59 Best universities for Art History in France

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in France ranked based on their research performance in Art History. A graph of 231K citations received by 14.7K academic papers made by 59 universities in France was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#12 in Europe

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Art History

#62 in Europe

#165 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Art History

#66 in Europe

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,490
Founded: 1970

4. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#77 in Europe

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,536
Founded: 1794

5. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Art History

#102 in Europe

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,465
Founded: 1432

6. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Art History

#108 in Europe

#262 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

7. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#113 in Europe

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

8. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#115 in Europe

#275 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

9. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Art History

#117 in Europe

#278 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

10. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Art History

#129 in Europe

#311 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

11. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Art History

#146 in Europe

#345 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

12. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#159 in Europe

#372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,523
Founded: 1970

13. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art History

#163 in Europe

#392 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

14. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Art History

#170 in Europe

#409 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

15. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art History

#174 in Europe

#417 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

16. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Art History

#184 in Europe

#436 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

17. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Art History

#197 in Europe

#477 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

18. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Art History

#199 in Europe

#480 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

19. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Art History

#203 in Europe

#490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,316
Founded: 1794

20. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art History

#206 in Europe

#497 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

21. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art History

#220 in Europe

#533 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

22. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#225 in Europe

#544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 15,232
Founded: 1971

23. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Art History

#229 in Europe

#552 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 22,023
Founded: 1968

24. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#232 in Europe

#557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 11,196
Founded: 1872

25. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Art History

#233 in Europe

#563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 60,404
Founded: 2012

26. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Art History

#237 in Europe

#571 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

27. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art History

#253 in Europe

#605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 37,252
Founded: 1460

28. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Art History

#255 in Europe

#610 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

29. Paris-Est Creteil Val-de-Marne University

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Art History

#258 in Europe

#613 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

30. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Art History

#280 in Europe

#656 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

31. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Art History

#282 in Europe

#658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 25,078
Founded: 1431

32. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#307 in Europe

#708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1783

33. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#324 in Europe

#755 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

34. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Art History

#343 in Europe

#806 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

35. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#374 in Europe

#913 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

36. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Art History

#375 in Europe

#917 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

37. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#381 in Europe

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,067
Founded: 1957

38. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Art History

#407 in Europe

#1026 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

39. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#410 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,704
Founded: 2019

40. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Art History

#429 in Europe

#1085 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 25,687
Founded: 1971

41. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#430 in Europe

#1089 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

42. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Art History

#435 in Europe

#1107 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

43. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Art History

#442 in Europe

#1129 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

44. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art History

#448 in Europe

#1171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 21,997
Founded: 1970

45. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Art History

#459 in Europe

#1225 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

46. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Art History

#464 in Europe

#1242 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

47. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#487 in Europe

#1318 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

48. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Art History

#508 in Europe

#1389 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,091
Founded: 1992

49. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Art History

#516 in Europe

#1415 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

50. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Art History

#519 in Europe

#1425 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

51. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Art History

#529 in Europe

#1476 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

52. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art History

#543 in Europe

#1525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 7,646
Founded: 1900

53. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Art History

#552 in Europe

#1560 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

54. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Art History

#556 in Europe

#1576 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,690
Founded: 1854

55. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#558 in Europe

#1583 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

56. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Art History

#563 in Europe

#1609 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,629
Founded: 1970

57. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Art History

#567 in Europe

#1619 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

58. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#576 in Europe

#1645 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 19,018
Founded: 1970

59. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#585 in Europe

#1699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

The best cities to study Art History in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Amiens, and Caen.