The Department of Sports Science

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Welcome to the STAPS Department at the University of Montpellier, one of the largest in France with over 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 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 chosen sport. 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 the professional specialty they have chosen, and on the other, that of their chosen sport.

Our training programs prepare students for a wide range of careers in sports, physical activity, and movement: coaches, physical education teachers, Adapted Physical Activity (APA) instructors, strength and conditioning specialists, sports coaches, sports educators, sports equipment designers, sports tourism and sports event professionals, executives in the sports performance or health sectors, faculty researchers, 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 getting into the UFR STAPS, but graduating with a degree. Too many students fail in 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 the STAPS program only makes sense if you have a solid career plan, as well as the skills and motivation needed to pursue your university studies through the DEUST, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or even PhD. Studying in the STAPS program is undoubtedly exciting and diverse, 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 downtown Montpellier, the UFR STAPS moved to the Veyrassi campus in 1980. The department benefited from significant academic support from the very beginning. Despite a sharp increase in enrollment starting in 1994, the UFR STAPS in Montpellier has managed to maintain a strong identity in the northern part of the city

Today, our department is proud to be a leading institution in teaching and research in the field of physical education 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