by Santiago Andres Torres Sanchez, Aarya Pillai, Srirupa Biswas, Sabarno Bhattacharya, Charlotte McClelland, and Juliette Mispouillé
Before your arrival, which procedures did you have to carry out to move to Toulouse?
Santiago (M2 EGR): Before moving to Toulouse, like most prospective students, I had to submit my application at the beginning of the year. The process was actually quite smooth; I simply needed to have my official documents translated into English or French. While I submitted my application directly through the TSE portal, I know that depending on your situation, the application might need to be done through Campus France. As is the case for any student preparing to move abroad, finding accommodation was a major source of anxiety. Fortunately, the university connected me with Toul'Box. This service made the entire transition incredibly easy, helping me with everything from securing housing to picking me up at the airport. Honestly, it was an absolute lifesaver.
Once in Toulouse, which procedures did you have to carry out to settle in?
Santiago: The most critical administrative step was the visa validation process, which required documents such as the admission letter, proof of housing (temporary or long-term), and proof of income. However, this process is relatively straightforward and shouldn't present any major complications as long as you read the instructions carefully and gather all the required paperwork. Another major hurdle I encountered was the famous "garant" (guarantor), which is required for most rentals in France. This can be a significant obstacle for non-EU students; luckily, platforms like Visale or Garantme are perfect solutions for these situations. Additionally, securing home insurance is mandatory before moving in, which can easily be purchased online. When it came to settling into daily life, the Toul'Box service took care of almost everything. From day one, they provided me with a public transport card and a SIM card for a French phone number.
Did you make use of any services/networks to receive guidance regarding settling down in Toulouse? What would you recommend to new students looking for guidance?
Santiago: I believe the most effective way to fully adapt upon arrival is to ask as many questions as possible to those who have already gone through the experience, especially students from your own university. Additionally, there are student communities and networks available to support you, such as ESN (Erasmus Student Network) or the Communauté d'universités et établissements.
Where are the best places to study in the city?
Srirupa (M2 EEE): Toulouse has a lot of good cafes to study in like The Coffee, Peanut, and Ras la Tasse. I'm partial to studying in the Heritage Library. The médiathèques are also good places to study.
Charlotte (M2 PPD): I've mainly studied at the Manufacture ("Manu") library and the Heritage library, but I know of other students studying at cafes like Ras la Tasse.
What are the best student-friendly places to shop?
Srirupa: For everyday basics, Normal and Action are good. Gifi is a nice option to buy household items. The open-air markets are great for groceries and produce. For clothing and general shopping, the area around Place du Capitole has a good mix of affordable fashion and independent shops, and if you want everything under one roof, the malls in Blagnac are easy to get to and cover pretty much anything you need.
Charlotte: I'm not sure what stores would be more student-friendly than others, but there are quite a few second hand shops in the center of the city. And I haven't been, but I think that there is a second hand market that happens at Saint-Aubin on Saturdays.
What has made Toulouse more fun for you?
Srirupa: Toulouse has been a really enjoyable city to spend time in. I really like getting breakfast at the Saint-Aubin Market with friends on Sundays. I also like going to the cinema, visiting museums, and taking walks along the Garonne. Playing tennis and hanging out with friends has added to it. It's been a good mix of things to do and the city has a relaxed energy that makes it easy to enjoy. It's also easy to take day trips to nearby villages and see the countryside.
Charlotte: Joining different dance studios and groups has made Toulouse more fun for me. There is a Toulouse Social Salsa group that organizes public socials when the weather is nice around the city (they also have an instagram page). I also found a dance school where I take Bachata classes called Latino Caliente, and also a tango dance group. It has been a fun way to be immersed in French while I'm still learning the language. Through my Bachata classes I also discovered the dance bar Puerto Habana that has different dance themes for the different nights of the week (as well as introductory classes each night). Whether you're interested in dance or not, I think this is an example of the various social groups that exist in the city that anyone can become a part of. It can be a way to continue your existing hobbies or find new ones! Also, of course, my friends in my cohort and other students at TSE are really what has made me so happy in Toulouse!
Did you stay in a CROUS residence or another type of accommodation? How did you secure it, especially regarding the guarantor requirement as an international student?
Sabarno (M2 EEE): I stayed at Résidence Arsenal, which is one of the CROUS dorms. Since I was lucky enough to receive a French government scholarship, Campus France actually took care of securing my room for me, which took a lot of the stress out of house-hunting. When it comes to the guarantor, the VISALE scheme is definitely the way to go. It's completely free, even for international students, and requires very little paperwork. You basically just need the details of the place you want to rent, your student visa and your acceptance letter. That's it! The system is very straightforward and solves the guarantor issue easily.
How do you organise your life in your CROUS residence? How do you usually eat and is it expensive?
Sabarno: At just 9.5 square meters, my room isn't huge (a dear friend actually jokes that it's a box). However, it manages to fit an en-suite bathroom and a kitchenette. Although small, it has a big window which lets a lot of sunlight in. The insulation is quite remarkable. It completely blocks out noise from the neighbors (unless I just have remarkably quiet neighbors) and keeps the room warm all winter. For chores, we have a laundromat in the building with seven washers and two dryers. It can get pretty busy, but there's a handy website that lets you track the machine status live, which saves me from waiting around in the laundry room. When it comes to food, Résidence Arsenal is unbeatable. Not only is it right in the center of town, but we also have the Resto U' l'Arsenal right on site. They serve lunch and dinner every day of the week, and since May, student meals are only €1. It's so affordable and convenient that I almost never have to cook for myself.
Are there any spots in Toulouse you would recommend for newcomers?
Juliette (M2 Eco-Droit): I would definitely recommend some cinemas : the American Cosmograph always shows great movies. It's €4 only on Wednesday night (with student discount). The ABC is also nice (near Saint Sernin). I would also take them on top of the Les Carmes parking lot for the sunset. You have a panoramic view of the city, it's soooo nice. Then, I would also recommend the Puerto Habana bar and especially on Thursday and Friday nights because it's quite international and they offer salsa and bachata classes!! What's also really cool during the summer time : les Terrasses de l'Atelier. It's not in the city center but you can easily get there by tram or metro. It's a restaurant/bar and it's cool to party without having to go to a club!
What is one piece of advice you wish you had received before moving to Toulouse?
Srirupa: Start with an open schedule. Don't overplan everything, you'll stress yourself out. The best parts of Toulouse will happen unscheduled.
Charlotte: I think it is really helpful to know at least a couple of basic pleasantries in French before you arrive. Everyone I have met has been very welcoming of my attempts at speaking French. Also, on a very different note, there are different train deals and passes that can make exploring the region easier— which I haven't done yet, but hope to do soon! In terms of studies, I think the help desks can be very helpful for clarifying concepts so I would recommend taking the opportunity to attend them.
Juliette: Don't try to rent a flat AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to university because there are so many nice neighborhoods to live in in Toulouse and daily commutes are actually quite short!! Maybe don't be shy to rent a room in a shared flat. Because even if you were used to your tranquility and your own space before, sharing a flat is the best way to meet people and to get more advice!
Santiago: The first piece of advice I wish I had received is that, despite Toulouse being in the "South of France", the weather is far from ideal for most of the year; it is best to come prepared for constant drizzle and strong winds.
Secondly, I would tell myself to truly enjoy my time here and take full advantage of all the perks that come with being a student in Toulouse. The locals are incredibly friendly, so you should never miss an opportunity to practice your French.
Lastly, if I could start over, I would definitely remind myself not to take my studies too seriously. Sometimes, taking a step back and distracting yourself is absolutely necessary for your brain to function at its best.
Sabarno: My biggest warning: prepare for the summer heat! It took some adjusting to live without air conditioning or fans. Beyond that, Toulouse is a very welcoming, cosmopolitan student city. Even with my limited French vocabulary, I can manage my daily life and errands.
When it comes to settling in, Toul'Box is very helpful. They help with everything: airport pickup, getting your transport card, opening a bank account, and visa validation. One crucial tip, though: double-check that your rental contract is 100% finalised before you arrive. I had a slight delay with my VISALE guarantor, which meant I couldn't move in immediately and had to book two extra nights at a hotel.