Curious to learn about about France’s top universities? In this article, we run through the top ten, providing a brief overview of each so you can get to know more about the country’s most prestiguous educational institutions…
France is a country of 68 million inhabitants, with the first universities in the country dating back to 1150. With such numbers and history, it’s no wonder France is home to some of the best universities in the world.
If you’re interested in studying in France, either for your whole degree or a year abroad, check out this post on the country’s best universities. The rankings below are based on the highly respected QS World University Rankings 2025.
1. PSL University
The Paris Sciences et Lettres University is made up of 11 constituent schools, the first of which was founded in 1530. PSL University itself was only founded in 2010 though, and received full university status in 2019.
The university has quickly established itself as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the world. Located in the Latin Quarter in central Paris, Université PSL has a great location too.
Studying here you’ll get a world-class education in the middle of one of the most exciting cities in the world. What’s not to love?
Location: Paris
Local name: Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (Université PSL)
Global university rank: 24th
Heading to the French capital for your studies? We have a huge range of student housing in Paris available for rent.
2. Polytechnic Institute of Paris
The Polytechnic Institute of Paris is a university that focuses on the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It consists of five grande écoles, which are specialized institutions of higher learning unique to France.
Located in the southern suburbs of Paris, about 17km from the city center, it has especially strong programs in the fields of mathematics, engineering, technology, statistics, and operational research.
It was formed in its current format in 2019 when it was separated from the Paris-Saclay University and today has just under 10,000 students.
Location: Palaiseau, Paris
Local name: Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Global university rank: 46th
3. Sorbonne University
Sorbonne University is a world-famous institution whose history reaches back to at least 1257, when Robert de Sorbon founded a theological college and named it Sorbonne College.
Throughout its long history, Sorbonne has had many notable students and staff, such as Marie and Pierre Curie. Marie Curie was the first female professor in the university’s long history.
Sorbonne’s alumni and staff have won a total of 33 Nobel Prizes, six Fields Medals, and one Turing Award.
Location: Paris
Local name: Sorbonne Université
Global university rank: =63rd
Interested in studying here? Browse our apartments near Sorbonne University.
4. Paris-Saclay University
Paris-Saclay University was established in its current format in 2019 but can trace its history all the way back to 1150 and the founding of the original University of Paris.
It’s a combination of a university and a technological research institute with several locations in the Paris metropolitan area and is made up of 15 constituent colleges.
The French government has explicitly said it wants Paris-Saclay to rival top American technological universities like MIT and Caltech.
Location: Orsay, Paris
Local name: Université Paris-Saclay
Global university rank: 73rd
5. École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
The highest-ranked university in France outside the Paris metropolitan area, the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (also known as ENS de Lyon) is located in the third-largest city in France: Lyon.
It has two academic units, one for arts and one for sciences. It’s a small university of just over 2,000 students, with particularly strong programs in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy, and earth sciences.
ENS de Lyon is a grande école, meaning it’s separate from but parallel to the French public university system.
Location: Lyon
Local name: École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
Global university rank: 187th
Looking for an alternative to Paris for your studies? Explore our student housing in Lyon.
6. Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University
Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University was established in 1971, but like some other universities on this list, it traces its origins to the founding of the original University of Paris in 1150.
The university has a great, central location in the Latin Quarter of Paris, and it occupies part of the original Sorbonne campus.
About 20% of the student population is from outside France. The university offers high-quality programs in a number of fields, most notably arts and humanities, classics, ancient history, and archaeology.
Location: Paris
Local name: Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Global university rank: 283rd
Like the sound of this university? Take a look at our student housing near Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University.
7. Paris Cité University
Paris Cité University is another Paris university that dates back to the founding of the University of Paris in 1150. The current Paris Cité University was created in 2019 from the merger of the universities of Paris V and Paris VII.
It’s headquartered on the Boulevard Saint-Germain and unlike most other top French universities, Cité is a very large one with over 60,000 students. More than 10,000 of these students come from outside France, so you’ll be studying in an international environment here.
Location: Paris
Local name: Université Paris Cité
Global university rank: 302nd
8. Grenoble Alpes University
Located in the small city of Grenoble, Grenoble Alpes University is the second university on this list outside the Paris metropolitan area. It’s one of the oldest universities in France, having been founded in 1339. Today, it’s also one of the largest in the country, with about 60,000 students.
Traditionally strong in natural sciences and engineering, the university also has highly ranked programs in linguistics, philosophy, and politics. It’s also home to one of the four institutes researching artificial intelligence in France.
Location: Grenoble
Local name: Université Grenoble Alpes
Global university rank: 334th
Applying to this university? Discover our student housing near Grenoble Alpes University.
9. Paris Institute of Political Studies
Established in 1872, Sciences Po is a university that has historically focused heavily on political sciences. In recent years, the university has started to expand to a wider range of social sciences, but its politics program is still the main star, with the university one of the best places in the world to study politics.
It also has strong programs in sociology, administration, and social policy. These days most graduates end up in the private sector, with auditing, consulting,g and finance sectors being some of the most typical career paths for Sciences Po graduates.
Politics is still popular as well though, and five of the eight presidents of the French Fifth Republic attended Sciences Po: Georges Pompidou, François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, François Hollande, and Emmanuel Macron.
Location: Paris
Local name: Institut d’études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)
Global university rank: =350th
Have your sights set on the university? Have a look at our student housing near Sciences Po.
10. National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon
The National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon (INSA Lyon) is one of France’s leading engineering schools and just makes it into the top 10 universities in the country.
Established in 1957, the university is part of the prestigious INSA Group, a network of top engineering schools in France. Courses at INSA Lyon cover areas like mechanical, civil and electrical engineering, computer science, and biomedical engineering.
Among its most popular courses is a rigorous five-year engineering, which initially focuses on general sciences and foundational subjects before students are given the option to specialize in their own areas of interest.
Location: Lyon
Local name: Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon
Global university rank: =405th
Heading to France for your studies?
So, there we have it: the 10 best universities in France. As you can see from the list, Paris dominates when it comes to top-rated institutions, with 7 out of the 10 best universities located in the Paris metropolitan area.
Four of the universities in the list are also ranked among the 100 best universities in the world, and all ten are within the best 450. So whichever of these universities you choose, you can be guaranteed to get a high-quality education. It’s just a question of finding the right university and the right degree program for you. Good luck!
Once you’ve found the perfect university, you’ll need to find some accommodation. Here at Student.com, we list student accommodation in France in dozens of cities across the country, simplifying the process of securing your dream student home.
