The Best Universities In France

Anyone hopeful to study in France will surely want to know what the best universities in France are. Not only are these educational institutions the top of France, but 38 French colleges and universities have actually been ranked among the world’s top universities with diverse options for your education.

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The Top 10 Universities In France

The Times Higher Education has a ranking system of the best universities in the world, as well as the best universities and colleges in each country. Here are the top 10 universities in France that they’ve ranked.

1. Paris Sciences et Research Lettres University

Tuition: $2,000 – 4,000 USD/year
Number of students: 21,000
One of the best universities in France, best known as simply PSL, is made up of 25 higher education institutions as well as research centers in Paris. The main aim of PSL is to be one of the top research institutions in the world. An impressive 26 Nobel prizes have been awarded to graduates of this university.

2. Sorbonne University

Tuition: $7,200 USD/year
Number of students: 43,000
Sorbonne University is a public research university with three faculties, including medicine, science, and humanities, with several campuses spread throughout Paris. Sorbonne also has a satellite campus in Abu Dhabi, making it also among the best universities in the world.

3. Ecole Polytechnique

Tuition: $12,00 – 17,000 USD/year
Number of students: 3,030
Ecole Polytechnique, located slightly under an hour from Paris, is the leading institution of science and technology in France, and has an impressive history of 225 years! Alumni of this university have made incredible contributions to the world we know today.

4. University of Paris

Tuition: $200 – $1,000 USD/year
Number of students: 61,000
The University of Paris is the leading multidisciplinary university in France and aims to find solutions to the challenges of the future, offering its students innovative and top-notch courses in a wide variety of fields.

5. CentraleSupélec

Tuition: $11,000 – $21,000 USD/year
Number of students: 4,3000
CentraleSupélec is known to be one of France’s most prestigious schools for engineering, and places a heavy significance on innovation in both applied and fundamental sciences, making it among the best universities in France. 3,200 of the school’s 4,300 students are studying engineering.

6. Telecom Paris

Tuition: $2,930 – $4,600 USD/year
Number of students: 920
Telecom Paris, a highly selective institution, has recently been added to the list of the top ranking universities. It has four departments, including computer science and networking, electronics and communications, as well as social science. Its goal is to become the “French MIT.”

7. École Normale Supérieure de Lyon

Tuition: $200 USD/year
Number of students: 2,300
Best known as ENS Lyon, this is a premier institution of learning and research, with many of the students coming as recruits from French preparatory schools. Financial support is given to students at ENS with the expectation that they will work for France once they complete their studies.

8. Paris-Sud University

Tuition: $200 – $430 USD/year
Number of students: 29,000
One of the cheapest universities in France, Paris-Sud University is spread across several campuses in the southern suburbs of Paris. It is one of the largest and most well established universities in France, especially so in the fields of mathematics and science.

9. École Des Ponts Paristech

Tuition: $1,150 – $15,000 USD/year
Number of students: 2,000
École Des Ponts Paristech has a highly prestigious history, and offers both undergraduate as well as postgraduate programs in science, technology, and engineering. The first class to ever take place at this institution taught themselves, without a professor, and is responsible for the impressive infrastructure of France.

10. Sciences Po Paris

Tuition: $11,400 USD/year
Number of students: 12,000
Sciences Po, also known as the Paris Institute of Political Studies focuses mainly in the political and social science, and is considered to be an elite place of study due to the many successful and prominent alumni, including seven French presidents and 13 French prince ministers — making it without a doubt one of the best universities in France, as well as among the best universities in the world.

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Other Top Universities In France

Based on a variety of factors such as teaching quality, reputations, and number of published works, these universities are also among France’s best.

1. Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

Tuition: $7,200 USD/year
Number of students: 42,000
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne is among the best universities in France when it comes to economics, business, and law.

2. École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay

Tuition: $1,000 – $1,700 USD/year
Number of students: 1,500
Wondering what the best universities in France for international students are? Well, ENS Paris is considered one of the cheapest French universities for international students and is outside of the public university system. Located in the Latin Quarter, this school is in close proximity to many popular sights, making for a great study abroad option.

3. Université Grenoble-Alpes

Tuition: $700 – $1,300 USD/year
Number of students: 41,400
Grenoble Alpes University has a history that dates as far back as 1339. It focuses mainly on civil law, canon law, liberal arts, and medicine. In 1793, it shut down during the French Revolution, but it was thankfully brought back by Napoleon in 1805.

4. Université de Strasbourg

Tuition: $200 USD/year
Number of students: 47,000
This university dates back to the 16th century — however, its new structure was founded in 2009. Offering degrees at all levels, most of its students study law, management, economics, and political science. Many international students study at this university as well, since it is considered one of the best universities in France for international students.

5. Université de Bordeaux

Tuition: $700 – $1,300 USD/year
Number of students: 56,000
The University of Bordeaux is known as one of the top universities in France for its quality of research and academic courses. In fact, it’s been named a ‘Campus of Excellence.’

6. Université Aix-Marseille

Tuition: $560 – $1,060 USD/year
Number of students: 78,000
One of the youngest French institutions and also one of the biggest in terms of the number of students, Aix-Marseille offers high-quality education in a wide diversity of topics.

7. Université de Montpellier

Tuition: $140 – $1,000 USD/year
Number of students: 39,400
Established in 1289, the University of Montpellier is among the oldest universities not only in France, but also in the entire world. It is a French public research university located in the south-east of France.

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How Do University Rankings Work?

The most reliable rankings are considered to be the QS World University Rankings. They base their results mostly on an academic survey that they conduct, gathering information for thousands of academics across the globe about the reputations of universities worldwide.

THE Rankings, short for The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is another ranking system that complies statistics on several factors, including research excellence, research impact through citations and teaching quality.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University also has a system known as The Academic Ranking of World Universities that places their focus mostly on research quality and output, such as the amount of scientific papers that have been published and cited by staff and alumni of the university, as well as the number of Nobel prize winners that attend the university.

These are the main ways that the best universities in the world are ranked.

What is Life Like as a Student in France?

What could be better than attending some of the best universities in France at an affordable cost?

Of course, many of the private institutions come with a hefty fee, but when it comes to public institutions in France, many of them are highly subsidized, allowing for students of all socio-economic backgrounds to have a chance at higher education.

France is also a very popular country for students to come to study from abroad, adding more English degree programs recently. Virtually any subject can be studied in English in France, offering a once-in-a-life-time experience to enjoy the French vibe and study where some of France’s finest attended.

A Tuition-Free Alternative

While studying in France might sound like a dream come true, it’s not always realistic for everyone to leave their families to study. The cost of studying in France is also not necessarily feasible for everyone.

Thankfully there are options to get a high-quality, US-accredited education — such as online tuition-free universities. The University of the People is not only tuition-free, but also allows for a unique study experience with the ability to get your degree from home or even to travel the world while you study!