Study in Le Mans, France

About Le Mans

Le Mans is the main city of the Sarthe department, in the Pays de la Loire region of western France. It had 146,249 inhabitants in 2023, according to INSEE, and is 54 minutes from Paris by TGV. The city is known worldwide for motor racing, above all the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and it still has long stretches of its Roman city wall.

For students, Le Mans offers a single public university on a compact campus linked to the city centre by tram, housing the university describes as affordable, and fast trains to Paris. It suits students who want a mid-sized city and a straightforward university experience.

Studying in Le Mans

Our directory lists one institution in Le Mans: Le Mans Université, a public university with three faculties, two IUTs (university institutes of technology) and an engineering school on two campuses, Le Mans and Laval. The Le Mans campus brings together the Faculty of Law, Economics and Management, the Faculty of Arts, Languages and Humanities, the Faculty of Science and Technology, the IUT du Mans and the ENSIM engineering school; the Laval campus has a law faculty and the IUT de Laval. The university highlights its research in materials physics, artificial intelligence, acoustics, chemistry, history and geography.

Teaching is mainly in French. Campus France recommends level B1 or B2 for bachelor's and master's studies, while French is not required for programmes taught in English. To prepare, the university's Maison des Langues runs the DUEF (Diplôme universitaire d'études françaises), an intensive French course for students from non-French-speaking countries aged over 18 with a secondary-school diploma. It offers five levels (A1, A2, B1, B2.1 and B2.2), 200 hours of teaching per semester, and two semesters a year. Passing the DUEF at B2, together with admission by the chosen programme, gives direct entry to a university course without a separate French test. The DUEF is approved by ADCUEFE, the network of university French-language centres.

Cost of living for students

Campus France notes that the French spend about €300 a month on food on average, and a meal in a university restaurant costs €1.

• Housing: the Crous has more than 900 rooms on the Le Mans campus (and 150 in Laval), allocated first to students with grants. Le Mans Métropole Habitat also offers student housing, and the free Visale scheme can act as rent guarantor.
• Tuition at public institutions (2026-27): €178 a year for a bachelor's and €255 for a master's for EU, EEA and Swiss students; €2,902 and €3,950 for other international students, plus the €105 CVEC student life contribution. The DUEF has its own fees, published by the university.
• Transport: a single Setram ticket costs €1.50. Students enrolled for 2026-27 at a higher-education institution in Le Mans Métropole can buy a student annual pass for €193; the 30-day pass for 11 to 25-year-olds costs €19.30.

Getting around and daily life

Setram runs the buses and trams. Tram line T1 serves the university campus every 6 minutes on weekdays outside school holidays and reaches it from the SNCF station in 17 minutes. Setram also rents bikes by the day, for one or three months or for a year. The Arche de la Nature, a 500-hectare natural area, lies on the edge of the city.

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, the equivalent of 60% of full-time hours.

Frequently asked questions

Which university is in Le Mans?

Le Mans Université, a public university with three faculties, two IUTs and the ENSIM engineering school, on campuses in Le Mans and Laval.

Can I learn French at Le Mans Université?

Yes. The DUEF offers intensive French from A1 to B2.2, with 200 hours per semester, and a DUEF at B2 can give direct entry to a degree programme.

How far is Le Mans from Paris?

54 minutes by TGV, according to the university.

How much does public transport cost for students in Le Mans?

Students enrolled in Le Mans Métropole pay €193 for a year of unlimited bus and tram travel; a single ticket costs €1.50.