Why choose the Université catholique de l'Ouest?

UCO, an internationally outward-looking institution

Our International Office makes sure each and every student receives individual advice and support.
UCO’s Angers campus prides itself on its international activities and global collaboration with 81 nationalities present every year on campus: 200 international exchange programme students, 350 degree-seeking students for a semester or a full academic year and 1,100 enrolled at CIDEF (Centre International d'Études françaises) to learn French.

Choosing a reliable and renowned institution

Its long history makes 140-year-old UCO a widely known and renowned institution in the institutional, economic and academic circles.  

UCO is a member of the UDESCA network (Union des Établissements d’Enseignement Supérieurs Catholiques), which has included five non-profit-making higher education institutions since 1973. Officially known as Universités Catholiques by the Holy See, they are commonly referred to as "les Cathos".

Student success is UCO’s central commitment  

UCO boasts an outstanding success rate at “licence” level (the French 3-year Bachelor’s degree), mainly due to its thorough educational supervision.

• Three-year graduation rate for a Bachelor’s degree:  68% (national average: 27%)
• Success rate at first attempt in L1 (first year of Bachelor’s degree): 86%
• Success rate at first attempt in L2 (second year of Bachelor’s degree): 92%
• Success rate at first attempt in L3 (third year of Bachelor’s degree): 95%
• Success rate at first attempt in M1 (first year of Master’s degree): 86 %
• Success rate at first attempt in M2 (second year of Master’s degree): 81 %

All students can have an end-of-semester appointment with their course tutor to enable them take stock of their personal work, the difficulties they’ve met with, etc. They also have the opportunity to meet and discuss with their teachers whenever they need. The small size groups make it possible to work closely with and receive support from the teaching team.
For those students who find themselves isolated or lost and confused because they are far from home and living on their own for the first time, a confidential listening and counselling service is available on campus with a professional psychologist.   

An active campus life with numerous clubs and societies

A vibrant campus life has developed at UCO Angers giving students the opportunity to meet outside the classroom and beyond their specific training programmes, and to discover and enjoy the richness and diversity of UCO’s student population. Thanks to the many services (housing office, health and cultural services, a chaplaincy and a guidance and counselling service), they receive assistance in finding accommodation and from health professionals when needed, and have access to a large cultural offer (exhibitions, dramas, concerts, movies, etc.)

A specific service, called SOI, is dedicated to student counselling and career guidance on a case-by-case basis. Psychologists advise and help students reflect individually upon their further studies and future career.
    
UCO community life includes a total of 24 cultural and sport clubs and organizations, and their umbrella organization named the FEDE. A wide range of events and highlights supervised by the Cultural Office take place throughout the year: the Joutes (recreational sports contests), the clubs and organizations forum, Cathocalypse (an electro-acoustic music concert), festival des 3 coups (a drama festival), etc.