Toulouse, known as la ville rose for its pink-brick architecture, is the capital of southwestern France and the heart of Europe’s aerospace industry (Airbus). It has one of France’s largest student populations, a warm climate, and relatively affordable living, which together give it a different rhythm from the northern cities.

Universities and major institutes

Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier
Université Toulouse Capitole & Jean Jaurès
INSA Toulouse and ISAE-SUPAERO (aerospace engineering)
Toulouse Business School (TBS)

Cost of living

Toulouse offers good value by French standards. A room in a shared flat typically runs €400 to €650 a month, cheaper again if you are prepared to share further out near Rangueil or the aerospace campuses. CROUS restaurants near the main faculties sell canteen meals at a fixed, subsidised price, and with several thousand students eating there daily, it is a normal, unremarkable part of student life rather than a last resort. CAF housing assistance is available to some students depending on nationality and scholarship status, though eligibility for non-EU students has narrowed in recent years, so check current entitlements directly with CAF rather than relying on what a friend received the year before. Groceries and eating out both run a little below Paris prices, which helps stretch a modest budget further.

Getting around

Tisséo runs Toulouse’s transport network, built around two driverless metro lines (A and B), a tramway, and an extensive bus network reaching the outer campuses and aerospace sites. The metro is quick and frequent, and students qualify for discounted monthly passes that make daily travel to Rangueil or the Capitole campus genuinely cheap. The city is also flat and compact enough that cycling is a realistic option for much of the year, particularly between the centre and Saint-Cyprien.

Weather and lifestyle

Toulouse sits well south of the grey belt that covers Paris and the north: summers are long, hot, and dry, and even winter tends toward mild, sunny days rather than persistent cloud. Terrace culture runs strong here, on the Garonne’s banks and around Place Saint-Pierre, and outdoor life stretches from early spring well into autumn. As elsewhere in France, expect many independent restaurants and shops to close for a stretch in August, so plan around it if you arrive or stay through the summer.

Working while you study

Non-EU students can generally work up to 964 hours a year on a student residence permit. With limited French, hospitality, retail, and campus jobs through CROUS are the realistic starting points, and Toulouse’s tourism around the old town offers a reasonable number of these roles. The aerospace sector employs plenty of English speakers, but usually only once French has improved enough for day-to-day office work, so most students build language skills alongside a simpler part-time job in the first year or two.

Neighbourhoods for students

Saint-Cyprien: central, lively, near the river.
Carmes / Saint-Étienne: historic and central.
Rangueil: near the science campus, student-heavy.
Compans-Caffarelli: modern and well-connected.

Studying in Toulouse