The formation of the University of Toulouse was imposed on Count Raymond VII as a part of the Treaty of Paris in 1229 ending the crusade against the Albigensians.

As he was suspected of sympathizing with the heretics, Raymond VII had to finance the teaching of theology.

Initially, the university was located in the center of the city, together with the ancestors of student residences, the colleges.

[3] The current university system was created as a ComUE according to the 2013 Law on Higher Education and Research (France), effective on July 1, 2015.

It replaced the pôle de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur (PRES) which had been organized in 2007 to coordinate higher education and research in the region.