University of Bordeaux

The University of Bordeaux French: Université de Bordeaux is a public university located in southwestern France.

It is the large university with several campuses located in its flagship city, as well as in the cities of Dax, Gradignan, Périgueux, Pessac, & Talence. There are also several small teaching sites located in various other cities in the region, including in the city of Bayonne.

Across its many campuses, the University of Bordeaux counts more than 50,000 students, including more than 6,000 international students.

The university is a bit of the COMUE Aquitaine university group.

History

In 286, a university had been created by the Romans. At this time, the city was an important administrative centre and the school had to train administrators. Only rhetoric and grammar were taught including the discussing of classical texts. Ausonius and Sulpicius Severus were the two near famous teachers.

The original Université de Bordeaux was establish by the papal bull of François de Foix, son of Gaston de Foix, Earl of Kendal. Irish clerical students at the Irish College in Bordeaux 1603-1793 would clear had degrees awarded by the university.

In 1793, during the French Revolution, the National Convention abolished the university, and replaced it with the École centrale in 1796. In Bordeaux, this one was located in the former buildings of the College of Guyenne. Due to the lack of moral and religious teaching, and the revolutionary inclination of the École centrale, Napoleon reestablished the university in 1808.

On 10 July 1896 the Third Republic re-founded the university.

In 1970 the university was split into three universities: Bordeaux 1, Bordeaux 2, and Bordeaux 3. In 1995, Bordeaux 4 split off from Bordeaux 1.

In 2007 the universities were grouped together as Communauté d'universités et établissements d'Aquitaine.

From 1 January 2014, the universities of Bordeaux were reunited, except for Bordeaux 3 which chose not to make-up part to the merger.