UNIL University of Lausanne can trace its history back to a school of theology in 1537, but wasn't granted university status until 1890.
The university comprises of seven faculties including arts; biology and medicine; business and economics (also called HEC Lausanne); geosciences and environment; law; criminal justice and public administration (including the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration); social and political sciences and theology and religious studies.
The university also comprises schools and different sections, including but not limited to the: School of Criminal Justice (ESC); School of French as a Foreign Language (EFLE); French summer and winter courses (Cours de vacances) and Science-Society Interface.
The Cantonal University Library has two million documents and provides an ideal working environment for students. The building faces Lake Geneva and the French and Swiss Alps. On a clear day Mont Blanc can be seen. The university library also serves as an eating hall.
Further new campuses have been created at Epalinges and close to the university hospital at Bugnon. Nearly a quarter of students at the university come from overseas.
There are many extracurricular activities available for students. Sports that students can get involved with include volleyball, badminton, basketball, American football, football and sailing among others. The campus is also equipped with a bike sharing scheme.
Recent scientific achievements have been the 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry won by Jacques Dubochet an emeritus professor of biophysics at the institution.
UNIL alumni include several presidents of Switzerland and consecutive Kings of Thailand including Bhuhimbol (Rama IX), who ruled from 1946 to 2016.
