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 | Training | Student Life
Ralph Florian Ngonga has his say

Every weeknight, he makes headlines on France 2 as the current champion of the game show “Tout le Monde a son mot à dire” (Everyone Has Their Say), hosted by Bruno Guillon and Sidonie Bonnec. The rest of the time, he is a diligent student in the...

Ralph Florian Ngonga has his say

Every weeknight, he makes headlines on France 2 as the current champion of the game show “Tout le Monde a son mot à dire” (Everyone Has Their Say), hosted by Bruno Guillon and Sidonie Bonnec. The rest of the time, he is a diligent student in the...

Press release | Innovation | Research
LARIAD, laboratory of the future for defense robotics

On Wednesday, February 18, Estelle Iacona, Director General of ENSTA, and Bertrand Rondepierre, Director of AMIAD, signed the agreement to create LARIAD, the Robotics and AI Laboratory for Defense. Aimed at developing the research programs of both...

LARIAD, laboratory of the future for defense robotics

On Wednesday, February 18, Estelle Iacona, Director General of ENSTA, and Bertrand Rondepierre, Director of AMIAD, signed the agreement to create LARIAD, the Robotics and AI Laboratory for Defense. Aimed at developing the research programs of both...

Research
Robotics at the heart of new pollution control devices

A container falls into the sea, spilling its contents and releasing pollutants of unknown nature. To anticipate such a crisis situation and respond as quickly as possible, teams from CEPPOL and CEDRE, with the help of researchers from ENSTA, collaborated...

Robotics at the heart of new pollution control devices

A container falls into the sea, spilling its contents and releasing pollutants of unknown nature. To anticipate such a crisis situation and respond as quickly as possible, teams from CEPPOL and CEDRE, with the help of researchers from ENSTA, collaborated...

All news