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The 2020-2021 student city rankings

The L'Etudiant magazine just published its own annual rankings of student cities in France. One thing is clear: all French cities are welcoming for students!

In total, L'Etudiant magazine tested 44 cities with more than 8,000 students using 16 indicators divided into 5 main "categories of criteria": attractiveness, training, student life, living environment and employment situation.

Among these indicators, the magazine points out, new items have been added this year such as air quality, the existence of night transport and the proportion of international students in universities.

 

An overall ranking that favours large metropolises

The magazine points out that despite a few new features, the 2020-2021 ranking of student cities "good to live in" has not undergone any major upheaval this year.

Indeed, L’Etudiant notes that its ranking "naturally favours metropolises", i.e. those that welcome more than 40,000 students. In detail, we find a Top 10 almost unchanged compared to last year, with Toulouse, in first place for the last four years, followed by Lyon, Rennes (up), Montpellier, Nantes, Grenoble, Bordeaux (up), Strasbourg, Paris (slightly down) and Aix-Marseille (up). However, among the changes, it should be noted that Clermont-Ferrand is ranked this year in the category of metropolises (14th), as the city experimented a growth of its student population, more than 40,000 according to official figures.

 

Two other rankings for a fair comparison

Aware that the new features introduced this year do not allow for "significant changes" in the general ranking, L'Etudiant published two other rankings designed "according to the size (in number of students) of the cities". According to the magazine, these rankings allow for a "fairer comparison between metropolises, large and medium-sized cities".

Thus, according to the size of the cities, a "different ranking" has emerged. In fact, if we look at the "big cities", those with between 20,000 and 40,000 students, then Poitiers, Dijon, Caen, Brest and Besançon rank in the Top 5. Among the "medium-sized cities", those with between 8,000 and 20,000 students, there are new cities in the Top 5: Orléans, Chambéry, La Rochelle, Pau and Limoges.

 

A more nuanced ranking of readers

To improve its rankings, L'Etudiant also asked its readers to choose their "favourite student city". The question asked, "Would you recommend your city to another student?" is thus based on other indicators, such as quality of life, housing, transport network, access to culture, but also the general atmosphere of the city.

A more balanced and personal ranking thus appears. Although Toulouse is still the top choice of readers, the rest of the ranking has a few surprises in store, as Toulouse is followed here by La Rochelle, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Angers, Clermont-Ferrand and Tours.

 

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Published on: 29/09/2020 à 09:48
Updated : 29/09/2020 à 09:54
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