We present the global properties (redshift, SED-based stellar mass and star formation rate, [OII]3727 flux and equivalent width) of the MASSIV sample. It contains 84 star-forming galaxies in the redshift range 0.9<z<1.8 selected from the VVDS and observed with the SINFONI/VLT integral-field spectrograph. The main aims of the MASSIV survey is to probe the kinematics and chemical properties of a significant and representative sample of high-redshift galaxies with star formation rate >5M_{sun}_/yr.