University of Provence
The University of Provence Aix-Marseille I () was a public university mostly located in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. It was one of the three Universities of Aix-Marseille and was part of the Academy of Aix and Marseille. On 1 January 2012 it merged with the University of the Mediterranean and Paul Cézanne University to become Aix-Marseille University, the youngest, but also the largest in terms of students, budgets and staff in the French-speaking world. Overview. With roots dating back to 1409, the University was established in 1969 through a merger of the school  of humanities in Aix-en-Provence and the science one in Marseille. "The University of Provence is one of the most distinguished in France, second only to the University of Paris in the areas of French literature, history, and linguistics", according to Harvard University website. In the academic year of 2007-2008, 23,056 students were enrolled. Among them, 15,158 were female, while only 7,898 were male. 3,255 students came from countries outside France, 44 per cent of these came from Africa. 15,109 students studied in Aix-en-Provence, while others went to Marseille, Avignon, Digne, Lambesc, Arles and Aubagne. Overall , its facilities span 258 143 m². In 2007, the budget was 120,7 million euros, with 39,2 million euros available after wages. It has its own university press, Publications de l'Université de Provence. It also has its own theater, the Théâtre Antoine Vitez, named for Antoine Vitez.