Top universities in France 2026

By seeta.bhardwa@…, 11 December, 2025

Top universities in France 2026

France Rank 2026	WUR Rank 2026	University	Overall	Teaching	Research Environment	Research Quality	Industry	International Outlook
1	48	Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris	76.5	74.2	71.8	79.8	99.7	77.9
=2	=68	Institut Polytechnique de Paris	71.6	71.8	62.4	70.9	99.1	95.1
=2	=68	Université Paris-Saclay	71.6	67.9	62.2	80.6	92.4	76
4	=76	Sorbonne University	70.4	67.6	59.2	81.6	73.1	78.4
5	=190	Université Paris Cité	59.3	44.4	38	89.9	68	73.1
6	301–350	École Normale Supérieure de Lyon	51.6–54.2	56.8	44	51.9	90.2	64.4
7	351–400	Université Grenoble Alpes	49.9–51.5	42.6	36.7	62.7	70	69.4
=8	401–500	IMT Atlantique	46.2–49.8	47.3	35.5	48.3	97.8	81.2
=8	401–500	Institut Agro	46.2–49.8	48.4	34.9	58.2	78.7	64.2
=8	401–500	Montpellier University	46.2–49.8	39.5	33.5	68.7	68.7	66.8
=8	401–500	University of Bordeaux	46.2–49.8	36.8	28	68.6	68.3	64.6
12	501–600	University of Toulouse	43.6–46.1	32.5	30.7	62.9	71	67.7
=13	601–800	Centrale Nantes	39.0–43.5	39.9	31.2	41.7	86.1	85.4
=13	601–800	Claude Bernard University Lyon 1	39.0–43.5	27	26.4	62.6	70.1	60.2
=13	601–800	École des Mines de Saint-Étienne	39.0–43.5	47.3	31.3	30.1	78.9	72
=13	601–800	École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)	39.0–43.5	36.4	37.2	41.8	80.1	71.7
=13	601–800	Nantes Université	39.0–43.5	29.3	21.4	65.6	67.6	59.8
=13	601–800	Sciences Po	39.0–43.5	30.1	24.8	67.9	18.6	82.9
=13	601–800	Université Côte d'Azur	39.0–43.5	30.9	20.8	61.4	65.8	81.6
=13	601–800	University of Lille	39.0–43.5	33.6	23.4	58.5	67	65.1
=13	601–800	University of Rennes 1	39.0–43.5	34.3	20	53.4	70	62.2
=22	801–1000	Arts et Métiers	35.5–38.9	35.1	23	40.6	82.5	66.3
=22	801–1000	École Centrale de Lyon	35.5–38.9	37.2	22.8	29.5	85.5	76.3
=22	801–1000	IMT Nord Europe	35.5–38.9	32.9	31	28.8	68.4	72
=22	801–1000	Marie and Louis Pasteur University	35.5–38.9	22.5	20	51.9	64.6	68.1
=22	801–1000	National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon (INSA Lyon)	35.5–38.9	38.7	22.9	36.7	93.3	69.6
=22	801–1000	National Veterinary School of Alfort (EnvA)	35.5–38.9	44.3	11.9	44.2	44.7	54.7
=22	801–1000	Panthéon- Sorbonne University – Paris 1	35.5–38.9	36.9	34	38	35.8	63.4
=22	801–1000	Université de Bretagne Occidentale	35.5–38.9	27	19.6	51.8	49.4	63.3
=30	1001–1200	CY Cergy Paris University	32.1–35.4	26.3	20.5	38.1	56.5	90.1
=30	1001–1200	Université Bourgogne Europe	32.1–35.4	19.5	16	58.8	61.1	58.4
=30	1001–1200	University of Angers	32.1–35.4	18.8	23.1	51.1	58.6	70.9
=30	1001–1200	University of Clermont Auvergne	32.1–35.4	20.8	18.6	49.3	60.1	65.4
=30	1001–1200	University of Savoie Mont Blanc	32.1–35.4	17.8	17.6	58.4	55.1	62.9
=30	1001–1200	University of Tours	32.1–35.4	30.9	15.9	42.7	47.7	59
=36	1201–1500	Université de Poitiers	27.3–32.0	27.5	20.9	30.5	39.7	61.6
=36	1201–1500	Université d’Orléans	27.3–32.0	20.3	16.6	46.1	51.7	70.1
=36	1201–1500	University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne	27.3–32.0	29.1	9.8	37.4	36.4	56.1
=36	1201–1500	University of Rouen Normandie	27.3–32.0	24.9	13.9	38.3	51.6	55.9
=36	1201–1500	University of Technology of Compiègne	27.3–32.0	28.7	11.6	30.6	58.7	81.9
=41	1501+	Jean Moulin University – Lyon 3	10.3–27.2	15	13.7	16	29.6	59.6
=41	1501+	National Institute of Applied Sciences, Strasbourg (INSA Strasbourg)	10.3–27.2	23.2	9.3	28	36.9	69.8
=41	1501+	Paris Nanterre University	10.3–27.2	21.5	16.6	27	35.7	61.5
=41	1501+	Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France	10.3–27.2	17.4	8.3	35.3	57.7	68.2
=41	1501+	Université Sorbonne Nouvelle	10.3–27.2	28	12	23.3	37.4	67.3
=41	1501+	University of La Rochelle	10.3–27.2	19.7	12.6	33.6	30.2	65.5
=41	1501+	University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour	10.3–27.2	24.4	12.5	20	31.7	76.2
=41	1501+	University of Technology of Troyes	10.3–27.2	31.8	11.4	22.2	40.4	75.2

Key insights into the top universities in France 2026

This year, 48 French institutions are counted among the top universities in the world.
The 2026 ranking includes 10 institutions in Paris – the most represented city in France.
Universities in Paris take the top five spots, but institutions in Lyon, Marseille and Montpellier also feature in the top 10.
The best university in France is Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris, a collegiate university formed of 25 research and higher education institutions in the Paris area and three national research institutions.

How to choose a university in France

France is a popular destination for international students because of its range of high-ranking universities and reasonable tuition fees. Students in France are able to access a range of benefits such as some social security, housing subsidies and basic rights protection, so do ask your university’s international office for some assistance.

Students are allowed to work in France if they have a valid student visa.

The table for the best universities in France was derived from data collected for the THE World University Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry, and international outlook. For more insight and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the France university ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.

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Best universities

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Discover the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 and explore which universities in France rank the highest.

This list reveals the best universities and colleges in France, according to the trusted THE World University Rankings 2026.

Universities across France are scored in areas such as teaching, research and international outlook.

It uses a robust methodology, created by the in-house data team, that is relied upon by students, academics, policymakers and industry leaders worldwide.

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Best universities in France 2026