UNS was officially established by decree dated October 23rd, 1965. However, its historic roots go back to the XVII century, with the famous “Collegium Jurisconsultorum Niciensium” created in 1639 by the Princes of Savoy. It was composed of an important body of jurisconsuls (law consultants and lawyers) and its fame lasted until Nice was incorporated into France in 1860. In the XVIIth century, courses, renowned throughout Europe, were taught at its School of Medicine.

In 1933 with the help of local communities and the City of Nice in particular, UNS created the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen(currently a conference center) situated on the Promenade des Anglais whose first administrator was the great French poet Paul Valéry.  Following that, the Institut d'Etudes Juridiques (Institute for legal studies) was established In 1938, the Institut d'Etudes Littéraires (Institute for literature studies) in 1941, and the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques (Institute for scientific studies) in 1945.  La Faculté de Droit et des Sciences Economiques (College of Law and Economics) was created by decree on August 2nd, 1962  and was connected to the Université d'Aix-Marseille.

A decree dated 1965 instituted a multidisciplinary university based on three campuses: the Faculté des Lettres (College of Humanities), the Faculté des Sciences (College of Sciences) and the Faculté de Droit et Sciences Economiques (College of Law and Economics), just as they were situated in 1968. In 1989, Université de Nice added "Sophia Antipolis" to its original name, taking into consideration the boost that was given by the technology park situated nearby.

Since 1965, UNS headquarters are located in the exceptional environment of the XIX century Château de Valrose and its 10-hectar park housing the College of Sciences.  

Université Nice Sophia Antipolis 

• 8 training and research units, 2 institutes and 1 University Technology School with: 
• 8 main campuses and 29 university locations,
• 266,898 m2 of lecture areas and research areas (of which 58,637 m² are dedicated to research),
• 375,203 m2 non-built up areas,
• 1,408 teachers, teacher-researchers and instructors,
• 770 administrative employees and engineers, technical  workers, services and health and library employees.
   

•  11 services units: 
• ASURE Formation: continuing education, block release training, validation of assets, 
• Bibliothèque universitaire (BU): University Library and Service Commun de Documentation (SCD): Documentation Services, 
• Direction du Système d'Information (DSI): IT Services, 
• Institut de Recherche sur l'Enseignement des Mathématiques (IREM),
• Institut des Langues: Languages Lab,
• Service Commun Universitaire d'Information et d'Orientation (SCUIO): Careers Service, 
• Service Universitaire de Médecine Préventive et de Santé (SUMPS): Health and Prevention Services,
• Service Universitaire des Activités Physiques et Sportives (SUAPS): University Sports,
• Collège des écoles doctorales (CED): College of UNS Doctoral Schools,
• Service d'Activités Industrielles et Commerciales (SAIC),
• Institut Robert Hooke de la Culture Scientifique (IRH).

Research figures

Research is a very important part of the academic work at UNS. It is extremely developed and recognised globally. A number of academic facilities are available: 

• 62 Research Units recognised by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR)
  
• 116 research teams and more than 35 laboratories associated with important research organisations (CNRS, INSERM, INRA, CEA, ...) 
• 6 Doctorate Schools 
• 25 local university research units 
• 3 Junior Enterprises initiatives
• 1 Agrobiotech platform
• 1,448 PhD students