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Best cities to study in France in 2024 : the TOP 10!
France, a country rich in history and renowned for its cultural landscape, is also a top destination for students from all over the world. Prestigious universities, dynamic cultural venues, renowned quality of life: France offers an ideal setting for years of higher education. Which French cities really stand out for students? Discover the top student cities in France, with our ranking of the most attractive student cities 2024!
Student city rankings: what are the criteria?
To establish a ranking of student cities, several factors are taken into account;
- the quality of the educational offer, including the diversity and recognition of the courses on offer ;
- the availability of affordable, comfortable student accommodation;
- the richness of student life, reflected in a varied cultural offering with cinemas, museums and a lively nightlife;
- the cost of living, which includes the cost of accommodation, transport, meals and leisure activities;
- general satisfaction and quality of life.
World student city rankings: where do French cities stand?
When it comes to ranking student cities worldwide, French cities manage to stand out against international metropolises like London, Boston, Melbourne or Tokyo. French student cities offer a unique blend of academic excellence, quality of life and cultural richness. On the international scene, France has nothing to envy other countries in terms of student attractiveness! France welcomes over 350,000 international students every year, who represent 12.8% of the total student population. 75% of them want to stay in France after their studies.
The TOP 10 best student cities in France in 2024
L’Etudiant’s 2023-2024 rankings are in. For this latest edition, the publication compared 26 cities in France that have at least 8,000 students, and this year, it explores certain new criteria like air quality and health. Overall its 5 main "categories of criteria'' include: attractiveness, training, student life, living environment and employment situation.
Based on the rankings, the top ten best student cities in France are:
- Montpellier,
- Strasbourg,
- Rennes,
- Toulouse,
- Caen,
- Nancy,
- Orléans,
- Angers,
- Clermont-Ferrand,
- and Grenoble.
Perhaps it comes as a surprise that Paris, the French capital, is not one of the top ten cities for students in France, and that may have to do with the cost of living in a bustling metropolis. Let’s take a closer look at the top five ranked student cities in France by l’Étudiant for 2024.
Study abroad in Montpellier
Located in southern France, just 10km from the Mediterranean Sea, Montpellier is the top student city in France according to L’Etudiant’s 2024 rankings. Students like Montpellier for the city’s dynamism, its lovely architecture and the gentle pace of life they find there. This is not the only asset of this Mediterranean city, which also attracts visitors for its high quality of life, mild climate and relaxed pace of life. It offers a social mix and a rich student life, with numerous festivals and events. Montpellier is also famous for its medical university, the oldest in the world. When it comes to housing, health and transportation, Montpellier is ranked highly by students. Rent prices here are more affordable than in Paris or Lyon, which is a considerable plus for budget-conscious students in addition to being in the sun! On average, students in Montpellier spend 162.18€ per month on groceries and 111.20€ per month on going out.
Study abroad in Strasbourg
What do students like about Strasbourg? For one, it’s beautiful! Students cite its medieval architecture and historic center, which is quite lovely and pedestrian-only. On average, students in Strasbourg spend 152.10€ per month on groceries and 85.77€ per month on going out. Overall, students rank their quality of life in Strasbourg quite positively.
Study abroad in Rennes
Rennes, located in Brittany, is a major student city of France. In fact, one out of five residents – 20% of the city’s population – is a student! Students consider Rennes dynamic and with a good ambiance, especially for going out. Rennes is a city that has preserved a strong community spirit while developing as a leading educational and technological center. It deserves its place in this ranking of the best student cities.The city also boasts a diverse cultural offering, thanks in particular to the Transmusicales festival and its rich historical heritage. It is particularly renowned for its computer science and engineering programs at the Université de Rennes 1 and INSA Rennes. What about average spendings for monthly groceries and going out? 127.56€ and 77.17€ respectively, making it cheaper than Montpellier and Strasbourg. The cost of living is reasonable, and the quality of the student welcome is often praised.
Study abroad in Toulouse
Students describe Toulouse, also known as la Ville Rose or the "Pink City" for its terracotta brick buildings, as a warm city, thanks to its colorful architecture. It’s an accessible city, with robust transportation options, including a metro that runs until 3am (perfect for late nights of studying…or partying). It’s also quite a green city with over a thousand kilometers of bike lanes. Toulouse also boasts a pleasant living environment, with green spaces, mild weather if you're looking for sunshine, and an active nightlife if you like to go out, enhanced by a well-developed metro network. Toulouse has a youthful, dynamic atmosphere. The city is home to numerous engineering schools and the Toulouse 1 Capitole University, renowned for its law and economics programs. The aeronautics sector is highly developed, offering promising career prospects for students. Students can expect to spend about 163.35€ on groceries and 96.60€ on going out each month.
Study abroad in Caen
Located in Normandy, in the north of the country, Caen boasts an overall student-friendly ambiance. The center of the Calvados region, Caen is home to 36,000 students of higher education. Students appreciate the city’s charm and its green aspects, and they find it generally pleasant to live in. Each month, the average student spending on groceries is 136.22€ and for going out, 72.67€.
Continued ranking of best cities to study in France
Each of the above cities offers distinct advantages that justify their place of choice for students. But they're not the only ones to combine academic excellence, cultural richness, professional opportunities and quality of life! The metropolises below also welcome many students every year:
- Bordeaux: the wine capital is also an educational tour de force, combining dynamic student life with an attractive living environment.
- Lille: this northern city is not to be outdone, offering rapid access to several European capitals and an efficient metro network.
- Nantes: for its unique atmosphere and commitment to student initiatives, Nantes deserves its place in the ranking.
- Grenoble: renowned for its alpine setting and focus on research and innovation, Grenoble attracts many students.
- Strasbourg: At the crossroads of French and German culture, Strasbourg offers a unique blend that's sure to please.
We could not let you go without writing some words about the capital of France and the capital of gourmet cuisine, so there you are!
Study abroad in Paris
Surprisingly not first in the ranking of France's top student cities: Paris. However, the capital stands out for its density of world-renowned higher education institutions, such as the Sorbonne and Sciences Po, as well as its unrivalled cultural offering. When it comes to going out, you won't be outdone: students enjoy unlimited free access to museums, art galleries, theaters and historic libraries. Public transport infrastructures, notably the metro, efficiently link the various districts of Paris. The cost of living remains high, but student life in Paris is considered an unforgettable experience.
Study abroad in Lyon
Too known to be ignored even if the city do not appear in the l’Etudiant ranking of France's top student cities, Lyon is often described as a gastronomic capital with its many restaurants, also known as "bouchons". With its renowned universities, such as Université Lyon 1 and emlyon business school, the city attracts students in science, business and many other disciplines. Internship and job opportunities abound, particularly in the biotech and digital sectors. Lyon also offers a rich cultural life, with the Festival des Lumières and many other festivities throughout the year. Public transport (tramway and metro) is of high quality, making daily life easier for students.
The TOP 10 best universities in France
With so many qualified institutions of higher education in France, how can students choose where to study? Well, if you’re aiming for the very best, here are the top ten universities in France in 2024 (with the top 5 located in Paris):
- Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University,
- Université Paris-Saclay,
- Institut Polytechnique de Paris,
- Sorbonne University Paris,
- and Université Paris Cité,
- Then École Normale Supérieure de Lyon,
- Université Grenoble Alpes,
- Montpellier University,
- Aix-Marseille University,
- and University of Bordeaux.
We work closely with more than 160 French institutions of higher education (both private and public). Like us, they believe in making rentals a more simple and personal experience. We team up day by day to support French and international students, and facilitate access to housing.
Find the housing platform of your school or university now!
The TOP 10 best business schools in France
Many of the world’s top business schools are based in France. So for students looking to study business in particular, France provides many world-class options. For the very best business schools in country, here are the top ten schools:
- HEC Paris
- INSEAD Business School
- ESCP Business School
- EDHEC Business School
- Montpellier Business School
- The American Business School of Paris
- Grenoble Ecole de Management
- SKEMA Business School
- Kedge Business School
- Rennes School of Business
France's student city rankings: what you need to know
This ranking of student cities cannot reflect all personal experiences, but it does offer a useful overview of trends and main destinations. Beyond the numbers and positions in the rankings, it's the match between students' personal expectations and what the city has to offer that will define the best option! From large metropolises to medium-sized towns, France offers a wide spectrum of enriching environments in which to pursue your studies.
In terms of the number of students in relation to the urban area, Montpellier and Poitiers come out on top.
How do you choose a city to study in?
Here are the main criteria for choosing the best student city:
- Your personal expectations
- The quality of the education on offer
- Affordability of student accommodation
- The richness of student life
- Cost of living (rent, transportation, meals, leisure activities);
- Overall quality of life