100 Best universities for Literature 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 Literature. A graph of 879K citations received by 51.9K academic papers made by 110 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 Literature

#20 in Europe

#75 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Literature

#119 in Europe

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Literature

#120 in Europe

#310 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

4. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Literature

#128 in Europe

#320 in the World

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

5. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Literature

#145 in Europe

#351 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

6. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#155 in Europe

#380 in the World

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

7. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#161 in Europe

#390 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

8. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Literature

#165 in Europe

#398 in the World

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

9. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#171 in Europe

#415 in the World

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

10. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Literature

#178 in Europe

#425 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

11. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Literature

#187 in Europe

#445 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

12. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Literature

#189 in Europe

#456 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

13. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#193 in Europe

#464 in the World

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

14. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#198 in Europe

#472 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

15. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Literature

#211 in Europe

#503 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

16. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#212 in Europe

#506 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

17. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Literature

#217 in Europe

#520 in the World

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

18. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#221 in Europe

#527 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

19. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Literature

#223 in Europe

#534 in the World

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

20. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#236 in Europe

#556 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

21. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Literature

#255 in Europe

#609 in the World

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

22. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Literature

#281 in Europe

#658 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

23. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#282 in Europe

#661 in the World

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

24. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#325 in Europe

#795 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

25. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Literature

#328 in Europe

#804 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

26. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#331 in Europe

#814 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

27. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#335 in Europe

#835 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Literature

#344 in Europe

#866 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

29. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Literature

#355 in Europe

#886 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

30. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#359 in Europe

#901 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

31. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Literature

#362 in Europe

#913 in the World

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

32. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Literature

#373 in Europe

#947 in the World

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

33. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#388 in Europe

#1008 in the World

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

34. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Literature

#405 in Europe

#1068 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

35. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#420 in Europe

#1106 in the World

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

36. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#425 in Europe

#1129 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

37. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Literature

#434 in Europe

#1155 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

38. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#451 in Europe

#1204 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

39. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Literature

#468 in Europe

#1265 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

40. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Literature

#481 in Europe

#1313 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

41. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Literature

#486 in Europe

#1333 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

42. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Literature

#500 in Europe

#1391 in the World

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

43. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Literature

#508 in Europe

#1416 in the World

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

44. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Literature

#512 in Europe

#1428 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

45. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Literature

#517 in Europe

#1441 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

46. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Literature

#522 in Europe

#1465 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

47. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#525 in Europe

#1477 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

48. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#526 in Europe

#1478 in the World

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

49. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Literature

#529 in Europe

#1501 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,367
Founded: 1972

50. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Literature

#532 in Europe

#1516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

51. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#535 in Europe

#1522 in the World

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

52. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Literature

#538 in Europe

#1528 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

53. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#539 in Europe

#1531 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

54. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#544 in Europe

#1565 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

55. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Literature

#548 in Europe

#1574 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

56. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Literature

#555 in Europe

#1623 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

57. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Literature

#559 in Europe

#1635 in the World

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

58. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Literature

#570 in Europe

#1687 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

59. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Literature

#571 in Europe

#1690 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

60. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Literature

#578 in Europe

#1718 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

61. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#590 in Europe

#1779 in the World

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

62. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Literature

#595 in Europe

#1818 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

63. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Literature

#596 in Europe

#1819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 4,300
Founded: 1894

64. Eurecom

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Biot Sophia-Antipolis

For Literature

#598 in Europe

#1823 in the World

Founded: 1991

65. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#603 in Europe

#1842 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

66. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#605 in Europe

#1853 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

67. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Literature

#609 in Europe

#1871 in the World

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

68. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Literature

#647 in Europe

#2026 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 14,800
Founded: 2013

69. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Literature

#648 in Europe

#2027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1984

70. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Literature

#693 in Europe

#2240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,003
Founded: 1985

71. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Literature

#696 in Europe

#2246 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

72. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#707 in Europe

#2293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 2,287
Founded: 1919

73. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Literature

#712 in Europe

#2304 in the World

Enrollment: 9,477
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1995

74. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Literature

#717 in Europe

#2318 in the World

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

75. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Literature

#726 in Europe

#2352 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

76. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Literature

#727 in Europe

#2356 in the World

Founded: 1907

77. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#738 in Europe

#2420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

78. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#746 in Europe

#2440 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

79. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#759 in Europe

#2507 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#760 in Europe

#2514 in the World

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

81. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Literature

#762 in Europe

#2524 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

82. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#769 in Europe

#2575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

83. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Literature

#775 in Europe

#2610 in the World

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

84. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Literature

#778 in Europe

#2617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 5,453
Founded: 1881

85. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#782 in Europe

#2637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 3,077
Founded: 1963

86. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#783 in Europe

#2638 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

87. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#788 in Europe

#2676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

88. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#809 in Europe

#2791 in the World

Founded: 1892

89. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Literature

#816 in Europe

#2826 in the World

Founded: 1906

90. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#833 in Europe

#2940 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

91. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#834 in Europe

#2946 in the World

Founded: 1875

92. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Literature

#842 in Europe

#3004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 7,591
Founded: 1984

93. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#843 in Europe

#3005 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

94. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#851 in Europe

#3057 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

95. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#854 in Europe

#3076 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

96. School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry of the City of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#856 in Europe

#3088 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

97. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Literature

#899 in Europe

#3331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,196
Male:Female: 77:23
Founded: 1994

98. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#913 in Europe

#3417 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

99. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#932 in Europe

#3513 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

100. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Literature

#933 in Europe

#3514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 2,920
Founded: 1857

The best cities to study Literature in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Saint Martin d'Heres, and Amiens.