France · Occitanie
Study in Montpellier: medicine, biology and Mediterranean student life
Montpellier is among the youngest cities in France, with students making up a remarkable share of the population. Built around the oldest still-operating medical school in the Western world, it is strong in health, biology, agronomy and environmental science - and it sits in the warm Mediterranean south, ten minutes from the beach and affordable by big-city standards.
Why Montpellier
A young, sun-soaked student city with deep roots in medicine and the life sciences.
- Université de Montpellier: home to the oldest operating medical school in the Western world, strong in health, biology, pharmacy and agronomy
- A major hub for life sciences, agro-environmental research and a growing digital/health-tech scene
- One of France’s youngest cities, with one of the highest shares of students in the population
- Mediterranean climate and coast minutes away, with a tram network and a walkable historic centre
Universities & popular bachelor’s
Distinctive strengths in health and the life sciences - a clear case of choosing for subject, not just rank.
- Université de Montpellier: bachelor’s (licence) in biology, health, chemistry, sciences and law, with some English-taught tracks
- Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3: humanities, languages and social sciences
- Montpellier Business School: an English-taught Bachelor in Management with international exchanges
- Strong research institutes in agronomy and the environment (e.g. the Agropolis cluster) for project work and exchanges
Career prospects & ROI
A specialised regional economy in health, agro-science and digital - strong value for a low tuition.
- Industry connections: health and biotech, agro-environmental research and a growing digital/start-up scene recruit locally
- Internships (stages) are built into degrees and are the main bridge into a first job - start in your first year
- Post-study: master’s-level graduates qualify for the 12-month job-search permit (APS); most bachelor students continue to a master’s here
- A low cost base in the sunny south means a strong return on the same tuition investment
Cost of living in Montpellier
Estimates for the 2026 academic yearA student in Montpellier should budget around 922 € a month. The heaviest line by far is rent: a room in a shared flat goes for about 440 €, and most land between 360 € and 550 €.
- Room in a shared flat usually 360 € – 550 €
- 440 €
- Food and groceries
- 250 €
- Student travel pass
- 32 €
- Health insurance
- 25 €
- Phone, internet, electricity
- 65 €
- Books, sport, going out
- 110 €
- Monthly total
- 922 €
Ranked 3 of 8 on cost among the cities we cover in France, cheapest first.
Cheapest on our list: Grenoble, at about 902 € a month. →What things cost here, against the EU
Across the whole shopping basket France sits at 107.9, where the EU average is 100 (2024).
EU average = 100
Consumer prices rose 0.9% over 2025.
Where these numbers come from
The monthly budget is our own estimate, compiled from what student unions, universities and national student services publish. Use it to plan with — it is not a quote.
The price levels, inflation and rent figures are published statistics: Eurostat purchasing power parities and, for German states, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
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What it costs
An affordable Mediterranean city with full big-university resources.
- Public tuition: roughly €2,900/year for a non-EU bachelor; Montpellier Business School costs more but adds exchanges and career services
- Living costs: about €750–€1,050/month, with CROUS student residences the cheapest housing
- Proof of funds for the visa: about €615/month, shown as a bank statement or sponsor declaration - no blocked account required
- Part-time work: up to 964 hours a year (around 20 hours a week); housing aid (CAF/APL) open to international students
Life, safety & culture
A warm, youthful city built for students, ten minutes from the sea.
- Daily language is French; English-taught tracks exist, but B1–B2 French makes daily life, internships and part-time work far easier
- A lively, walkable historic centre with a famously young, student-driven atmosphere
- Generally safe and very student-oriented, with a large international community
- Mediterranean beaches, a tram network and fast trains along the south coast and to Spain
How to apply & the bureaucracy
Public university through Campus France; the business school runs its own admissions.
- Apply to Université de Montpellier via “Études en France” / Campus France in your country
- Montpellier Business School has its own application timeline - check deadlines a year ahead
- English-taught programmes accept IELTS/TOEFL; French-taught bachelor’s need DELF/DALF B2 (health programmes are taught in French)
- After admission, book your visa appointment immediately; allow 4–12 weeks for the student visa
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