In the emergency context provoked by the war in Syria and Iraq, the University of Burgundy (uB), following the example of other French universities, has put together in September 2016 a welcome plan and support system dedicated to asylum seekers and refugees who have graduated from higher education or who have interrupted their studies to flee their country.

Focusing on intensive French learning, this ad hoc programme initiated by the International Office became a university diploma “Français langue étrangère pour l’insertion universitaire et professionnelle des publics migrants” (French as a foreign language for the academic and professional integration of migrants), managed by the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, at the start of the 2017 academic year.

In 2019, it joined the list of 40 programmes being part of the national register of diplomas under the name of “Passerelle – Étudiants en exil” (Gateway-Students in exile) university diploma.

Between 2016 and 2023, 250 people of 25 nationalities (Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan, Sudanese, Eritrean, Albanian, Angolan, etc.), of various ages and with different integration projects, had followed this course, which combines daily classes in French and classes in different subjects depending on professional orientation of the students, project preparation sessions and cultural discovery workshops.

The paths after graduation are also very diverse.