The University of Strasbourg and its partners work closely together to meet the needs of the university community.
A wide range of professionals provide practical solutions and support for students, researchers and staff who may be facing temporary or longer-term difficulties, whether in finding accommodation, accessing food, receiving medical care or obtaining financial assistance. Their shared goal is to ensure that everyone can focus fully on their studies or work.
Supporting students in need
Each year, the University of Strasbourg Donors' Scholarship (bourse des donateurs de l'Université de Strasbourg) offers financial aid to first year students. This scholarship complements the grant awarded by the Regional Centre for University and Student Services (Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires – Crous) and is paid over a three-year period, enabling recipients to fully focus on their studies.
The University also works with local partners to organise affordable and community-focused sales and to inform students about schemes that provide low-cost equipment, clothing and housing. Examples include the AGORAé grocery stores run by the Association fédérative générale des étudiants de Strasbourg (AFGES), the CADR67 second-hand bike sale and La Recyclerie run by the Amitel association.
Students have access to free and confidential health services, including medical advice, consultations, screenings, and health services from nurses. The university is also committed to tackling issues such as mental health and period poverty. In particular, it offers services through the University of Strasbourg Medical and Psychological Support Centre (Centre d’accueil médico-psychologique universitaire de Strasbourg – CAMUS) to prevent and treat psychological and psychiatric issues, suicide risk and addictive behaviours. Committed to tackling period poverty, the university has also installed around 50 free menstrual product dispensers in the toilets of its buildings.
In addition to support from healthcare professionals, the University of Strasbourg encourages kindness and mutual support among students. It coordinates and trains networks of student peer supporters, such as the étudiants relais rescue network and the étudiants relais addicto network, who listen to their peers and help them access the support and information they need.
Supporting students’ wellbeing and inclusion
To better support and guide students facing difficulties, the University of Strasbourg has set up a dedicated Student Support and Welfare Office (Mission solidarité). The team answers questions, offers administrative assistance and, if necessary, refers students to other services or associations (Caritas, Secours populaire, etc.). The Student Support and Welfare Office also organises a weekly drop-in session focused on access to rights.
The University of Strasbourg is equally committed to tackling gender-based, sexual, homophobic and transphobic violence. It has set up an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force (Mission égalité et diversité) and a Listening and Support Unit made up of doctors, psychologists and social workers. It is responsible for providing rapid, professional support to victims and witnesses of violence. The team listens to victims, informs them about the steps they can take and supports them throughout these processes.
Committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities, the University of Strasbourg offers a range of practical support services. The Disability Support Department (Mission handicap) of the University Life Office (Service de la vie universitaire – SVU) and the Disability and Employment Network (réseau Handicap et travail) help individuals put in place the assistance and adjustments they need, whether human, material or financial. The university also works to ensure its facilities are accessible, with step-free access for people with reduced mobility, dedicated rest and care spaces such as the Handivie room, and adapted workspaces such as the Diversité room.
Supporting international students and researchers
The University of Strasbourg provides dedicated and personalised support to its international students, who represent around one in five of the student population. The Student Support and Welfare Office (Mission solidarité) and the International Student Support and Advisory Unit (cellule de veille et d'alerte pour les étudiants internationaux) assist students facing difficulties, such as residence permit issues, asylum matters or other difficult circumstances. These services review each individual case, alert the Senior Leadership Team when necessary, and can liaise with local authorities (préfecture) to support students’ cases. Through its solidarity fund, the university can also provide emergency financial assistance in times of crisis.
The University of Strasbourg also supports students in exile. It is a member of the Migrants dans l'enseignement supérieur (MENS) network, which works to develop proactive policies for welcoming students and researchers in exile within higher education. The University of Strasbourg Diploma “Returning to Studies through Language and Interculturality for Refugee Students” (Diplôme d'université Retour aux études par la langue et l'interculturalité des étudiants réfugiés – DU RELIER) enables people in exile to reach the French language level required to resume their studies at the university. Fully funded by the university, this programme also includes courses on French culture, academic study skills and professional integration.
The University of Strasbourg also welcomes researchers and PhD students in exile as part of the PAUSE programme. This initiative supports laboratories in hiring researchers in exile for 6 to 24 months, and up to 3 years for PhD students. Researchers in the programme can continue their work when it is no longer possible in their home country. Those hosted at the university can also receive administrative support, career guidance and French language training to help with professional integration.
Useful resources
Help and support
- Student Support and Welfare Office
- Disability Support Department of the University Life Office
- violences-sexistes@unistra.fr