Claude Bernard

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Lore & Background

Claude Bernard is the namesake of Lyon 1 Claude Bernard University (UCBL), one of three public universities in Lyon, France. The university was established in 1971 by merging the 'faculté des sciences de Lyon' with the 'faculté de médecine'. It specializes in science and technology, medicine, and sports science. The university's main administrative, teaching and research facilities are located in Villeurbanne, with other campuses in Gerland, Rockefeller, and Laennec in the 8th arrondissement of Lyon. Attached to the university are the Hospices Civils de Lyon, including the 'Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud', which is the largest teaching hospital in the Rhône-Alpes region and the second-largest in France. The university has been independent since January 2009. In 2020 it managed an annual budget of over €420 million and had 2857 faculty.

Reader's Guide

Claude Bernard's connection to the university is primarily through its name and specialization. The university's Faculty of Science was founded on 17 March 1808 by Napoleon I as part of the Academy of Lyon within the University of France. The Lyon Faculty of Medicine was founded on 8 November 1874. These two faculties merged on 8 December 1970 to create Claude Bernard University. The university's areas of study include natural sciences (biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth science, electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering), public health (medicine, pharmacy, odontology, audiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, ophthalmology, psychomotricity), and other fields like sport (STAPS), the Observatory of Lyon, the ISFA Graduate School of Actuarial Studies, and the engineering school École polytechnique universitaire de l'université Lyon-I. The university was ranked 9-11 out of universities in France and in the 201–300 band of world universities by Academic Ranking of World Universities 2021.

Did You Know?

• Lyon 1 Claude Bernard University was established in 1971 by merging the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine.
• The university's main administrative headquarters are located on the LyonTech-la Doua campus in Villeurbanne.
• The attached Hospices Civils de Lyon include the Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, the largest teaching hospital in the Rhône-Alpes region and second-largest in France.
• The university managed an annual budget of over €420 million in 2020.
• The Lyon Faculty of Medicine was founded on 8 November 1874, and merged with the Faculty of Science on 8 December 1970.