- Two agreements were signed in Nice on September 11, 2025, between Université Côte d’Azur, ISART Digital, the City, and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis to strengthen the structuring of higher education and research in the territory.
- ISART Digital, ranked the world’s second-best video game school in 2024, becomes an associate institution of Université Côte d’Azur, consolidating the training offer in digital and creative sectors.
- Université Côte d’Azur appears once again in the world’s top 500 of the Shanghai Ranking 2025, while Nice climbs 15 places in the L’Étudiant student city ranking, reaching 11th place nationally.
Two agreements for a common development strategy
On September 11, 2025, two agreements were signed at the Château de Valrose in Nice between Université Côte d’Azur, ISART Digital, the City of Nice, and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. These agreements reinforce the structuring of the metropolitan academic ecosystem in line with the challenges of education, innovation, and research.
The first agreement, between the City of Nice, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, and Université Côte d’Azur, outlines eight development priorities: student life, research, scientific culture, pedagogical innovation, entrepreneurship, environmental and societal transitions, international outreach, and campus planning.
The second agreement formalizes the partnership between Université Côte d’Azur and ISART Digital, established in September 2023. The video game school, ranked second worldwide (GAMEducation 2024), becomes an associate institution of the university, thereby consolidating synergies in digital training.
A growing university hub
The Nice Côte d’Azur territory currently hosts 51,586 students, including 32,000 enrolled at Université Côte d’Azur. The area brings together 4,000 researchers in 50 laboratories. These figures confirm the driving role of higher education in the local economy.
Université Côte d’Azur, labeled Initiative of Excellence (IDEX), appears in several international rankings. It is once again listed in the world’s top 500 of the Shanghai Ranking 2025. This recognition strengthens its scientific and academic visibility.
A symbolic academic year
The 2025 academic year marks the 60th anniversary of Université Côte d’Azur. For the first time, a formal opening ceremony is held on the Valrose campus. This anniversary coincides with growing national recognition.
Nice gained 15 places in the 2025 ranking of student cities published by L’Étudiant, moving from 26th to 11th place, based on objective criteria. Student satisfaction reached 83%.
A new pharmacy department in Nice
In September 2025, Nice opens a university department of pharmacy, the 25th in France. This initiative is led by Université Côte d’Azur in collaboration with local hospital and industrial stakeholders. The curriculum integrates environmental health, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary teaching.
Higher Education Nice Côte d’Azur
- Wildfires: EDHEC Climate Institute and Nice-based Climate Innov launch two AI- and satellite data-powered tools
- The EDHEC Quantum Institute anticipates the next industrial revolution
- Nice, 5th largest city in France by population
- Nice University Hospital (CHU): a living laboratory of hospital transformation
- Université Côte d’Azur: 60 years of territorial anchoring and innovation
- Higher education in Nice: a structured development strategy
- Back-to-school 2025 at Université Côte d’Azur
- Nice welcomes its first faculty of pharmacy: a major step forward for health education on the Côte d’Azur.
- Nice climbs 15 places in the student city ranking by L’Étudiant magazine
- Business Landing Nice Côte d’Azur: Support for business set up in France
