Best universities in France 2027

Discover the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 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 2027.
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.

October 6 2026

Top universities in France 2027

France Rank 2027	World University Rank 2027	University	Overall	Teaching	Research Environment	Research Quality	Industry	International Outlook
1	57	Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris	75.5	73.5	73.2	75.8	99.6	77.7
2	=75	Institut Polytechnique de Paris	71.1	74.3	63.9	65.4	98.9	93.8
3	78	Université Paris-Saclay	70.9	67.2	63.1	78.3	91.2	75.1
4	=201	Université Paris Cité	59.2	43.9	38.8	89.5	67.6	73.2
5	=231	EURECOM	58	39.2	29.5	89.1	99.9	95.3
6	326–350	École Normale Supérieure de Lyon	52.3–53.3	55.3	43.5	50.4	89.2	63
=7	401–450	Institut Agro	48.9–50.4	48.3	34.6	56	83.2	63
=7	401–450	Montpellier University	48.9–50.4	39.5	33.9	67.3	68.6	65.9
=7	401–450	Université Grenoble Alpes	48.9–50.4	43.1	38.7	61.8	69.7	68.4
10	451–500	IMT Atlantique	47.4–48.7	46.4	36.8	47.1	96.9	80.3
11	501–550	University of Toulouse	46.0–47.3	32.5	34.3	62.7	72.6	67.2
=12	551–600	Sciences Po	44.5–45.9	31.5	27.2	70.9	18.1	83.1
=12	551–600	University of Bordeaux	44.5–45.9	35.2	29.5	64.7	67.3	63.2
=14	651–700	Centrale Nantes	42.4–43.3	37.1	30.1	45.6	83.7	85.1
=14	651–700	École des Mines de Saint-Étienne	42.4–43.3	46.8	34.8	33.9	80	71.6
=14	651–700	École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l’État (ENTPE)	42.4–43.3	39.2	37.5	40.5	77.9	72.2
=14	651–700	University of Lille	42.4–43.3	33.2	25.7	60.7	65	64.1
=18	701–800	Claude Bernard University Lyon 1	40.2–42.3	26.7	27.1	64.1	68.9	59.6
=18	701–800	Nantes Université	40.2–42.3	27	22.2	68	67.2	59.2
=18	701–800	Université Côte d’Azur	40.2–42.3	30.3	21.3	60.5	64.2	73.5
=21	801–1000	Arts et Métiers	36.4–40.1	31.4	23.3	40.7	82.1	66.3
=21	801–1000	École Centrale de Lyon	36.4–40.1	38.8	24.6	28.7	87.8	76.1
=21	801–1000	IMT Nord Europe	36.4–40.1	32.8	32.7	32.5	70.5	74.5
=21	801–1000	Marie and Louis Pasteur University	36.4–40.1	22.8	22.7	52.8	62.4	65.2
=21	801–1000	National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon (INSA Lyon)	36.4–40.1	38.7	23.1	37.4	91.6	70.2
=21	801–1000	Panthéon-Sorbonne University – Paris 1	36.4–40.1	35.9	37	39.2	36	64.7
=21	801–1000	Université Bourgogne Europe	36.4–40.1	19.1	19.8	64.5	62.3	57.5
=21	801–1000	University of Rennes 1	36.4–40.1	32	22.3	52.5	70.3	61.1
=29	1001–1200	National Veterinary School of Alfort (EnvA)	33.3–36.3	44.1	13.8	42.7	51.5	51.4
=29	1001–1200	Université de Bretagne Occidentale	33.3–36.3	23.2	21.8	51.6	50.3	60
=29	1001–1200	University of Angers	33.3–36.3	16.5	22.4	54.4	58.9	71.3
=29	1001–1200	University of Clermont Auvergne	33.3–36.3	20.4	20.7	49.5	59.3	64.5
=29	1001–1200	University of Savoie Mont Blanc	33.3–36.3	18.7	18.8	56.1	53.9	63.7
=29	1001–1200	University of Technology of Compiègne	33.3–36.3	26.3	19.9	38.9	71.9	74.4
=29	1001–1200	University of Tours	33.3–36.3	31.5	18.4	43.2	49.3	59.6
=36	1201–1400	CY Cergy Paris University	30.5–33.2	27.2	20.6	33.7	51	89.6
=36	1201–1400	Paul-Valéry University, Montpellier 3	30.5–33.2	23.1	16.6	45.4	16.4	65.6
=36	1201–1400	Université d’Orléans	30.5–33.2	20.4	18.6	40.2	50.8	69.6
=40	1401–1600	Université de Poitiers	27.3–30.4	28.8	21.5	30.4	38.5	59
=40	1401–1600	Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France	27.3–30.4	18	21.2	32.2	30.8	70
=40	1401–1600	Université Sorbonne Nouvelle	27.3–30.4	25.6	21	23.7	40.9	68.7
=40	1401–1600	University of Rouen Normandie	27.3–30.4	25	15.9	39.9	50.6	54
=40	1401–1600	University of Technology of Troyes	27.3–30.4	33	13.1	24.2	42.9	73.2
=45	1601–1800	National Institute of Applied Sciences, Strasbourg (INSA Strasbourg)	24.2–27.1	22.4	11.3	31.1	37	69.2
=45	1601–1800	Paris Nanterre University	24.2–27.1	20.5	18.4	28.4	33.9	63.3
=45	1601–1800	University of La Rochelle	24.2–27.1	18.9	13.8	35.9	32.6	65.2
=45	1601–1800	University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour	24.2–27.1	24.8	13.2	23.6	32.1	73.4
48	2001+	Jean Moulin University – Lyon 3	12.2–20.3	15.6	15.3	16.6	20.2	62.1

Key insights into the top universities in France 2027

This year, 48 French institutions are counted among the top universities in the world.
The 2027 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 17 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.