The survey does not say whether the astonishing density of petanque grounds in the Pink City, revealed by INSEE, weighed in the balance. Still, Toulouse won, for the fifth consecutive year (and for the seventh time in ten years) the first place in the ranking overview of student cities established by the editorial staff of The Student. The champion in all categories, of which 10% of the population is student, apparently owes its performance to the high density of training it offers, including for the Grandes Ecoles, to its economic fabric rich in job opportunities but also to its legendary “festive atmosphere”, especially on Thursday evenings. Students are also sensitive to the reasonable price of public transport.
Rennes, which has 20% of students, the highest density in France, ranks second. Montpellier and Strasbourg (1st city for the share of foreign students) could not be separated by the 16 indicators and are on the third step of the podium.
The cheapest pint in Saint-Etienne
Excluding major cities, the winning trifecta of major cities is made up of Poitiers, Caen and Dijon. Pau wins the prize for medium-sized towns, followed by Chambéry and La Rochelle.
Lyon is judged by students as the most dynamic city, La Rochelle as the most pleasant to live in. Saint-Etienne, where a pint of beer is on average the cheapest (4.78 euros), is the most suitable for the tight budget of students.