Everyone dreams of visiting France: the Eiffel Tower photo, a croissant at a sidewalk café, hours lost in historic streets.
But it’s also home to more than 440 000 international students. For South Africans, studying in France isn’t only a romantic choice but a practical one: hundreds of Master’s programmes are taught in English, an Honours degree isn’t required, and public university tuition is relatively affordable.
Campus France South Africa can help you navigate the options, leaving just one question: where? Here are the top ten student cities in France for 2026, according to L’Étudiant.
10. Bordeaux
Swap the Winelands for the world’s wine capital. This UNESCO-listed city pairs excellent wine and hospitality programmes with its cycling-friendly, riverfront lifestyle.
Known for: Wine, cycling culture, and the Garonne riverfront
See and do: Visit the Cité du Vin, the Miroir d’eau, and browse antiques in the Chartrons
Nearby: Oysters and the Dune du Pilat at Arcachon, or the vineyards of Saint-Émilion
9. Dijon
Dijon is known for more than just its mustard. As capital of Burgundy, Dijon has vineyards on its doorstep, a strong agri-food sector and a medieval old town. Don’t forget to find its lucky owl and make a wish!
Known for: Mustard, Burgundy wine, medieval streets
See and do: Follow the Owl Trail, visit the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du vin
Nearby: Lake Kir, Beaune and the Côte d’Or vineyards
8. Angers
Medieval ramparts and vibrant street art give Angers an unexpected mix of old and new, all set within one of France’s greenest cities. With lush gardens and parks around every corner, nature is never far away.
Known for: Gardens and parks, Château d’Angers, Cointreau liqueur
See and do: Visit Terra Botanica, discover the Apocalypse Tapestry, follow the Échappées d’Art
Nearby: The Loire Valley and Anjou vineyards
7. Lyon
France’s culinary capital, Lyon is famous for its bouchons, traditional restaurants serving Lyonnais cuisine. Add bustling markets, over 4000 dining spots and a major business and innovation scene, and you get the energy of a big city without Paris’s scale.
Known for: Bouchons, Chef Paul Bocuse, the birthplace of cinema
See and do: Browse Les Halles market, explore Vieux-Lyon’s traboules, catch the Fête des Lumières
Nearby: Annecy and the Alps
6. Brest
Brest is a city with the sea at its heart. Rebuilt after World War II, it’s since reinvented itself around the ocean, with one of Europe’s leading marine research hubs.
Known for: Océanopolis aquarium, the Bay of Brest and its maritime heritage
See and do: Ride the cable car to the Ateliers des Capucins, tour the National Maritime Museum, take a stroll down rue Saint-Malo
Nearby: The cliffs and coves of the Crozon Peninsula, the Île d’Ouessant and the Molène archipelago
5. Nantes
Nantes is a city of reinvention, blending its industrial heritage with a creative edge, from former shipyards filled with giant mechanical creatures to a thriving urban art scene.
Known for: Les Machines de l’Île and Jules Verne
See and do: Ride the mechanical Grand Éléphant, follow the Voyage à Nantes green line
Nearby: The Muscadet vineyards and Trentemoult
4. Caen
William the Conqueror’s old stomping ground has traded conquest for café terraces. With a lively bar scene, 90 hectares of green space and a reputation for medical education, Caen has plenty of life beyond history books.
Known for: William the Conqueror, Caen stone, World War II history
See and do: Picnic in La Prairie, explore the Château de Caen, stroll along the Orne River
Nearby: Mont Saint-Michel, Ouistreham beach and Bayeux
3. Montpellier
Sunshine? Check. Café terraces? Plenty. Charming old-town streets? Bien sûr. Montpellier captures the Mediterranean art de vivre, with laid-back afternoons and lively nightlife.
Known for: Mediterranean lifestyle, the Écusson old town, world’s oldest medical school
See and do: Visit the Musée Fabre, people-watch in the Place de la Comédie, stroll the Jardin des Plantes
Nearby: The Occitan coast, the Hérault gorges and the Pic Saint-Loup vineyards
2. Rennes
With more half-timbered houses than any other French city, Rennes pairs small-town charm with a serious food scene and an eclectic music culture.
Known for: Parlement de Bretagne, Trans Musicale festival, Galette-saucisse
See and do: Kayak on the Vilaine river, eat at Marché des Lices, visit Parc du Thabor
Nearby: Dinan and the Ille-et-Rance canal
Toulouse
Living la vie en rose is easy in France’s Pink City. Wander its rosy streets at sunset or explore the universe at the Cité de l’Espace. With roots stretching back to Roman times, Toulouse keeps one foot in the past while reaching for the stars.
Known for: Pink-brick architecture, Airbus and aerospace, rugby and the “chocolatine”
See and do: Shop at Marché Victor Hugo, catch a game at Stade Toulousain
Nearby: Carcassonne, the Pyrénées, the Mediterranean coast
Ready to find your French city?
From Bordeaux’s vineyards to Toulouse’s pink-brick streets, France has more than one version of student life. Campus France South Africa is the French government’s agency for students in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. Get in touch to find a programme, submit an application and start your French adventure!
Website: southafrica.campusfrance.org
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 062 129 6865
Instagram: @campusfranceza
Facebook: @CampusFranceZA
