Recently, the French student cities were ranked by the L’Etudiant magazine. There is no doubt about it—students are welcome in every French city!
Using 16 variables broken down into 5 broad “categories of criteria”—attractiveness, training, student life, living environment, and career situation—L’Etudiant magazine examined 44 cities with more than 8,000 students in total.
The magazine notes that new factors have been included this year, such as air quality, the availability of night transportation, and the percentage of overseas students enrolled in universities.
A global ranking that favors major cities
The magazine notes that, despite a few new features, there hasn’t been much of a change in the “excellent to live in” list of student cities for 2020–2021 this year.
As a matter of fact, L’Etudiant observes that its ranking “naturally favors metropolises,” i.e., those that enroll more than 40,000 pupils. Toulouse has been in first place for the past four years, followed by Lyon, Rennes (up), Montpellier, Nantes, Grenoble, Bordeaux (up), Strasbourg, Paris (slightly down), and Aix-Marseille in the detailed Top 10. (up).
However, among the adjustments, it should be noted that Clermont-Ferrand is rated this year in the metropolis category (14th), since the city had an increase in its student population, which, according to official statistics, now numbers more than 40,000.
For a fair comparison, use two additional rankings.
L’Etudiant issued two additional rankings that were made “according to the size (in terms of the number of students) of the cities” in recognition of the fact that the new characteristics added this year do not permit for “major adjustments” in the overall ranking. These rankings, according to the publication, enable “fairer comparison between metropolises, major and medium-sized cities.”
A “different ranking” has developed based on the size of the cities. Actually, the “major cities,” or those with 20,000 to 40,000 students, include Poitiers, Dijon, Caen, Brest, and Besançon in the Top 5. There are five new cities in the Top 5 of the “medium-sized cities,” or those with 8,000 to 20,000 students: Orléans, Chambéry, La Rochelle, Pau, and Limoges.
A more complex reader ranking
L’Etudiant also encouraged readers to select their “favorite student city” in an effort to raise its ranks. Thus, the question “Would you suggest your city to another student?” is based on a variety of factors, including the city’s overall environment as well as its quality of life, housing options, transportation system, and availability to cultural amenities.
Thus, a ranking that is more fair and distinctive appears. Toulouse continues to be the readers’ favorite city, but the rest of the list may come as a surprise. Toulouse is followed in this ranking by La Rochelle, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Angers, Clermont-Ferrand, and Tours.