Study in Saint-Denis, France
2 schools in Saint-Denis, France. Universities (2).
Universities in Saint-Denis 2
- Université de La Réunion
The Université de La Réunion (University of Reunion) is the university of Reunion Island, the French territory in the Indian Ocean, and the only university o…
- Université Vincennes Saint-Denis (Paris VIII)
The Université Paris 8 Vincennes - Saint-Denis (University of Paris 8) is a French university with its campus in Saint-Denis. According to the university, it…
About Saint-Denis
Two French towns called Saint-Denis have universities in our directory, on opposite sides of the world. Saint-Denis on Réunion is the capital of this French island in the Indian Ocean and had 155,634 inhabitants in 2023, according to INSEE, the French statistics office. Saint-Denis in the Seine-Saint-Denis department lies just north of Paris and had 149,077 inhabitants in 2023.
Both are part of France, so French rules on admission, tuition fees and student life apply in both. The choice between them is really a choice between a tropical island university and a large university on the edge of Paris.
Studying in Saint-Denis
Université de La Réunion grew out of an institute of legal, economic and political studies created in 1963 and became a university by decree of 15 October 1982. It has more than 19,000 students a year, three quarters of all higher-education students on Réunion, and reported 986 foreign students in its key figures. In Saint-Denis, the Moufia campus houses the faculties of law and economics, humanities and sciences; health, the engineering school and the IUT are in Saint-Pierre in the south. The university holds the "Bienvenue en France" label (two stars) for welcoming international students and recommends at least level B1 in French for exchange students. Semester 1 runs from August to December and semester 2 from January to June.
Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, at 2 rue de la Liberté in Saint-Denis, has 22,000 students, 11 faculties (UFR), 4 doctoral schools and 5 institutes, including 2 institutes of technology. It belongs to the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), which offers student exchanges and intensive and semester courses with partner universities.
At both universities most teaching is in French. Campus France recommends level B1 or B2 for bachelor's and master's studies.
Cost of living for students
- Tuition at public universities (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. Every student also pays the CVEC student life contribution, €105 for 2026-27.
- Housing: a Crous room costs about €450 a month in Paris and €350 on average elsewhere in France, according to Campus France. On Réunion, university housing is run by the Crous La Réunion – Mayotte, including the Cité Internationale on the Moufia campus in Saint-Denis; an application does not guarantee a room.
- Food and transport: a meal in a university restaurant costs €1. For Saint-Denis near Paris, Campus France gives €374.40 for an annual student transit pass in Paris.
Getting around and daily life
Université de La Réunion organises a pick-up service at the island's airport for incoming exchange students, who are taken to their university or private accommodation. Because its faculties are spread between the north and south of the island, students should check which campus their programme is taught on before looking for housing.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a long-stay student visa for studies of more than three months in France; 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 Saint-Denis is this page about?
Both towns with universities in our directory: Saint-Denis on Réunion, home of the Université de La Réunion, and Saint-Denis north of Paris, home of Université Paris 8.
Do I need to speak French to study at the Université de La Réunion?
Yes, in most cases. The university recommends at least level B1 in French for exchange students, as most courses are taught in French.
Can international students get university housing on Réunion?
They can apply to the Crous La Réunion – Mayotte, for example for the Cité Internationale on the Moufia campus in Saint-Denis, but an application does not guarantee a room.
How many students does Université Paris 8 have?
The university reports 22,000 students in 11 faculties, with 4 doctoral schools and 5 institutes.