Université de Pau et des pays de l'Adour - Collège SSH (Pau)

L'Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (UPPA) is a multidisciplinary university in southwestern France, established across several sites (Pau, Bayonne, Anglet, Tarbes, Mont-de-Marsan). Its programs are organized into thematic colleges, including the Collège Sciences Sociales et Humanités (SSH), which brings together law, economics and management, and letters, languages, and social and human sciences.

Within this college, the Histoire de l'art et archéologie licence is offered in Pau. This is a theoretical university curriculum, not artistic practice training: it covers art history (from ancient periods to the contemporary era), methods of artwork analysis, archaeology and its field techniques, as well as history and associated documentary sciences.

The positioning of a medium-sized university generally means smaller cohorts than in large metropolitan areas, with close mentoring. The territorial anchoring — Béarn, Pays basque, Pyrénées, Aquitaine — feeds the possible fields of study: regional heritage, archaeological sites, museums and local heritage services.

This type of program typically prepares students for further study at the master's level (art history, archaeology, heritage, cultural mediation, museum and documentation professions), for competitive exams in the cultural civil service, as well as for careers in teaching and research.

Before applying, it is advisable to consult the detailed curriculum and career prospects on the UPPA website, as the offerings may change from year to year.