At ISIMA, we believe that the choice of a course of study is not only limited to a field of expertise, but also to the environment in which students will evolve throughout their higher education.
Clermont-Ferrand, with its friendly atmosphere, dynamic economy, rich culture and exceptional natural setting, offers much more than just a backdrop for your university years.
Let’s take a tour of the assets of the city and its region:
🏙 Dynamic student city:
Clermont-Ferrand, a city where the heart of youth beats! With over 42,500 students, 10% of whom come from international backgrounds, the city is attracting more and more students in search of academic and personal experiences. Ranked the 8th best city in France in which to study by L’Étudiant, it offers an environment conducive to intellectual and social fulfillment. The University of Clermont Auvergne, with its 340 courses, including ISIMA, is a major contributor to the city’s dynamic student landscape.
🎓 Low cost of living:
Clermont-Ferrand is also attractive for its affordable cost of living. With rents among the lowest of France’s major student cities and a rich cultural life, its students can live their experience to the full without worrying too much about their budget. In a UNEF study, the city was ranked as one of the most financially advantageous places to study, offering an ideal balance between quality of life and financial responsibilities.
Focus on the UNEF study.
The ranking calculates the cost of student life in the 34 biggest university towns, including :
- A fixed amount (food, utilities, books, telephone and leisure) based on data from the Observatoire de la Vie Étudiante (Student Life Observatory)
- Average rent for student accommodation in the city, measured each year by Locservice.fr
- The annual cost of public transport for students.
Clermont ranks tenth in the list of least expensive cities:
- Average monthly rent for a student in Clermont-Ferrand: 366 euros
- Rent cost ratio between Paris and Clermont: x 1.6
- Percentage of a Clermont-Ferrand student’s budget devoted to rent (national average 55%): 51.8%.
- Annual transport budget for a Clermont-Ferrand student: 231 euros
Please note: The study does not take into account any assistance that students may receive: APL, scholarships, etc.
💼 Fertile economic ground
As the capital of central France, Clermont-Ferrand stands out for its economic dynamism, driven in particular by the presence of 14,000 companies in the Clermont Métropole region, including such strong names as Michelin, Trelleborg, Théa Laboratories, Limagrain, and Volvic.
This economic diversity offers our students a wide range of stimulating professional opportunities, helping to forge brilliant careers.
🎉 A vibrant cultural life:
The city shines with its reputation as a festive town, offering residents a profusion of cultural events throughout the year.
From the Festival International du Court-Métrage to Europavox, not forgetting Jazz en tête and Cicéphore +, Clermont-Ferrand is a breeding ground of captivating activities for curious minds. Aspiring to become European Capital of Culture in 2028, its commitment to cultural development is unwavering.
Formerly the Capital of Rock, the metropolis vibrates to the sound of live music, with its 8 concert halls and 1,200 live shows every year.
The Such’Art trail, an artistic and cultural stroll through the heart of the city center, features around a hundred works of street art, including graffiti, paintings, collages and Lego paintings. More than 40 artists are behind these works, which can be seen on a 2.5 km loop.
In the Summer, open-air concerts and exhibitions, and film screenings in Place de la Victoire and Place du 1er Mai, offer an immersive cultural experience for art and music enthusiasts.
🏞 An exceptional living environment:
Clermont-Ferrand offers an exceptional living environment, nestled at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, a site classified as a Grand site de France®, and close to the Parc naturel des Volcans d’Auvergne, France’s largest natural park, as well as Vulcania, the European Volcanism Park.
Between hikes in the Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage site, days spent by the lakes in summer (over a dozen swimmable lakes less than an hour from downtown Clermont), and winter sports activities in one of its five ski resorts, students can get away from it all and recharge their batteries in the heart of nature.
In the city center, the Montjuzet, Lecoq and Bargoin parks (and others) are popular with students in the spring, offering places to relax and enjoy outdoor activities.
Clermont-Ferrand is particularly lively in the evenings, especially on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, when students enjoy the lively squares such as Place de la Victoire, Place de Jaude, Place du 1er mai, Place des Salins and Place du Mazet, lined with cafés, bars and restaurants, some of which are Michelin-starred.
ISIMA, located on the Cézeaux campus, overlooks the city in a verdant setting with panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys and Gergovie. Served by bus and streetcar, it offers all the services required for student life, from accommodation and sports facilities to health services and community life.
The quality of life in Clermont-Ferrand is a real asset for students seeking a balance between study and well-being. With its high-quality sports facilities, varied cultural amenities and dynamic student initiatives, Clermont-Ferrand is a city where it’s good to study and good to live.
🌍 Open to the world:
Clermont-Ferrand occupies a strategic position at the heart of France and at the junction of the main European axes, linking northern and southern countries.
This privileged location facilitates trade and travel, particularly to other major cities such as Lyon, which can be reached in just 2 hours by car, Grenoble in 3 hours, Paris in 3.5 hours by train, and Geneva in 3.5 hours by car.
In addition, Clermont-Ferrand airport, around 15 minutes from the city center, offers up to 8 daily flights to Paris, as well as a wide range of European and international destinations via four major hubs: Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Amsterdam and Lyon.
It is the region’s second-largest international airport, after Lyon’s Saint-Exupéry. The latter, which links Clermont-Ferrand residents to the whole world, is just 2 hours away by car.
🏃 A city of sports and champions:
Clermont is a true paradise for sports enthusiasts, both outdoor and indoor.
Just 30 minutes from the city center, the exceptional setting of the Parc des Volcans d’Auvergne offers a unique choice of sporting activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
In addition to the classic disciplines, the full range of outdoor sports is on offer. Golf, paragliding, mountain biking, horse-riding, hiking, white-water sports, water sports and mountain sports are all facilitated and magnified by the wild and exceptional natural setting of the Massif Central.
The sports town in key figures:
- 3 ski areas less than an hour from downtown,
145 sports facilities,
34,000 members,
520 sports associations and sections,
110 disciplines,
80 volcanoes,
400 hectares of regional nature parks,
4,000 km of marked trails
The metropolis is home to many international sporting champions, including Renaud Lavillenie (Olympic pole vault champion), Rémi Cavagna (French road cycling and individual time trial champion), Ludovic Lemoigne (French disabled fencer, category A foil and sabre fencer).
Finally, Clermont is also renowned at the highest sporting level, with teams such as ASM Clermont Auvergne, playing in the Top 14 rugby league and having won the French championship in 2010 and 2017, as well as Clermont Foot 63, representing the city in Ligue 1 soccer.