University of Toulouse (formerly Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier)
Université de Toulouse
Toulouse's science, health and sport university, which took the name Université de Toulouse in January 2025.
- Students
- 37,700
- Tuition
- €178
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1969
- QS World Ranking
- #565
- 2027 edition
About UT (formerly UT3 Paul Sabatier)
Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier was created in 1969 on the foundations of the medieval University of Toulouse (1229) and named after Paul Sabatier, winner of the 1912 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. On 1 January 2025 it became the Université de Toulouse, an experimental public institution (EPE) made up of the former Paul Sabatier university and the Purpan engineering school, with the aim of building a single large research university for the Toulouse area. QS and ShanghaiRanking still list it under the Paul Sabatier name.
The university reports 37,700 students, 4,300 staff, 1,530 doctoral students and 74 research units. Teaching is organised into the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Faculty of Health (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, midwifery and paramedical courses, with 15,000-17,000 students), the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Human Movement, and the IUT Toulouse - Auch - Castres, which calls itself the largest IUT in France with 5,500 students. The Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées gives it a strong base in Earth, climate and space science.
First-year places are filled through Parcoursup for French and EU applicants and through Études en France or the DAP for most non-EU applicants. Teaching is in French, so it suits students with at least B2 French who want to study sciences, health or sport in a city that also hosts aerospace schools such as ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC.
Why students choose UT (formerly UT3 Paul Sabatier)
A science, health and sport university: licences in sciences, PASS for health studies, STAPS for sport, and BUT degrees at France's largest IUT.
National public fees: 178 euros a year for a licence for French and EU students in 2026-27.
Research across 74 units, including the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées for Earth, climate and space science.
Most teaching is on the Rangueil campus in Toulouse, with IUT sites in Auch and Castres as well.
Admissions
Rentrée September 2027 (first-year licence, PASS and BUT)
Selectivity
No overall admission rate is published. French and EU applicants apply for first year through Parcoursup, where each programme ranks applications against its capacity; health studies start with PASS (Parcours d'Accès Spécifique Santé).
Typical entry requirements
| French baccalauréat (or DAEU) | Apply through Parcoursup; each programme publishes its expectations and capacity |
|---|---|
| EU/EEA, Swiss, Andorran or Monegasque applicants with a foreign diploma | Apply through Parcoursup like French applicants |
| Non-EU secondary diploma, living abroad | Proof that the diploma gives access to the same studies in your home country, plus French at B2 (sciences, STAPS) or C1 (PASS) shown by the TCF |
| English language | First-year programmes are taught in French, so the requirement is French, not English: TCF at B2 for science licences and STAPS, C1 for PASS and L1 Sciences et Humanités. |
Deadlines
- Études en France / DAP (non-EU living abroad) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~2 months15 December 2026
Campus France: applications open 1 October 2026 and close 15 December 2026; the file is examined by up to three universities, which reply before 30 April 2027.
- Parcoursup (French and EU applicants) Non-bindingMid-March 2027 (12 March in 2026)
For 2026 entry, wishes were entered 19 January-12 March 2026 and confirmed by 1 April 2026; a complementary phase opened on 11 June 2026. Campus France gives January-March 2027 for wishes and April 2027 for confirmation.
The DAP dates for 2027 come from Campus France. The Parcoursup 2027 calendar had not been published when checked, so the 2026 dates are given for reference.
How to apply
French and EU applicants enter their wishes on Parcoursup between January and March, then complete and confirm them by early April; offers come from June. Non-EU applicants living in a country with an Études en France office apply online through their local Campus France site (DAP for licence and PASS); those in other countries submit the paper DAP 'dossier blanc'. Applicants for the CUPGE preparatory track outside Études en France countries use Parcoursup.
What admissions looks for
- A school record that matches the expectations each programme publishes on Parcoursup.
- For PASS, readiness for an intensive, selective health first year.
- For non-EU applicants, a diploma that gives access to the same studies at home and French at B2 or C1.
- A coherent study plan, shown in the Parcoursup or Études en France file.
Tips for applying to UT (formerly UT3 Paul Sabatier)
- 1 Book the TCF early: you need B2 French for the science licences and STAPS and C1 for PASS.
- 2 If you live in an Études en France country, apply through your local Campus France site, not directly to the university.
- 3 Budget for possible differentiated fees if you are from outside the EU: the university's 2026-27 exemption decision was still listed as 'to come' after the May 2026 decree.
- 4 Start housing searches early: the university has no residences of its own and its Crous quota goes first to exchange, M2 and doctoral students.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Students with French government (Crous) grants, French government scholars and wards of the nation are exempt from fees by right. Since the Bienvenue en France strategy, the university had partially exempted every student subject to differentiated fees so they paid the national rate, but the decree of 19 May 2026 sharply limits such exemptions and the 2026-27 decision was still to come. Students in severe hardship, including non-EU students, can apply for social fee exemptions by 31 October.
- 178 euros a year
- Licence fee, EU students (2026-27)
- 2,902 euros a year (master's 3,950)
- Differentiated licence fee, non-EU (2026-27 national rate)
- By 31 October of the academic year
- Social fee exemption requests
- Listed by the university for international applicants
- France Excellence Eiffel scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
PASS (Parcours d'Accès Spécifique Santé)
The first-year route into medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and midwifery at a Faculty of Health that brings all of these together, which the university says is unique in France.
Science licences (FSI)
Mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, Earth sciences and engineering, including a CUPGE preparatory track and double licences such as mathematics and computer science.
STAPS (sport sciences)
Taught by the F2SMH on the Rangueil campus to about 1,956 students across four departments.
BUT at the IUT Toulouse - Auch - Castres
France's largest IUT, with 14 BUT specialities and 700 professional contributors.
Earth, climate and space sciences
Backed by the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées and its observation services for climate, atmosphere, planets and space.
Research
- 74 research structures and 1,530 doctoral students.
- The Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées federates laboratories and observation services in Earth, climate, atmosphere, planetary and space science.
- Laboratories such as LAPLACE (plasmas and energy conversion) and IRAP (astrophysics and planetology).
- Partner in the UNIVERSEH alliance, which runs events such as an Autumn School on technologies for space medicine.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSI)
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Sport Sciences and Human Movement (F2SMH)
- IUT Toulouse - Auch - Castres
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP)
- UPSSITECH engineering school
- École d'ingénieurs de Purpan (component school)
Student life
Most students are based on the Rangueil campus at 118 route de Narbonne in Toulouse. The university has no residences of its own: it has a limited quota of rooms in Crous residences, reserved first for Erasmus and exchange students, M2 students and new doctoral students, so licence students rent privately or apply to the Crous. Student life includes a sports programme, the Sab's student currency, a social grocery and a crèche on campus.
- Sport programmes such as 'Septembre Bouge' at the start of the year.
- ESN Toulouse for international students.
- Social grocery (Le Petit Sab'lé) and a campus student currency (Sab's).
- Science festival events (Fête de la Science) and public lectures on the Rangueil campus.
Housing. No university-owned residences; a limited Crous quota goes first to exchange, Master 2 and new doctoral students, so most undergraduates rent privately.
Location
Toulouse, in Occitanie in south-west France, is a major higher education centre: besides the Université de Toulouse it hosts Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (31,000 students), Toulouse INP, INSA Toulouse, ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC. The university's main campus is at Rangueil, and its IUT also teaches in Auch and Castres.
Nearest airport: Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS)
Notable alumni
- PD Philippe Douste-BlazyCardiologist (studied medicine in Toulouse), French minister of health, culture and foreign affairs
- AJ Albert JacquardGeneticist and essayist; doctorate from Paul Sabatier
- AC Anny CazenaveOceanographer and member of the French Academy of Sciences; PhD in geophysics (1975)
- MC Merieme ChadidFranco-Moroccan astronomer; PhD in astronomy and space science
- PC Pierre CohenMayor of Toulouse (2008-2014); computer science PhD
- CC Corinne CharbonnelAstrophysicist at the Geneva Observatory and CNRS; studied at Paul Sabatier 1986-92 and took her doctorate there
- SM Sylvestre MauricePlanetary scientist at IRAP; doctorate in astrophysics from Paul Sabatier (1994)
- JL Jean-Claude LaprieComputer scientist, pioneer of dependable computing and director of LAAS; doctorate from Paul Sabatier (1975)
Frequently asked questions
Is Paul Sabatier University the same as the Université de Toulouse?
Yes. On 1 January 2025 Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier took the name Université de Toulouse, as an experimental public institution that also includes the Purpan engineering school. Rankings such as QS and ARWU still list it as Paul Sabatier.
How much does it cost to study at Paul Sabatier / Université de Toulouse?
French and EU students pay 178 euros a year for a licence in 2026-27. The national differentiated rate for non-EU students is 2,902 euros; the university used to cut this to the national rate for everyone, but its decision for 2026-27, after the May 2026 decree, was still pending when checked in September 2026.
How do international students apply for first year?
EU students use Parcoursup. Non-EU students living abroad apply through Études en France if their country has a Campus France office (1 October to 15 December 2026 for 2027 entry), or with the paper DAP otherwise.
What level of French do I need?
B2 on the TCF for science licences and STAPS, and C1 for PASS and the L1 Sciences et Humanités.
Does the university provide student housing?
It has no residences of its own and only a limited Crous quota, reserved first for exchange, Master 2 and new doctoral students, so undergraduates should plan to rent privately or apply to the Crous.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Université de Toulouse homepage (key figures)
- Université de Toulouse: Faculties and components
- Université de Toulouse: Applying to the university
- Université de Toulouse: First-year application (baccalauréat and EU applicants)
- Université de Toulouse: First-year application, foreign nationals living abroad
- Université de Toulouse: Registration fee amounts
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