VANDELS is a new ESO spectroscopic Public Survey targeting the high-redshift Universe. Exploiting the red sensitivity of the refurbished VIMOS spectrograph, the survey is obtaining ultra-deep optical spectroscopy of around 2100 galaxies in the redshift interval 1.0<z<7.0, with 85% of its targets selected to be at z>=3. The fundamental aim of the survey is to provide the high signal-to-noise spectra necessary to measure key physical properties such as stellar population ages, metallicities and outflow velocities from detailed absorption-line studies. By targeting two extragalactic survey fields with superb multi-wavelength imaging data, VANDELS will produce a unique legacy dataset for exploring the physics underpinning high-redshift galaxy evolution.