The STAPS Department

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Welcome to the STAPS Department at the University of Montpellier, one of the largest in France with more than 2,200 students. Our department offers a diverse range of programs, including 4 Bachelor’s degree tracks, 5 Master’s degree tracks (including 9 specialized tracks), 2 DEUSTs, 1 professional Bachelor’s degree, and numerous DE diplomas (institutional diplomas, each dedicated to the study of a specific and unique aspect).

interdisciplinary training programs

The programs offered by the UFR STAPS combine scientific instruction with the specific skills of each track. Our students devote a significant portion of their studies to deepening their practical and theoretical knowledge of their sports specialty. This approach forms the backbone of the program, giving meaning to both the scientific and professional aspects of their studies. Each student thus has a dual identity: on the one hand, that of their chosen professional specialty, and on the other, that of their sports specialty.

Our training programs prepare students for a wide range of careers related to sports, physical activity, and movement: coaches, physical education and sports teachers, Adapted Physical Activities (APA) instructors, strength and conditioning coaches, sports educators, sports equipment designers, sports tourism and sports event professionals, executives in the sports performance or health sectors, faculty members, video analysts, and more. These are exciting careers, but above all, they are careers with a bright future that are currently in high demand in the job market.

Exciting but challenging courses

For several years now, we have noticed a significant increase in the number of applicants wishing to enroll in the UFR STAPS. We cannot stress enough that the most important thing is not simply to be admitted to the UFR STAPS, but to graduate with a degree. Too many students fail to complete their studies because they have not understood the true nature of the programs offered at our UFR, which is often mistakenly viewed as a sports training center.

Enrolling in STAPS only makes sense if you have a solid career plan, as well as the skills and motivation needed to pursue university studies through the DEUST, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or even PhD. Studying STAPS is undoubtedly exciting and varied, but it is certainly not easy. We do everything we can to help students who are struggling and to diversify our teaching methods and academic programs. Over the past four years, we have thus been able to increase our success rates by more than 15 percentage points.

OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND TRUST

Founded in 1976 in the city center, the STAPS Department moved to the Veyrassi campus in 1980. The department benefited from significant academic support from the very beginning. Despite a sharp increase in enrollment beginning in 1994, the STAPS Department in Montpellier has managed to maintain a strong identity in the northern part of the city.

Today, our UFR is proud to be a leading institution in teaching and research in the field of physical activity and sports. Building on our experience and the successes of our students, we continue to earn the trust that high school students and their families place in our educational programs and remain committed to meeting their expectations.

Prof. Angèle Chopard
Director of the STAPS Department