University of Tours
Please find useful information below about the University of Tours as an exchange destination. Learn more about the location, the campus, courses and student life!
About
The University of Tours (UT), founded in 1970 and originally named after François Rabelais, is one of France’s leading multidisciplinary public universities. With a student population of 30,000, including 3,200 international students from 130 nationalities, it stands as a dynamic institution that fosters academic excellence and cultural diversity.
Internationally oriented, the university has 195 partnerships across 28 European countries and 110 in 27 countries outside Europe. Each year, it welcomes 500 exchange students, promoting global mobility and collaboration.
UT offers a wide range of programs across nine faculties, including Law, Economics & Social Sciences, Literature and Languages, and Arts and Humanities.
Supported by 1,400 teaching and research staff and 1,000 technical and administrative staff, the university is a hub for innovation and academic research, with 35 research laboratories. Consult UT on QS World Rankings to learn more about UT’s current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject
Location
The city of Tours, located in the heart of the Loire Valley, is a vibrant and historic city with 140,000 inhabitants, known as "Tourangeaux" and "Tourangelles." Just one hour from Paris by high-speed train (TGV), Tours offers the a blend of a urban environment and a rich cultural heritage. Learn more about the campuses and consult a map of the city to see where they are located here.
As the capital of the Touraine region, Tours is famous for its art de vivre, renowned gastronomy, and exceptional wines. The Loire River, a UNESCO World Heritage site, can be found through the city, adding to its charm.
Tours is considered the historical cradle of the French language, making it an ideal place to study and experience French culture.
Surrounded by some of the most important castles in French history, including Château de Chambord, and Château de Chinon, Tours offers a great setting for those passionate about history, art, and architecture.
University campus: As the campus is spread out among different locations across the city, please visit this page and the “plan d’accès” to find out more information about which schools use which campuses, and this map of the various campuses should also help you orient yourself. In the past, Modern Language students from Queen Mary have studied on the Tanneurs campus. Students should have an idea in advance of where they will be studying to help them secure accommodation nearby, as this can minimise their travel across the city.
Level of competitiveness
This exchange is only open to students studying a Modern Language in the School of the Arts.
For competitiveness level, please enquire with the STA Year Abroad team.
Language of Instruction
French is the language of instruction and examination, as that is the target language of Modern Language students who study here, although UT also offers many courses in English as well.
International students must meet UT’s French language level requirements to take courses taught in French (host institution conditions apply).
Academic Calendar
The academic year is divided into two semesters:
UT’s academic calendar is divided into 2 semesters of approximatively 12 weeks.
- Semester 1: Late August - December (begins with mandatory orientation/welcome for international exchange students, with teaching starting in September). Exams take place from early to late December (before Christmas)
- Semester 2: Early January to May (begins with mandatory orientation/welcome for international exchange students, with teaching also starting in January). Exams take place from late April to late May. Resits exams take place in June.
Courses
Students can select any course, in all faculties (except those proposed by the Faculty of Medicine), provided that the academic coordinator and the professor teaching the course accept it, and that students possess a B2 level in French.
Course selection takes place online before the start of classes, and spaces in courses are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Enrolment on any specific course cannot be guaranteed. Academic advisors are available to advise exchange students on course content and guide them in building their study plan. Students may add/drop courses after the start of teaching, allowing students to then update their Learning Agreements.
French language courses: UT’s Center for Teaching French to Foreign Students (CUEFEE) organises optional French language courses in order to help exchange students become familiar with the French language, grammar, and culture.
Credits
Students must enrol on a full courseload: 30 ECTS per semester / 60 ECTS for the full academic year (equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits per semester / 120 Queen Mary credits for the full academic year).
Each course at UT varies usually between 3 and 5 ECTS, where students generally take 6-10 courses per semester to meet the 30 ECTS requirement per semester.
Landing page for incoming exchange students to UT
Queen Mary Student Feedback
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Accommodation
Students may apply for Crous-managed housing and/or look to rent private accommodation.
Students studying at UT should try to determine on which campus they will have most of their classes, as this will be useful in securing accommodation nearby (where possible) – see mention under the “Location” section of the Overview tab.
CROUS-managed accommodation: The Centre régional des œuvres universitaires, abbreviated as CROUS, is the public French organization/student welfare office that helps students with matters such as accommodation and catering. Accommodation in public French student residence halls is all subsidised and managed by each region's CROUS.
Accommodation in CROUS halls is reserved exclusively for students studying in France and is price-controlled yet varies depending on if any facilities are shared or private/en-suite. Accommodation generally includes a single bed, kitchenette, shower, toilet, desk and all utilities (water, electricity and internet). These residence halls are typically all located within or near campus premises, a short walk from amenities. Basic services such as mail, pharmacies, laundromats, restaurants, supermarkets and emergency medical services are often situated within a close distance. For more information, please visit this link.
Getting university accommodation is not automatic nor guaranteed, and vacancies are limited. It is therefore highly recommended that students apply for a room as soon as possible. Applications for university accommodation need to be submitted at the latest, by mid-June for semester 1/full year exchange students, and end of November for semester 2 students. More information is available here.
Private accommodation: For those who wish to secure non-CROUS managed accommodation, students can choose to rent rooms or apartments, furnished or not, from private individuals. For this type of accommodation, students will need to be autonomous and liaise with landlords directly. UT cannot guarantee the quality of any private accommodation. When searching for accommodation which is called "meublé/furnished”: this means that basic equipment/furniture is included. Agencies always request a guarantor for renting private accommodation.
There are also several private student residence halls in Tours:
Students can also search for an accommodation by looking at ads in the local newspaper “La Nouvelle République” or on specialised websites dedicated to classified ads (see below). Be careful of scams, as ads on these sites are not verified by UT:
- www.lanouvellerepublique.fr
- www.lokaviz.fr
- www.housinganywhere.com
- https://logement.studyrama.com/
- https://www.adele.org/residence/agglomeration/tours/logement-etudiant
- www.paruvendu.fr
- www.leboncoin.fr
- www.pap.fr
- www.appartager.com (for flat/houseshares)
Important: Securing private accommodation in Tours can be expensive, with renting options varying drastically in terms of cost but generally being much lower than London renting costs. The cost will vary based on a student’s lifestyle and budget. Students should be aware that finding and securing moderately priced private accommodation in Tours during the summer months or at the start of the academic year can be challenging. Nominated students are advised to follow partner guidance where available as soon as possible to begin any private accommodation search safely.
Additional useful information
Campus France also has pages dedicated to accommodation: Where to live during your stay and a list of accommodation options. Students should also consult the advice from the Centre d’Information et de Documentation Jeunesse (CIDJ).
Students in France who meet certain conditions are entitled to modest, monthly financial housing assistance payments from the French government to help with the cost of rent, whether they rent student accommodation or privately, alone or in a flat/houseshare (referred to as colocation); procedures to apply will slightly differ depending on the situation. These housing benefits are commonly referred to as "la CAF" or "the CAF" in both French and English (Caisse des Allocations Familiales), as this is the service of the government delivering the financial support. The type and amount of the funding you may be eligible for will depend on your living and renting situation, yet most students are eligible to receive Custom Housing Assistance (aide personnalisée au logement, abbreviated as "APL") in the amount of €180-€200 per month. You must open a French bank account in order to be eligible to receive payments. You must also eventually have a French social security number (enrolment and registration at UT facilitates this), yet you may be able to begin the application process without this. Learn more here about eligibility and further conditions for applying; guidance for international students applying for the first time can also be found here.
Transportation: The Transportation Service used within the city is called FilBleu. They operate via trams and buses. They offer a discounted yearly travel card for students, which may be favorable for those studying at UT for the full academic year. However, they also offer a monthly and daily top-up travel card. Consult the website above for pricing and travel card information.
Cost of living
More information and estimations for cost of living in Aix-Marseille Université can be found here. Please also consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Support services
Health and wellbeing: Students facing any emotional/well-being difficulties during their exchange can receive support from the UT’s professional social worker, available by appointment at the University’s Health Service / “Service de Santé Universitaire,” or SSU, located on the Plat d’Etain campus: 60 rue du Plat d’Etain - Building H (ssu@univ-tours.fr). Consultations are also available for a variety of needs and conditions. Find out more on Health page for incoming exchange students.
Student Life
Orientation week for new students takes place at the beginning of September. During this week you will have a presentation of the university and of the educational system. Several activities will take place during this week.
At the beginning of each semester, the International Relations Office organises an information meeting for new students to present the different university services and the programme of cultural outings for newly arrived international students aimed at helping students to learn about local heritage, history, and architecture. More information here.
Each semester, the International Relations Office organises the buddy system, also called "parrainage" in French. It is a matching system between a French student at UT with an exchange student in Tours for an academic semester or year. It enables students to easily meet a French student who will help them discover the city and the University. It is also a very good way to discover French life in an authentic way.
Student organisations: UT has numerous student organisations. Students can sign up and enjoy activities but also become a volunteer. Students can learn more during the "Village Associatif," (similar to an SU Activities Fair), organised at the beginning of September.
Sporting activities: Through the University Sports Service / “Service Universitaire des Activités Physiques et Sportives,” or SUAPS, students can practice different sports during either or both semesters and take part in sporting events (badminton night, Fac à vélo, event weekends), challenges and competitions. Interested students should sign up on ENT (Environnement Numérique de Travail) for classes and activities they are interested in. Please consult the SUAPS website for further information. Tip: Interested students are encouraged to do this as soon as it opens, as there are often many people for few seats. It is possible to be added to a waiting list, in which case impacted students should consult their ENT regularly for updates if they are able to have a place and register.
Cultural and artistic activities: UT’s Culture Service organises numerous cultural events throughout the year, including concerts, performances, conferences. Supervised artistic activities can be evaluated and credited with ECTS points for a semester or an academic year. Singing, theater and writing workshops are offered each year. Students can also join
EVUT (Ensemble Vocal Universitaire de Tours) subject to an audition.
Thanks to an agreement with the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Tours, UT can offer international students artistic activities that are not available at UT itself. The University Orchestra / "Orchestre Universitaire de Tours," or OUT, is a student association for musicians of all levels – please note that there is no evaluation/assessment.