As a port city, Marseille has always been a cultural melting pot. It is more cosmopolitan than most French cities and more radical in its politics, influenced by the traders and immigrants that have passed through its ports. As one of the closest major ports to Africa, the influence of that continent is perhaps felt the strongest.
Standing at the harbour looking south, you can almost feel Africa. It’s in the warm breezes coming north from the Sahara. It’s in the smell of the herbs and spices in the market, the sizzling street grills, and the call to prayer from the mosques. Having a massage in one of the city’s ancient hammams (Turkish baths) has become something of a local tradition.
Here at Casita, we understand that finding a place to live in a foreign city can be kind of tricky. That is why we offer a completely free of charge service to help students find the perfect place to call home away from home, no matter where they choose to study in the world. When you decide to find your student accommodation in Marseille, our accommodation experts will be of service with 24-hour support, and hundreds of options to choose from!
Why Book Student Accommodation in Marseille?
Marseille is a city that rose to the title of European Capital of Culture, which it had in 2013. The largest commercial port in France stands out as a unique blend of old structures and castles and a constantly developing vibe that introduces visitors and international students to the new. The oldest city in France holds the largest cruise port from the country and the longest bench in the world, la Corniche. This crossroads between Europe and Africa is known to be race and religion tolerant and has a cosmopolitan air that constantly attracts visitors. If you are looking for a destination to study in Europe where you can spend your free time getting to know a fascinating city, Marseille is waiting with a well-organized higher-education education system.
In Marseille, you will find programmes in most of the fields of study. Undergraduate degree courses can be found in engineering and technology, medicine, law and others. Your Bachelor’s degree will follow an academic or professional track and can lead to Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Master of Arts (M.A.) studies. Your graduate school abroad from Marseille will allow you to apply to a Master’s degree in education training or pursue a global MBA programme. There also are available state diploma programmes that provide knowledge in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and other health sciences.
Universities in Marseille
University of Aix-Marseilles
Casita has 4 accommodation options within close distance to the university.
More than 5 bus stops surround the campus; Le Pharo is just a minute walk away.
Mucem - Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean is just a 12-minute walk away from campus.
Central School of Marseille
Our accommodation options are all within close distance of the university.
More than 6 bus stops surround the campus; Keynes Langevin is just a 6-minute walk away.
L'Ombrière de Norman Foster is just a 22-minute car ride away from campus.
Student Life
Is Marseilles a good place to live?
Absolutely. Thanks to being awarded the accolade of European City of Culture in 2013, Marseille has seen a cultural renaissance which has rejuvenated the city as well as adding to its distinct charm. Nowadays, the lease of new life has given the city a creative and entrepreneurial edge, with artists setting up shop in Marseille and start-ups popping up almost every week. Whilst Marseille may not be quite as polished as its nearby neighbour, the French Riviera or its fiercest rival, Paris, expats will find it hard to tire of the city. There are numerous museums, cafes, restaurants, and shops close at hand and the Mediterranean coast on its doorstep to keep even the fussiest expat occupied.
Is Marseilles cheap to live in?
The cost of living for a student in Marseille follows the average of that of other French cities. Taking into account the rent, food, transport, and some extra activities, your budget will be around € 700-800 per month.
Is Marseilles good for students?
Marseille is a very good city to stay while studying. The city welcomes many students every year, therefore, it is a city full of life, a good atmosphere and, of course, a lot of partying. You will be able to dedicate yourself to your studies, but, when you have free time, enjoy all the experiences that this city has to offer.
Must-Visit Places in Marseille
Marseille’s massive rectangular Old Port has been trading for 2,600 years, and is more of a whole district than a single sight. On three sides are quays with broad promenades enclosed mostly 18th-century former warehouses. It seems like almost every one of these has a cafe or a fish restaurant on its ground floor, with outdoor seating so you can see life in this enchanting city unfold as you are having your meal. Industry has long moved to the modern docks to the docks to the north and most of the boats in the old port are for pleasure. However, at the innermost Quai des Belges, the latest catch is still brought ashore to be sold at the fish market by the water every morning.
Rising above the skyline to the south of the Old Port, The Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde is really hard to miss. It’s a 19th-century neo-Byzantine church 150 metres above the water with a large golden statue of the Virgin and Child at the top of its tower to watch over Marseille’s maritime communities. There had been religious sanctuaries and watch towers on La Garde for many centuries, and the basilica incorporates the lower levels of a renaissance fort that also included a chapel. The climb isn’t to be taken lightly in the summer, but there’s a tourist train departing regularly from the Old Port. Needless to say the scenery from up here is jaw-dropping.
For those who love all things modern or those who want to take a break from old monuments, MuCEM is there to entertain. Inaugurated in 2013, the cutting edge museum regenerated a portion of Marseille’s waterfront next to the 17th-century Fort de Saint-Jean. The architecture is breathtaking, but what’s inside is actually quite difficult to sum up, an overview of Mediterranean culture and civilisation, incorporating art, photography exhibitions, and historic artefacts. The museum’s exhibitions may not be the most consistent, capriciously jumping from period to period and theme to theme. They are, however, so diverse that there are galleries to capture everyone’s attention. Entry to the fort, built by Louis XIV, is included in the ticket, and this structure is connected to the museum by two bridges.
Transportation in Marseille
Marseille has a public transportation system called Régie des Transports Métropolitains, or RTM, for short. It includes a two-line metro system, a few tramway lines and a network of buses. A one-way ticket on metro, tram or bus will cost 1.60 euros (about $1.90); if you plan on using public transportation more frequently, you buy the TransPass rechargeable card or a City-Pass, which offers unlimited trips and is sold in 24-, 48- and 72-hour increments.
Cycling is an alternative pleasant and cost-efficient way of getting around Marseille; the city's bike-sharing program, Le Vélo, makes it easy. Travelers can sign-up online for just 1 euro, and can access the bikes as many times as they want within a seven-day period. The first 30 minutes of each ride is free. There are bike stations all over the city, and visitors can check the website to find how many available bikes each station contains. Also, if you have the City-Pass, you will get the first hour of each ride for free.
Taxi services are also available in Marseille. Visitors can hail a taxi via Uber or they can go to any of the 85 taxi stations spread out across the city.
Nearby Student Accommodation In France
Besides having facilities for student accommodation in Marseille, Casita also offers student accommodation in other French cities some of these cities are: