69 Best universities for Art History in France

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 337K citations received by 24.3K academic papers made by 69 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

#15 in Europe

#53 in the World

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

2. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Art History

#22 in Europe

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,900
Founded: 1970

3. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#57 in Europe

#146 in the World

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

4. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Art History

#58 in Europe

#150 in the World

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

5. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Art History

#60 in Europe

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

6. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Art History

#94 in Europe

#237 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

7. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Art History

#96 in Europe

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

8. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Art History

#97 in Europe

#240 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

9. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#102 in Europe

#248 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

10. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#107 in Europe

#257 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

11. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Art History

#114 in Europe

#270 in the World

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

12. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Art History

#122 in Europe

#282 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

13. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#123 in Europe

#283 in the World

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

14. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#124 in Europe

#286 in the World

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

15. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art History

#130 in Europe

#308 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

16. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Art History

#157 in Europe

#370 in the World

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

17. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Art History

#159 in Europe

#372 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

18. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#160 in Europe

#379 in the World

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

19. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art History

#168 in Europe

#392 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

20. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Art History

#173 in Europe

#404 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

21. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Art History

#177 in Europe

#416 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

22. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art History

#190 in Europe

#444 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

23. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Art History

#196 in Europe

#458 in the World

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

24. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Art History

#205 in Europe

#480 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

25. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Art History

#211 in Europe

#491 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Art History

#212 in Europe

#499 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

27. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Art History

#225 in Europe

#525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,820
Founded: 1431

28. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art History

#227 in Europe

#530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1460

29. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art History

#231 in Europe

#539 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

30. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Art History

#241 in Europe

#565 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

31. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Art History

#268 in Europe

#624 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

32. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Art History

#270 in Europe

#629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,790
Founded: 1794

33. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#274 in Europe

#637 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

34. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#276 in Europe

#646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,690
Founded: 2019

35. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#309 in Europe

#721 in the World

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

36. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Art History

#336 in Europe

#806 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

37. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Art History

#339 in Europe

#817 in the World

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

38. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Art History

#360 in Europe

#864 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

39. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art History

#361 in Europe

#867 in the World

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

40. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Art History

#366 in Europe

#878 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

41. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#369 in Europe

#886 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

42. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Art History

#392 in Europe

#938 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

43. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#404 in Europe

#979 in the World

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

44. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Art History

#408 in Europe

#993 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

45. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Art History

#419 in Europe

#1030 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

46. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Art History

#422 in Europe

#1034 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

47. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#449 in Europe

#1133 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

48. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#457 in Europe

#1154 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

49. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art History

#463 in Europe

#1177 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

50. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Art History

#498 in Europe

#1289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,051
Founded: 1992

51. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#519 in Europe

#1380 in the World

Founded: 1875

52. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Art History

#521 in Europe

#1384 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

53. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Art History

#532 in Europe

#1423 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

54. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Art History

#535 in Europe

#1443 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

55. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#545 in Europe

#1512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

56. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#549 in Europe

#1522 in the World

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

57. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Art History

#554 in Europe

#1538 in the World

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

58. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#561 in Europe

#1561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1780

59. Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art History

#565 in Europe

#1577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,300
Founded: 2007

60. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Art History

#573 in Europe

#1613 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

61. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Art History

#579 in Europe

#1635 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

62. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Art History

#581 in Europe

#1637 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

63. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art History

#584 in Europe

#1646 in the World

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

64. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Art History

#585 in Europe

#1650 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

65. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art History

#612 in Europe

#1756 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

66. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Art History

#613 in Europe

#1759 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

67. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Art History

#622 in Europe

#1784 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

68. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Art History

#631 in Europe

#1804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 8,238
Founded: 1970

69. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Art History

#680 in Europe

#2044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,993
Founded: 2007

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