Paul Sabatier University, also known as Toulouse 3, was a public university located in Toulouse, France. It was one of the several successor universities of the University of Toulouse, established in 1229, making it one of the earliest universities to emerge in Europe. On January 1, 2023, the existing Toulouse University System, which included Toulouse III, was renamed the Université de Toulouse. Then, on January 1, 2025, Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier University adopted the name Université de Toulouse (University of Toulouse), absorbing and incorporating the former Toulouse University System, with the Purpan Engineering School as a graduate school.
Toulouse III was named after Paul Sabatier, winner of the 1912 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In 1969, it was established on the foundations of the old Toulouse university that was itself founded in 1229.
Université Toulouse-III was a leading educational institution in France and the Midi-Pyrénées region. It offered a wide range of programs in science, technology, health and athletics.
Contents
University research activities
The following list is not exhaustive.
Mathematics
Plasma and energy conversion laboratory (LAPLACE)
Space, astrophysics, aeronautics
Toulouse Space Center
Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space (ISAE SUPAERO)
National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC)
ISSAT,
Aerospace Valley
Computer science and electronics
Toulouse Institute for Computer Science Research (IRIT)
Biology, geoscience, earth sciences, climate
Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology
Health
Chemistry
Materials
Centre for Materials Elaboration and Structural Studies (CEMES)
University rankings
Shanghai ranking (2022)
Overall ranking : 201-300
Best Ranked Subjects
Remote Sensing : 7
Oceanography : 17
Earth Sciences : 28
Ecology : 37
Mathematics : 51-75
Atmospheric Science : 51-75
Water Resources : 51-75
Mining & Mineral Engineering : 51-75
QS (2026)
Overall ranking : =587
Major fields of study
Paul Sabatier University provides a diverse array of academic programs, encompassing licence (bachelor's), master's, and doctoral degrees across a wide spectrum of disciplines, such as science, engineering, health sciences, and sports-related fields.
Notable alumni
Aurore Avarguès-Weber (1983-), cognitive science researcher.
Hélène Bergès (1966-), French biologist, graduated with a PhD in genetics and molecular biology from UPS in 1995, director of the national plant genomic center (CNRGV) at INRA since 2003, chevalière of the Legion of Honor since 2015.
Anny Cazenave (1944-), French oceanographer, engineer emeritus at CNES (french space agency), elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 2004 in the Sciences of the Universe section, Officer of the Légion d'Honneur since 2010.
Merieme Chadid (1969-), Franco-Moroccan astronomer, graduated with a PhD in Astronomy and Space Studies from UPS in 1996.
Corinne Charbonnel (1965-), French astrophysicist, associate professor at the Geneva Observatory and research director at the CNRS, graduated with a PhD in astrophysics and space techniques in 1992 from the UPS.
Michel Chassang (1956-), a talented French doctor who graduated in medicine from UPS in 1984.
Pierre Cohen (1950-), French politician, mayor of Toulouse from 2008 to 2014, holds a doctorate in computer science from UPS, and was a research engineer in computer science at Toulouse Institute for Computer Science Research (IRIT) until 1997.
Philippe Douste-Blazy (1953-), cardiologist and French politician, member of parliament and mayor of Lourdes(1989-2000) then Toulouse(2001-2004), several times minister (Culture, Health, Foreign Affairs), special advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2017 to 2021, former professor of medicine at Toulouse University Hospital from 1988 to 2016, visiting professor at Harvard University Medical School since 2016.
Bérengère Dubrulle (1965-), French astrophysicist, graduated with a PhD from UPS in 1990.
Notable current faculty members
Guy Bertrand, chemistry professor at the University of California, San Diego, US
Pierre Cohen, member of the National Assembly of France