Living in Caen

Living in Caen

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Discover Caen

What if Caen were the perfect city for your engineering studies?

Caen is a vibrant city in Normandy, in north-western France. Even if you don’t know it, you’ve probably heard of its rich cultural scene, its historic heritage, its beautiful beaches, its tourist attractions and, of course, its lively student life. As an ESIX Normandie student, you’ll be sure to find an ideal environment for your personal and professional growth, thanks to the many schools and universities here including the University of Caen Normandy, which brings together nearly 32,000 students.

A city with something for everyone

If history and culture are more your thing, you can wander Caen’s medieval streets and explore its castles, museums and churches. If you’re keen on water sports, you can enjoy the beach and the marina. The city’s many parks and gardens also let everyone enjoy the outdoors and open-air activities.

Caen is a city that comes alive, by day… and by night!

Caen’s nightlife is buzzing. The city offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars and clubs, as well as plenty of cultural events throughout the year, such as festivals, concerts and shows. There are also lots of cinemas, theatres and concert venues here.

When it comes to facilities, Caen has excellent sports and leisure amenities, such as football pitches, swimming pools, gyms and much more. The city is also well served by public transport, with an efficient and affordable bus and tram network.

Caen is a dynamic, ever-changing city, with many ongoing projects to improve quality of life for its residents. It was recently ranked 2nd in L’Étudiant‘s ranking of major university cities, confirming its reputation for academic excellence and cultural energy. Students will find an environment that supports their personal and professional growth, along with plenty of opportunities to discover the region’s cultural richness while enjoying a thriving student life!

Your guide to Caen

  • For more than twenty years, the Caen Student Carnival has been the festive highlight of student life. Held every 3rd Thursday in March, it’s considered the largest student carnival in Europe. In 2022, the rapper Orelsan, a Caen native, made a surprise appearance there to film his music video “Du propre”.
  • Caen Castle is an absolute must: this medieval fortress is now home to the Normandy Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts — well worth a look!
  • Take a stroll through Caen city centre to admire the cobbled streets, the churches and the historic buildings.
  • Treat your eyes to Caen’s gardens, in particular the Jardin des Plantes, the Michel d’Ornano park and the Colline aux Oiseaux park.
  • The Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames are not to be missed. These two medieval abbeys are remarkable examples of Norman architecture.
  • Go shopping in the boutiques of rue Saint-Pierre, a lively pedestrian shopping street.
  • The wider Normandy region, of course, with sites such as the D-Day landing beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel and picturesque towns like Bayeux.
  • All the cultural events, such as the Beauregard Festival, the Les Boréales theatre festival, and Les Heures Musicales de l’Abbaye classical music festival.

Practical information

The university’s campuses and sites have catering outlets (university restaurants, cafeterias, points of sale, etc.) run by CROUS Normandie.

These outlets offer varied menus at an attractive student rate set at national level. You’ll find the list of CROUS Normandie catering outlets, their opening hours, menus and all the useful details on the CROUS website.

More information on the UNICAEN website.

More information on the UNICAEN website.

The Student Health Service (SSE) (formerly the SUMPPS) is responsible for supporting the university’s students medically, psychologically and socially throughout their studies. It’s there to welcome, listen to, advise and support students whenever needed.

For more information, please contact: sumpps@unicaen.fr