100 Best universities for Literature in France

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in France ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 788K citations received by 50.1K academic papers made by 109 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

#19 in Europe

#74 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Literature

#116 in Europe

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Literature

#129 in Europe

#325 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

4. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Literature

#140 in Europe

#344 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

#358 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

6. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#154 in Europe

#375 in the World

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

7. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#162 in Europe

#392 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

8. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Literature

#165 in Europe

#400 in the World

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

9. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#167 in Europe

#404 in the World

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

10. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Literature

#173 in Europe

#412 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

11. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Literature

#179 in Europe

#430 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

12. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Literature

#188 in Europe

#449 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

13. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#196 in Europe

#467 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

14. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#199 in Europe

#471 in the World

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

15. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Literature

#211 in Europe

#501 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

16. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Literature

#213 in Europe

#507 in the World

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

17. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#217 in Europe

#516 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

18. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Literature

#221 in Europe

#521 in the World

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

19. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#222 in Europe

#522 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

20. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#238 in Europe

#558 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

21. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#279 in Europe

#658 in the World

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

22. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Literature

#280 in Europe

#661 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

23. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Literature

#288 in Europe

#682 in the World

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

24. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Literature

#326 in Europe

#794 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

25. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#328 in Europe

#798 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

26. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#329 in Europe

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

27. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#337 in Europe

#844 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Literature

#348 in Europe

#869 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

29. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Literature

#353 in Europe

#886 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

30. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#357 in Europe

#893 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

31. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Literature

#361 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

#944 in the World

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

33. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#388 in Europe

#1012 in the World

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

34. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Literature

#400 in Europe

#1052 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

35. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#415 in Europe

#1097 in the World

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

36. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#421 in Europe

#1116 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

37. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Literature

#429 in Europe

#1142 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

38. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#439 in Europe

#1174 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

39. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Literature

#467 in Europe

#1263 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

40. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Literature

#480 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

41. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Literature

#490 in Europe

#1344 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

42. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Literature

#503 in Europe

#1405 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

43. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Literature

#507 in Europe

#1418 in the World

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

44. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Literature

#509 in Europe

#1420 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

45. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Literature

#520 in Europe

#1472 in the World

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

46. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Literature

#523 in Europe

#1488 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

47. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Literature

#527 in Europe

#1496 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

48. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#528 in Europe

#1498 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

49. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#529 in Europe

#1501 in the World

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

50. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Literature

#530 in Europe

#1502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

51. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Literature

#540 in Europe

#1535 in the World

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

52. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#541 in Europe

#1537 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

53. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Literature

#544 in Europe

#1557 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

54. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#546 in Europe

#1569 in the World

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

55. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#552 in Europe

#1613 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

56. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Literature

#556 in Europe

#1630 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

57. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Literature

#559 in Europe

#1634 in the World

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

58. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Literature

#564 in Europe

#1660 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

59. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Literature

#572 in Europe

#1692 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

60. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Literature

#575 in Europe

#1701 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

61. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Literature

#586 in Europe

#1761 in the World

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

62. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#588 in Europe

#1773 in the World

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

63. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Literature

#591 in Europe

#1793 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

64. Eurecom

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

For Literature

#597 in Europe

#1818 in the World

Founded: 1991

65. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#601 in Europe

#1830 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

66. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Literature

#610 in Europe

#1872 in the World

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

67. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#624 in Europe

#1925 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

68. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Literature

#656 in Europe

#2074 in the World

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

69. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Literature

#668 in Europe

#2150 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

#679 in Europe

#2182 in the World

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

71. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Literature

#684 in Europe

#2197 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

72. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Literature

#701 in Europe

#2265 in the World

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

73. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Literature

#703 in Europe

#2272 in the World

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

74. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#708 in Europe

#2284 in the World

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

75. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Literature

#722 in Europe

#2326 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

#731 in Europe

#2400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

78. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#735 in Europe

#2412 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

79. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#750 in Europe

#2471 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

#768 in Europe

#2579 in the World

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

81. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Literature

#769 in Europe

#2581 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,687
Founded: 2007

82. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Literature

#771 in Europe

#2593 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

83. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#772 in Europe

#2594 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

84. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#774 in Europe

#2614 in the World

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

85. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Literature

#783 in Europe

#2649 in the World

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

86. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#789 in Europe

#2698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

87. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#810 in Europe

#2805 in the World

Founded: 1892

88. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#813 in Europe

#2817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

89. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#821 in Europe

#2848 in the World

Founded: 1875

90. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#829 in Europe

#2910 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

91. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Literature

#837 in Europe

#2986 in the World

Founded: 1906

92. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#841 in Europe

#3004 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

93. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#844 in Europe

#3020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

94. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#849 in Europe

#3051 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#856 in Europe

#3087 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

96. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Literature

#868 in Europe

#3144 in the World

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

97. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Literature

#886 in Europe

#3270 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

#3401 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

99. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Literature

#927 in Europe

#3476 in the World

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

100. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Literature

#940 in Europe

#3542 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

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.