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University of Toulouse

University of Toulouse
Université de Toulouse (French)
Motto
Les sciences au cœur
Motto in English
Science at its core
TypePublic
Established1229; 797 years ago (1229)
Academic affiliations
Toulouse University System
Budget€430 million
PresidentOdile Rauzy
Academic staff
2,509
Total staff
4,300
Students37,000
Location, ,
France
Campus
LanguageFrench
Websitewww.univ-toulouse.fr
Map

The University of Toulouse (French: Université de Toulouse, pronounced [ynivɛʁsite tuluz]; Occitan: Universitat de Tolosa) is a public research university, based in Toulouse, France. Originally it was established in 1229, making it one of the earliest universities to emerge in Europe. Suppressed during the French Revolution in 1793, it was refounded in 1896 as part of the reorganization of higher education. It was finally abolished in 1969, giving birth to the three universities: Toulouse 1 Capitole University, University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès and Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University. On 1 January 2023, the Toulouse university system took the name of Université de Toulouse, and on 1 January 2025 it became the Toulouse-III - Paul Sabatier University.[1]

In particular, the University of Toulouse is the leader of the university system with which it is associated, along with the Toulouse Capitole University and the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès. This development, strongly desired by the elected officials of the Occitania region and Toulouse Métropole, aims to give greater visibility to Toulouse higher education in international rankings.

History

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Origins

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Entrance to the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Toulouse, 2017.

The formation of the University of Toulouse was imposed on Count Raymond VII as a part of the Treaty of Paris in 1229, ending the crusade against the Albigensians. As he was suspected of sympathizing with the heretics, Raymond VII had to finance the teaching of theology. Bishop Foulques de Toulouse was among the founders of the university. Among its first lecturers were Jean de Garlande and Roland of Cremona. Other faculties (law, medicine) were added later. Initially, the university was located in the center of the city, together with the ancestors of student residences, the colleges.[citation needed]

Split of the University of Toulouse

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In 1969, the University of Toulouse split into three separate universities and numerous specialised institutions of higher education. The three universities are: Toulouse 1 Capitole University, University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, and Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University.[citation needed]

Attempts at refoundation, with the university system

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The university system was founded on 27 March 2007.[2] It no longer represented a single university; it was the collective entity (PRES) which federated the universities and institutions of higher education in the Toulouse region. With more than 100,000 students, Midi-Pyrénées is the fifth-largest university area in France.[3]The current university system was created as a ComUE according to the 2013 Law on Higher Education and Research (France), effective on 1 July 2015. It replaced the pôle de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur (PRES), which had been organized in 2007 to coordinate higher education and research in the region.[citation needed]

In 2021, Patrick Lévy conducted an audit of the university site, which proposed changes.[4] In 2022, this process led to the evolution of the institution towards the status of an experimental ComUE.[5] On 1 January 2023, the Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées became the University of Toulouse.[citation needed]

2025: refoundation of the University of Toulouse

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On 1 January 2025, the Université de Toulouse university system became the Communauté d'universités et établissements de Toulouse when the Toulouse-III - Paul Sabatier University adopted the name Université de Toulouse. The experimental public institution Université de Toulouse is created to replace the Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University, with the Purpan Engineering School as a graduate school.[6]

Research

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The following list is not exhaustive.[citation needed]

University rankings

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  • Shanghai ranking (2022)[7]
    • Overall ranking : 201-300
    • Best Ranked Subjects
      • Remote Sensing : 7
      • Oceanography : 17
      • Earth Sciences : 28
      • Ecology : 37
      • Mathematics : 51-75
      • Atmospheric Science : 51-75
      • Water Resources : 51-75
      • Mining & Mineral Engineering : 51-75
  • QS (2020)
    • Overall ranking : 511-520[8]

Major fields of study

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Administration building located at the entrance of the university

The University of Toulouse provides a diverse array of academic programs, encompassing licence (bachelor's), master's, and doctoral degrees across a wide spectrum of disciplines, such as science, engineering, health sciences, and sports-related fields.[citation needed]

Faculty

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  • Paul Sabatier, (chemist) (1854–1941), Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Toulouse in 1905. Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with fellow Frenchman Victor Grignard in 1912.
  • Adrianus Turnebus, (1512 – 12 June 1565), classical scholar.
  • Pierre Laromiguière, (3 November 1756 – 12 August 1837), philosopher.
  • Jean Jaurès, (3 September 1859 – 31 July 1914), politician.
  • Paul Fauconnet, (1874–1938), sociologist.
  • Raymond Aron, (14 March 1905, Paris – 17 October 1983) philosopher, sociologist and political scientist.

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. "Homepage". Université de Toulouse.
  2. "Décret n° 2007-385 du 21 mars 2007 portant création de l'établissement public de coopération scientifique Université de Toulouse – Legifrance". Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  3. [pdf] Regional atlas student population in 2008–2009
  4. "Fusion ou nouvelle gouvernance ? Les universités de Toulouse face à leur destin (collectif)". La Tribune (in French). 22 February 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. "Naviguer dans le sommaire". www.legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  6. "Adieu "Paul Sabatier", bonjour "Université de Toulouse" : la faculté des sciences et santé change de nom et de statut au 1er janvier". France 3 Occitanie (in French). 12 June 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  7. "Shanghai Ranking 2022 - Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse 3)". Shanghai Ranking. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  8. "QS World University Rankings 2020 - Universite Paul Sabatier Toulouse III". QS Top Universities. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  9. "Thomas Pesquet". European Space Agency. 20 May 2005. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
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43°36′16″N 1°26′38″E / 43.60444°N 1.44389°E / 43.60444; 1.44389