Study at Université Grenoble Alpes

To help them balance high-level sports with higher education, high-level student-athletes (SHN) at the CUFEs benefit from an exceptional support system.

Tailored educational support

Theeducational support The SHN student program is offered in all academic programs at the University of Grenoble-Alpes (Université Grenoble Alpes , UGA) and its three constituent institutions: Grenoble INP - UGA, Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA, and the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Grenoble - UGA. This allows athletes to choose their program of study based on their interests and career goals, rather than by default based on the programs that happen to be available.

The academic support program is structured around the athletes’ athletic commitments. It is also personalized: each SHN student is supported by an SHN advisor and a faculty coordinator in their field of study. They may also receive assistance from an academic advisor who specializes in supporting SHN students and a social support privileged.

Optimized training conditions

The CUFEs are the result of a partnership between the federal sports community and the academic community. They are based on the pooling of resources: the university provides sports facilities, while the sports community (federations, leagues, committees, and clubs) provides technical staff and coaches. This partnership enables every SHN student to benefit from highly qualified coaching, high-quality sports facilities, and a close geographical proximity between their place of study and their training locations (training pool and weight room on campus). This proximity minimizes time lost to commuting and promotes success in pursuing both academic and athletic goals.

CUFE members can also benefit from a scientific approach to training: learning mental skills, isokinetic testing, energy system power testing, and more…

Enhanced medical and paramedical care

SHN students at the CUFE have access to a comprehensive and enhanced sports medicine program, ranging from treatment for injuries to initiatives designed to create the conditions for athletic performance. They can undergo a thorough medical examination, followed by ongoing monitoring, and are guaranteed a medical consultation within 24 hours. They also have access to a physical therapy clinic for emergency care, recovery treatments (cold water baths, saunas, drainage boots), or rehabilitation, for a total of 15 hours per week.

Join the CUFE Ski Mountaineering Club

The CUFE Ski Mountaineering program is the result of a joint effort between the UGA and the French Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (FFME). It is intended for national- or international-level athletes who have the status of high-level student-athletes.

Thanks to privileged access to UGA’s sports facilities, CUFE athletes’ training and physical conditioning are provided right on campus by FFME coaches and technical staff. This is a major asset for success in balancing academic and athletic pursuits and for fostering team spirit.Organized around the students’ athletic schedules, the support systems implemented at the CUFE convinced the FFME to establish its first university center for talent identification and access to elite-level competition in Grenoble. Nearly half of the “UGA-FFME team” is already a member of the French junior or senior ski mountaineering team.

Quotes from Athletes and Coaches

Thierry Galindo

Head of the CUFE Ski Mountaineering Program
National Coach with the FFME

"Grenoble is a major university hub and home to many athletes. The idea is to provide the best possible support to high-level student-athletes as they pursue both their academic and athletic goals. We also want to offer high-level student-athletes the best possible environment to balance their studies and high-level sports, prevent some from giving up their sport due to a lack of accommodations, and enable the best among them to join the French national team."

Léna Bonnel

Étudiante en école de kiné (CHU - UGA), quatrième du classement général mondial du sprint, vice-championne du monde du relais et championne de France du sprint en 2021

"I’ve been a student at UGA since 2016—first in the Sports Science program (STAPS) and now in physical therapy school—and I’m also a high-level ski mountaineer. I benefit from an academic accommodation that allows me to progress through my studies at my own pace and thus successfully pursue both of my goals. Since 2021, ski mountaineers have joined the CUFE. This has made it possible to form a training group with all UGA students who practice ski mountaineering at a high level. We meet several times a week in the Grenoble area with our coach, Thierry Galindo. The CUFE is a real asset for preparing under the best conditions while sharing great moments as a group."

Robin Galindo

SHN student in the first year of the STAPS program (hybrid track and field), sixth in the overall standings of the 2021–2022 U23 World Cup

"The CUFE allows students to better organize their training—with more comprehensive and in-depth preparation—while continuing their studies. Thanks to the facilities provided, we’ve been able to set up group training sessions at UGA’s facilities. The CUFE also helps me recover better and avoid injuries through ongoing monitoring and access to medical care. This allows me to make progress under ideal conditions and gives me the opportunity to achieve my goals. Being able to count on a team that supports my academic and athletic success is a real weight off my shoulders."