Living in Brest, capital of marine sciences & student metropolis

Dynamic student life, stunning coastline, rich history, diverse cultural offerings... Welcome to Brest, a welcoming place of creativity and innovation. A city of transitions and transformations, Brest strongly asserts its free-spirited identity. It is a city open to the ocean, a city on the move, a city that opens up new horizons.

Brest, one of the best French cities in which to study

Brest ranks 11th in 2025 according to this ranking by L'Etudiant. Nearly 85% of students recommend it!

 

The ultimate water sports destination

With its strong maritime focus, the city of Brest and its surroundings offer magnificent water sports facilities. Thanks to the sports office and the Sailing Team, a wide range of activities are available for beginners and experienced athletes alike.

A lively and festive student city

With more than 30,000 students, including 3,000 international students in the Brest metropolitan area, the city is bustling all year round.

There is a rich cultural program thanks to the many performance venues (Le Quartz, La Carène, Le Vauban, L'Arena, etc.) and the 350 festivals organized in Brittany (Les Vieilles Charrues, Les Petites Folies, Astropolis, Festival du Bout du Monde, etc.).

Simplicity and hospitality

Brest is one of the least expensive student cities in France, and it is also a welcoming city that goes out of its way to welcome new students. It offers the Pass Brest Life: an interactive map that lists many great deals for students. Easy to access (tram, cable car, bus), the public transport network provides quick connections between the ENSTA campus in Brest and the city center, the port, and the beach.

European capital of marine sciences

Brest is home to a center of excellence in marine sciences, comprising numerous research centers such as Ifremer, IRD, IUEM, and ENSTA. This dynamic network promotes interdisciplinary collaboration on major issues such as climate, marine biodiversity, marine renewable energies, and exploration robotics.

Brest is also at the heart of many international initiatives, such as the Ocean & Climate program, and regularly hosts global events such as the One Ocean Summit.

Brest and its surroundings

Photos taken by ENSTA students

Our latest news

Institute | Student Life
Schoolgirls today, engineers tomorrow

On Thursday, March 19, nearly 100 high school girls from three schools in Finistère were welcomed to the ENSTA Brest campus as part of the event “100 Women, 100 Careers: Engineers Tomorrow.” The afternoon’s program included a tour of the campus and...

Schoolgirls today, engineers tomorrow

On Thursday, March 19, nearly 100 high school girls from three schools in Finistère were welcomed to the ENSTA Brest campus as part of the event “100 Women, 100 Careers: Engineers Tomorrow.” The afternoon’s program included a tour of the campus and...

Alumni | Institute | Training
Graduation Ceremony in Brest: ENSTA Celebrates the Class of 2025, “Marie Marvingt”

March is graduation season for ENSTA’s community of young engineers, master’s students, and specialized master’s students across the school’s two campuses. Following the ENSTA Paris graduation ceremony, it was the turn of the 310 graduates from the ENSTA...

Graduation Ceremony in Brest: ENSTA Celebrates the Class of 2025, “Marie Marvingt”

March is graduation season for ENSTA’s community of young engineers, master’s students, and specialized master’s students across the school’s two campuses. Following the ENSTA Paris graduation ceremony, it was the turn of the 310 graduates from the ENSTA...

Research
A national library of dolphin vocalizations

Launched in late 2024, the PAMCéClass project, entrusted to ENSTA by the Offshore Wind Observatory and funded by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), aims to create a national library of vocalizations from several species of dolphins found along the...

A national library of dolphin vocalizations

Launched in late 2024, the PAMCéClass project, entrusted to ENSTA by the Offshore Wind Observatory and funded by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), aims to create a national library of vocalizations from several species of dolphins found along the...

All news