Universities in Toulouse, France

Toulouse, the capital of the Occitanie region in south-west France, had 514,819 inhabitants in 2023 according to INSEE, the national statistics office. It is one of France's oldest university cities: its university was founded in 1229, and two of today's universities trace their history back to it. The city is also known for engineering and aerospace, which shows in the number of engineering schools.

The universities

Our directory lists six universities and higher education institutions in Toulouse, from large public universities to selective schools:

• Université Toulouse Capitole has 21,000 students, 3,500 of them foreign nationals, and campuses in Toulouse, Rodez and Montauban, according to the university.
• Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J) teaches arts, literature and languages and the humanities and social sciences. It has been on its Mirail campus since 1971 and has grown from 14,000 students in 1984 to more than 30,000.
• Université de Toulouse has about 37,700 students and also offers French courses for international students. Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès is one of its founding members.
• Toulouse INP brings together two preparatory programmes, three engineering schools and one institute.
• INSA Toulouse trains engineers over five years: after the first year students choose one of four broad fields, and in the last two years one of eight specialisations. According to the school, 23.5% of its students are foreign, from 89 countries.
• 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.

Degrees and fees

French universities use the LMD system. According to Campus France, a bachelor's degree (licence) takes six semesters and 180 ECTS credits, and a master's another four semesters and 120 ECTS credits. Engineering schools such as INSA Toulouse award their own engineering diploma.

Fees at public institutions are set nationally. For the 2026-27 academic year, students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay €178 a year for a bachelor's degree and €255 for a master's. Other international students pay differentiated fees of €2,902 a year for a bachelor's degree and €3,950 for a master's, with exceptions (for example residents of Québec), according to Campus France.

How to apply

The route depends on where you live and the level you apply for. Residents of the 75 countries covered by the Études en France procedure (including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the United States) apply online through it, from application to visa. Others use Parcoursup for the first year of a bachelor's degree, the DAP (preliminary admission request) or Mon Master. According to Campus France, DAP applications for 2027-28 open on 1 October 2026 and close on 15 December 2026. Toulouse INP, for example, handles its international applications through Études en France.

Living in Toulouse

Housing is the main practical challenge. The Université de Toulouse states that it has no residences of its own: it has a limited number of rooms reserved in the residences of the Crous (the public student services agency) and advises international students to start looking as early as possible. Campus France gives a student-rate annual transit pass outside Paris as costing between €250 and €300, and notes that prices in large cities are often close to those of Paris.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to study at a public university in Toulouse?

In 2026-27, students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay €178 a year for a bachelor's degree and €255 for a master's; most other international students pay €2,902 and €3,950, according to Campus France.

Which universities are in Toulouse?

Our directory lists Université Toulouse Capitole, Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse INP, INSA Toulouse and Sciences Po Toulouse.

Do the universities provide accommodation?

Only to a limited extent. The Université de Toulouse has no residences of its own and a limited number of reserved Crous rooms, so students should also look at private housing early.

How do I apply from Latin America?

Students living in countries covered by the Études en France procedure, such as Argentina, Colombia, Mexico or Peru, must apply online through it; the procedure covers both the application and the visa.