Study in Toulouse, France

About Toulouse

Toulouse is a city in the Occitanie region of south-west France. It had 514,819 inhabitants in 2023, according to INSEE. It is a large university city, with a university whose history goes back to 1229, several engineering schools and a strong link to the aerospace industry: the Université de Toulouse names aerospace and aeronautics among the major challenges its research addresses.

Students choose Toulouse for law, economics and political science, for engineering and the sciences, and for learning French in a large city where everyday life costs slightly less than in Paris, according to Campus France.

Studying in Toulouse

Our directory lists seven schools in Toulouse: six universities and higher-education institutions and one language school. Examples:

• Université Toulouse Capitole (UT Capitole) was founded in 1229 and has more than 21,000 students. Its schools include Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), the École de droit de Toulouse, Toulouse School of Management and Sciences Po Toulouse. The university states that, thanks to TSE, it ranks 16th in the world in economics.
• Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J) is the university for arts, letters, languages, humanities and social sciences. It moved to the Mirail district in 1971 and now has more than 30,000 students.
• Université de Toulouse, formerly Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, became a public experimental institution in January 2025 and brings together five constituent units. It teaches science, engineering, technology, sports sciences, health and communication.
• INSA Toulouse runs a five-year engineering programme with eight specialisations for 3,300 students, on a campus 15 minutes by metro from the centre. Toulouse INP, created in 1969, groups two integrated preparatory programmes, three engineering schools and one institute.
• Sciences Po Toulouse, founded in 1948, is one of France's ten Instituts d'Études Politiques and has more than 1,700 students and trainees a year.
• The Alliance Française de Toulouse has taught French in the city since 1985. Its intensive course has 17.5 hours a week, in groups of 15 people at most.

Most university courses are taught in French. The Université de Toulouse asks exchange students for at least level B2 in French, and Campus France recommends B1 or B2 for bachelor's and master's studies in general; French is not required for programmes taught in English.

Cost of living for students

Campus France notes that prices in large French cities are often close to those of Paris, and that the French spend about €300 a month on food on average. Lunch in a university restaurant costs €3.30, the national student rate.

• Tuition at public institutions (2026-27): €178 a year for a bachelor's degree, €255 for a master's and €630 for an engineering degree for EU, EEA and Swiss students; €2,902 (bachelor's) and €3,950 (master's) for other international students. The CVEC student life contribution adds €105.
• Housing: being admitted does not mean a room is reserved. The Université de Toulouse advises starting the search from May and notes that its international students at bachelor's or first-year master's level do not have access to Crous residences, which are kept for grant holders, exchange students and more advanced students.
• Transport: Tisséo, the city network, offers reduced passes for people under 26 and for students (Pass Jeunes, Pass Étudiant).

Getting around and daily life

Toulouse has two metro lines (A and B), a tram network and buses, plus VélôToulouse bike-share stations. Matabiau station, less than 15 minutes on foot from the UT Capitole campus, has TGV and Intercités trains to Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon and other cities. Toulouse-Blagnac airport has direct flights to more than 80 destinations in France, Europe and beyond.

Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a long-stay student visa for studies of more than three months; European students do not need a visa. International students may work up to 964 hours a year, 60% of full-time hours.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Toulouse?

The main public universities are Université Toulouse Capitole (law, economics, management), Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (arts, languages, humanities) and the Université de Toulouse (science, engineering, health). INSA Toulouse, Toulouse INP and Sciences Po Toulouse are also in the city.

Do I need to speak French to study in Toulouse?

For most degrees, yes: most courses are taught in French, and level B1 or B2 is usually expected. Programmes taught in English do not require French.

Is Toulouse a good place to learn French?

Yes. The Alliance Française de Toulouse has taught French since 1985, with intensive courses of 17.5 hours a week in small groups.

How much are tuition fees at public universities in Toulouse?

In 2026-27, EU students pay €178 a year for a bachelor's and €255 for a master's; most other international students pay €2,902 and €3,950, plus the €105 CVEC.