Universite Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne

Overview

Université Jean Monnet (UJM) is the public university of Saint-Étienne, a member of the Lyon university consortium. Its arts programmes are run by the Faculté Arts, Lettres, Langues, which houses a visual arts department alongside literature, languages, musicology and humanities programmes.

Programmes and approach

The Licence Arts plastiques combines studio practice (drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital imagery, installation) with theoretical courses: art history, aesthetics, image theory. It is a university curriculum: written work, methodology and critical thinking hold significant weight, unlike art schools where practice dominates.

The track continues into a master's degree, with orientations toward art research, creative practice and cultural professions, then on to doctoral studies. Arts research at UJM is supported by CIEREC, a laboratory dedicated to contemporary expressions (visual arts, music, literature, cinema).

Saint-Étienne context

Saint-Étienne is a UNESCO-recognised city of design, home to the Cité du design, the École supérieure d'art et design (ESADSE), the Musée d'art moderne et contemporain (MAMC+) and the Musée d'art et d'industrie: a dense ecosystem for art students, favourable to internships, visits and projects.

Admission to the licence is through Parcoursup, with no entrance exam.