100 Best universities for Literature 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 Literature. A graph of 566K citations received by 37.9K academic papers made by 104 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

#18 in Europe

#68 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

#302 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Literature

#147 in Europe

#363 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

4. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Literature

#148 in Europe

#365 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

5. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Literature

#149 in Europe

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Literature

#184 in Europe

#444 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#189 in Europe

#455 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

8. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Literature

#194 in Europe

#466 in the World

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

9. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#200 in Europe

#479 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

10. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Literature

#205 in Europe

#491 in the World

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

11. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#212 in Europe

#502 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#219 in Europe

#522 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

13. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#226 in Europe

#536 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

14. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#237 in Europe

#559 in the World

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

15. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#248 in Europe

#584 in the World

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

16. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Literature

#254 in Europe

#600 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

17. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Literature

#279 in Europe

#655 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

18. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Literature

#286 in Europe

#667 in the World

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

19. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Literature

#288 in Europe

#669 in the World

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

20. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Literature

#295 in Europe

#689 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

21. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#316 in Europe

#753 in the World

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

22. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Literature

#323 in Europe

#777 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

23. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#328 in Europe

#793 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

24. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#344 in Europe

#839 in the World

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

25. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#346 in Europe

#846 in the World

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

26. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#350 in Europe

#863 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

27. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#354 in Europe

#881 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

28. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#361 in Europe

#907 in the World

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

29. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Literature

#366 in Europe

#916 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

30. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Literature

#370 in Europe

#935 in the World

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

31. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Literature

#376 in Europe

#972 in the World

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

32. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#377 in Europe

#973 in the World

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

33. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Literature

#378 in Europe

#975 in the World

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

34. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Literature

#381 in Europe

#982 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

35. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#393 in Europe

#1002 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

36. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Literature

#405 in Europe

#1034 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Literature

#410 in Europe

#1047 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

38. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Literature

#438 in Europe

#1151 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

39. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Literature

#444 in Europe

#1171 in the World

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

40. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Literature

#445 in Europe

#1173 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

41. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Literature

#456 in Europe

#1208 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

42. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Literature

#458 in Europe

#1216 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

43. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Literature

#488 in Europe

#1312 in the World

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

44. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Literature

#489 in Europe

#1313 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

45. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Literature

#495 in Europe

#1337 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

46. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#501 in Europe

#1352 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

47. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Literature

#504 in Europe

#1371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

48. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Literature

#513 in Europe

#1405 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

49. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#521 in Europe

#1444 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

50. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Literature

#528 in Europe

#1492 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

51. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#530 in Europe

#1507 in the World

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

52. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Literature

#546 in Europe

#1559 in the World

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

53. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#560 in Europe

#1625 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

54. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#562 in Europe

#1632 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

55. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Literature

#563 in Europe

#1633 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

56. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#564 in Europe

#1642 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

57. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Literature

#566 in Europe

#1655 in the World

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

58. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#580 in Europe

#1708 in the World

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

59. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Literature

#582 in Europe

#1728 in the World

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

60. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Literature

#585 in Europe

#1738 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

61. Eurecom

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

For Literature

#587 in Europe

#1742 in the World

Founded: 1991

62. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Literature

#589 in Europe

#1745 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#604 in Europe

#1798 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

64. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Literature

#606 in Europe

#1809 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

65. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Literature

#607 in Europe

#1814 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

66. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#608 in Europe

#1816 in the World

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

67. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#611 in Europe

#1841 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#612 in Europe

#1842 in the World

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

69. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Literature

#621 in Europe

#1879 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

70. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Literature

#625 in Europe

#1906 in the World

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

71. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Literature

#626 in Europe

#1909 in the World

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

72. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Literature

#628 in Europe

#1928 in the World

Founded: 1907

73. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Literature

#629 in Europe

#1936 in the World

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

74. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Literature

#632 in Europe

#1942 in the World

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

75. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Literature

#643 in Europe

#1988 in the World

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

76. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Literature

#650 in Europe

#2018 in the World

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

77. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Literature

#686 in Europe

#2172 in the World

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

78. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Literature

#690 in Europe

#2194 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

79. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#702 in Europe

#2239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

80. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Literature

#729 in Europe

#2393 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

81. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#746 in Europe

#2480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

82. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#749 in Europe

#2492 in the World

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

83. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#753 in Europe

#2513 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

84. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Literature

#764 in Europe

#2561 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

85. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#768 in Europe

#2587 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

86. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#771 in Europe

#2597 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

87. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Literature

#779 in Europe

#2670 in the World

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

88. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Literature

#780 in Europe

#2677 in the World

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

89. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Literature

#790 in Europe

#2713 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

90. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Literature

#799 in Europe

#2738 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

91. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Literature

#800 in Europe

#2741 in the World

Founded: 1906

92. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Literature

#802 in Europe

#2757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

93. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Literature

#806 in Europe

#2792 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

94. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#808 in Europe

#2807 in the World

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

95. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Literature

#818 in Europe

#2830 in the World

Founded: 1892

96. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Literature

#830 in Europe

#2909 in the World

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

97. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Literature

#834 in Europe

#2930 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

98. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Literature

#844 in Europe

#2985 in the World

Founded: 1828

99. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Literature

#861 in Europe

#3075 in the World

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

100. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Literature

#900 in Europe

#3335 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, Marseille, and Saint Martin d'Heres.