had “HR Excellence in Research” accreditation since 2017 for its European human resource strategy for researchers. This includes recruitment of international research professors and a specific action plan for welcoming international PhD students and encouraging international mobility among PhD students and researchers.

Welcome – The online information desk for international researchers and students

An international philosophy: Université de Lorraine develops a wide variety of international activities, including student exchanges, shared degrees, research collaboration and staff mobility…all with partners worldwide.