Home Our residences Guide — Limoges student city University residences University Meissonier University Dutreix E-Magine — Isle Vanteaux district 🌐 English Contact Begip →
Home › Limoges, a student city
Why Limoges

Studying in Limoges:
a city made for students

Often underrated next to the big cities, Limoges is one of the best cities in France to study with peace of mind. The capital of the Haute-Vienne, it is home to about 17,500 students around the University of Limoges — a multidisciplinary university — and a network of well-regarded schools: engineering (ENSIL-ENSCI), art (ENSA Limoges), management (IAE), health (IFSI), not forgetting BTS courses and preparatory classes.

Its greatest asset comes down to two words: human scale. Here you don’t lose an hour on transport to reach your campus, you find housing easily, and a student’s monthly budget stretches much further than elsewhere. That’s exactly what this guide sets out: how much student life costs in Limoges, where the campuses are, which districts to live in, which benefits to claim and how to find your home.

The real advantage

The cost of student living
in Limoges: among the lowest in France

In the annual student cost-of-living rankings, Limoges regularly features among the cheapest cities in France. And it shows across every spending category — not just rent.

🏠
Housing
The biggest item in the budget, and this is where Limoges makes the difference. A studio rents from ~€280/month (self-contained studio) and from €350 including charges in a serviced residence — far below big-city prices. Eligible for APL/ALS.
🚌
Getting around
A compact city: many students live without a car. The STCL bus network covers the whole conurbation with attractive youth passes, and most journeys are made on foot or by bike.
🍽️
Eating
The Crous university canteens offer a full meal at a subsidised price (~€3.30, €1 for grant-holders). Markets, local shops and moderate local prices lighten the grocery budget further.
🎭
Going out & leisure
A lively but affordable student life: cafés, concerts, cinema, clubs and campus events at reasonable prices. You enjoy the city without blowing your budget.

💡 The takeaway: on the same budget, a student lives more comfortably in Limoges than in most large university cities. As rent is the heaviest item, it’s also the first place to save — which is why it pays to choose your home well from the start.

The campuses

The campuses and faculties
of Limoges

The University of Limoges and the city’s schools are spread across several hubs. Knowing where your course is located is the first step to choosing your district and your home.

Hub / area Main courses Housing nearby
La Borie / IUT area Sciences & Technology, IUT du Limousin, STAPS Meissonier & Dutreix
Health area (Marcland / Isle) Medicine, Pharmacy, hospital, IFSI (nursing) E-Magine — Isle
City centre Law & Economics, Arts & Humanities, IAE Depending on the bus line — ask us
Vanteaux Historic student district, near campus Vanteaux district
Ester Technopole ENSIL-ENSCI (engineering school), research hub Depending on the bus line — ask us

Need help pinpointing your institution and the best-suited residence? See our dedicated page  university residences in Limoges or contact the Begip agency directly.

Where to live

Housing in Limoges:
the 3 main options

Depending on your budget, independence and campus, three options are open to you. All are eligible for CAF benefit.

The most services
Student residence
A studio in a residence dedicated to students, with services included (WiFi, launderette, security, sometimes a gym). A student atmosphere and peace of mind for parents. From €350/month incl. charges.
See the residences →
The most affordable
Self-contained studio
A furnished or unfurnished studio in the city’s general rental market, in the district of your choice. The most flexible option and often the cheapest, from ~€280/month. Ideal if you want to optimise your budget.
See the studios →
The most sociable
Flatshare
Sharing a larger flat between several people: more space and comfort for a controlled rent per person. A good option for tight budgets that want space and group living.
Ask us →

The student districts of Limoges

La Borie appeals to students in sciences, at the IUT or in STAPS: a leafy setting with shops and the science campus close by. The city centre suits those studying law, arts or at a business school who want everything within reach (faculties, station, nightlife). The Vanteaux district, historically student, remains very sought after. Finally, around Isle and the health area, there’s a quiet, residential setting popular with students in medicine and nursing.

Housing benefit

Cutting your rent further:
the benefits to know

Once you’ve found your home, several schemes bring the bill down. In Limoges, with rents already low, the effect is even more striking.

💶
APL / ALS (CAF)
CAF housing benefit can cut your rent by €100 to €180/month depending on your situation. Begip homes are eligible. Estimate it at caf.fr.
🎓
Crous grants
The means-tested grant (student social application) can be combined with APL or ALS. Two forms of support that add up to a minimal net cost.
🤝
Application support
A local agency for over 30 years, Begip helps you put together a strong application and find the guarantee solution suited to your situation. A real person, not a call centre.
FAQ

Living and studying in Limoges:
your questions

The essentials to know before you settle in the capital of the Limousin.

Limoges is home to about 17,500 students, based around the University of Limoges (a multidisciplinary university spread over several campuses: sciences, health, law, arts, sport) and specialist schools: ENSIL-ENSCI (engineering), ENSA Limoges (art), IAE (management), IFSI (nursing), plus BTS courses and preparatory classes. A real university city, but on a human scale.
No, quite the opposite. Limoges regularly ranks among the cheapest student cities in France in cost-of-living surveys. Housing is far more affordable than in the big cities, and transport, food and going out remain accessible. On the same budget, you live more comfortably here than elsewhere.
Allow from around €280/month for a self-contained studio, and from €350 including charges in a serviced student residence. These homes are eligible for CAF’s APL or ALS benefit (€100 to €180/month): what you actually pay often drops to around €175 to €250/month, a level that’s rare among French university cities. See our university residences in Limoges.
Limoges is a compact city: most student districts and campuses are reachable on foot, by bike or a few minutes by bus. The STCL network serves the whole conurbation with attractive youth passes. Many students go without a car, which lightens the budget further.
It’s best to start early: the peak search season runs from May to September, with a peak after the baccalauréat and Parcoursup results. The most sought-after studios go quickly. Contacting a local agency such as Begip in the spring gives you the pick and lets you secure your home before term starts.
Ready to settle
in Limoges?

Begip helps you find the ideal student home, close to your campus and suited to your budget. Eligible for APL/ALS, €130 fees, local advice for over 30 years.

📞 Contact Begip — 05 55 33 97 50 See the residences →