Welcome - Enriching your time at the University

You can discover, get trained in and even try out entrepreneurship.
The Mission Entreprenariat service offers a range of actions and resources to support your initiatives, and develop and enrich the skills of all students.

Actions

Take part in the inspirational ‘Fringale!’ lunches held throughout the year. (1 entrepreneur, 1 topic, 1 lunch > free sandwich).
In November, learn more about initiating innovative projects at the Foulées Créatives day, a two-day multidisciplinary marathon.
Another highlight on the calendar is the entrepreneurship month in March with the student entrepreneur pitch competition!

A status for student entrepreneurs

What’s more, the national status of student entrepreneur gives students a full, secure scheme to build and develop their business project without giving up on their studies.

• Learn more about student entrepreneurship

This is a national certification recognised by the French state and businesses that attests to your level of mastery of digital technology and its uses. It is a major asset for getting onto the jobs market.

A certification incorporated into the curriculum

Many Bachelor’s and BUT* degrees include a digital knowledge and skills training course (CCN) that will lead to you getting the Pix certification. You are automatically enrolled on the certification scheme, which takes place in the same framework as the semester exams.
If you join the university during your course (after the second year of a Bachelor’s or BUT degree or as a Master’s student), you can take the digital knowledge and skills training course (CCN) and get the Pix certification as an ‘open course’

• Learn more about PIX at the Nantes Université

Workshops, language course and e-learning

Practise foreign languages through courses (for over 10 languages) organised by the university language service. Choose one of two options:

• Summer Campus: Use your summer time off to brush up on your language skills
• Evening Campus: Is your free time more in the evenings? You can follow between 12 and 18 hours of language lessons, staggered over the first or second semester.

Activities vary depending on your level and requirements: initiation or deepening, conversation workshops, preparation for certifications, preparation for mobility.
Otherwise, you can opt for autonomous learning via the e-learning platform 7speaking (English, French, Spanish, German and Italian).
All year round, the Language Resource Centre also offers:

• multilingual activities and meet-ups (clubs, games, cinema)
• digital and paper resources for language learning
• cultural meet-ups with international students through the Univ Buddy scheme
• co-working rooms
• personal advice

Foreign language certifications

Do you need a certification in German, English, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian or Portuguese to validate your training or study abroad?
Get your language skills assessed by an independent body. The certification is a test of your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. The candidate can then use the result of this certification as they like, in their university or work life.
We strongly advise you to get this certification as part of your international programme. It is a major asset for getting onto the jobs market. In some cases, it’s compulsory, as in the case of engineers, future teachers and international programmes.

• Discover the many certifications offered at the Nantes Université

The Nantes Université offers an e-learning tool (Projet Voltaire) to help improve your level of French. It adapts to each user’s level and pace accurately for targeted, effective learning. It is reserved for students at the Nantes Université.

• Discover Projet Voltaire

Would you like to deepen your skills in an artistic practice or discover one? Would you like to meet professionals in the arts on your campus? Wouldyou like to discuss a project with other studentsin a friendly atmosphere?

The art and culture workshops welcome you withno pre-requisites about your level and do not requireextra fees.
Through these workshops, you have the chance to enrich your course with extra knowledge in art and culture, and to acquire new cross-disciplinary skillsthat put you in a good light.
By taking part in culture workshops, you can get one of several Open Badges. In certain courses, these workshops can also help validate ECTS credits.
The workshops and sessions put forward are led by professional artists and speakers.
The number of places is limited. Find out about places at the start of each semester!

• Discover the different workshops
• Open badge : enlighten your skills

The period called a ‘gap year’ or time out from your studies lasts for a given period (one or two university semesters) during which the student enrolled on a course at the Nantes Université suspends their studies temporarily with the aim of acquiring professional experience.The Nantes Université allows students to take time out from each level of study (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate).Students enrolled at the Nantes Université can ask for recognition of the time they spend away from studies so the university recognises it as a supplement to the student’s course.

• Find more information on gap year procedures

UP ! For all inquisitive minds
The open university – Université Permanente – is a service from the Nantes Université aimed at everyone, regardless of their age or academic achievement. It offers more than 400 lectures and 300 conferences in a wide range of fields:

• Humanities and social sciences
• History and history of art
• World studies and society
• Science and innovations
• IT and digital technology
• Languages
• Arts

The lectures and conferences that Université Permanente puts forward do not lead to any diploma, but are simply about curiosity and the pleasure of learning.
Consultez le site de l'Université permanente pour connaitre la programmation des cours et conférences

Getting involved in the universityor in an association
As a student, you can become university ambassador in schools, support other students through mentoring, assist an international student, create an association or become an elected student representative.
They are so many different ways to commit that help enrich your time at university. Find out about them right from the start of the year.