What’s it like to study a Masters in Nantes?
Nantes was an important French port for many years and today the city is a vibrant, creative place that thrives on its reputation for culture. On the île de Nantes – an island in the middle of the city, surrounded by the Loire river – you can find the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, an artistic project that has populated the old shipyards with an array of bizarre mechanical creatures. Inspired by the fantastical works of writer Jules Verne, one of Nantes’ most famous sons, the installation is a fitting tribute to a city commonly considered the birthplace of the surrealist art movement.
Masters students in Nantes can expect to find it a pleasant and welcoming place. Having received the European Green Capital Award in 2013, Nantes works hard to protect its natural spaces – these include 250km of rivers and streams, as well as over 100 parks and gardens. The city is rightfully proud of its quality of life, which benefits from an extensive city-wide initiative to reduce emissions, promote sustainability and preserve biodiversity.
Although Nantes is historically part of Brittany, the city is not part of the administrative Breton region, which has Rennes as its capital. Nevertheless, Nantes retains close cultural ties with Brittany and you can see this influence across the town.
If you’re looking for student accommodation in Nantes, the best place to start is CROUS Nantes, which offers several types of university housing.
Universities in Nantes
Over 50,000 students attend higher education institutions in Nantes. There is one public research university, the University of Nantes, which traces its roots back to a medieval institution founded in 1490, although the university in its current form has only existed since 1970. Its diverse student body includes 4,200 international students from 140 different countries
The Audencia Business School is also based in Nantes. Audencia is a grande école that offers a range of Management-based Masters programmes in English. Other grandes écoles in the city include the École Centrale de Nantes and the École Polytechnique de l'Université de Nantes.
Careers in Nantes
Nantes is the economic centre of Western France and enjoys excellent job prospects. More than 3,500 companies are created in Nantes each year, and it’s the second-best city in France for employment growth (excluding Paris).
In terms of local industries, the Nantes region is the biggest centre for shipbuilding in France. Other important sectors include aeronautical engineering, renewable marine energies and food processing, as well as the cultural industries.