Opening of a new PASS programme in Chalon-sur-Saône in 2026-2027

Vincent Thomas, president of the Université Bourgogne Europe, took part in a press conference held on January 9th in Chalon-sur-Saône, as part of the plans to open a PASS programme in the town from the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Starting from the 2026-2027 academic year and onward, students will be able to do their first year of medical studies in Saône-et-Loire. The aim of the project is to alleviate medical desertification and facilitate access to health studies for young people in the region. On January 9th, Vincent Thomas, president of the UBE, attended a press conference organised by the département of Saône-et-Loire, alongside its president, André Accary, Dominique Lotte, vice-president in charge of health in Saône-et-Loire, Sébastien Martin, president of Grand Chalon, and Gilles Platret, mayor of Chalon-sur-Saône.

Tackling medical desertification

This project is a response to André Accary’s desire to tackle the problem of medical desertification. To this end, Université Bourgogne Europe has joined forces with the département of Saône-et-Loire to work towards opening a first-year medical school in Chalon-sur-Saône. The plan is for students to follow the main courses remotely, with medical English classes and an on-site tutoring system.

Similar study conditions to Dijon

Students in Chalon-sur-Saône will benefit from the same teaching conditions as those in Dijon, with appropriate infrastructure and a reliable IT link between the two campuses.

Among the various objectives of this project, it will notably facilitate access to health teaching, create the conditions for professionals to return to Saône-et-Loire after their studies and encourage social innovation using digital tools and participative approaches.