100 Best universities for Biology 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 Biology. A graph of 34.6M citations received by 1.21M academic papers made by 135 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.

1. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#7 in Europe

#43 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Biology

#40 in Europe

#143 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Biology

#76 in Europe

#228 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

4. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#82 in Europe

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

5. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#110 in Europe

#306 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Biology

#111 in Europe

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Biology

#124 in Europe

#338 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

8. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Biology

#127 in Europe

#344 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

9. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Biology

#159 in Europe

#416 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

10. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#183 in Europe

#492 in the World

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

11. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Biology

#188 in Europe

#517 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

12. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Biology

#214 in Europe

#597 in the World

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

13. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Biology

#231 in Europe

#649 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

14. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#234 in Europe

#664 in the World

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

15. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Biology

#242 in Europe

#681 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

16. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Biology

#243 in Europe

#683 in the World

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

17. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Biology

#261 in Europe

#741 in the World

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

18. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Biology

#264 in Europe

#745 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

19. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Biology

#274 in Europe

#767 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

20. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Biology

#276 in Europe

#772 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Biology

#277 in Europe

#776 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

22. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Biology

#290 in Europe

#829 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#292 in Europe

#834 in the World

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

24. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Biology

#295 in Europe

#843 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

25. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Biology

#297 in Europe

#855 in the World

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

26. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#308 in Europe

#913 in the World

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

27. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Biology

#310 in Europe

#917 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

28. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Biology

#329 in Europe

#988 in the World

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

29. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#330 in Europe

#989 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

30. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Biology

#343 in Europe

#1021 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

31. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Biology

#345 in Europe

#1025 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

32. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#348 in Europe

#1034 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

33. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#367 in Europe

#1103 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

34. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Biology

#369 in Europe

#1110 in the World

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

35. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Biology

#370 in Europe

#1114 in the World

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

36. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Biology

#390 in Europe

#1189 in the World

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

37. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Biology

#401 in Europe

#1222 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

38. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Biology

#403 in Europe

#1239 in the World

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

39. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#414 in Europe

#1286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

40. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Biology

#417 in Europe

#1293 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

41. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#425 in Europe

#1333 in the World

Founded: 1828

42. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#431 in Europe

#1359 in the World

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

43. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Biology

#438 in Europe

#1393 in the World

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

44. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Biology

#443 in Europe

#1400 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#459 in Europe

#1445 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

46. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#460 in Europe

#1447 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

47. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#495 in Europe

#1621 in the World

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

48. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Biology

#503 in Europe

#1660 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

49. Graduate School of Chemistry, Physics and Electronics, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Biology

#504 in Europe

#1661 in the World

Founded: 1994

50. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Biology

#508 in Europe

#1690 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

51. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#510 in Europe

#1703 in the World

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

52. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Biology

#516 in Europe

#1720 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

53. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Biology

#519 in Europe

#1735 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

54. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Biology

#528 in Europe

#1768 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

55. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Biology

#529 in Europe

#1773 in the World

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

56. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Biology

#538 in Europe

#1839 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

57. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Biology

#540 in Europe

#1845 in the World

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

58. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Biology

#545 in Europe

#1869 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

59. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Biology

#546 in Europe

#1870 in the World

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

60. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Biology

#554 in Europe

#1919 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

61. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Biology

#555 in Europe

#1925 in the World

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

62. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Biology

#558 in Europe

#1954 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

63. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Biology

#568 in Europe

#2017 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

64. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#569 in Europe

#2021 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

65. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Biology

#571 in Europe

#2026 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

66. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#577 in Europe

#2056 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

67. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#581 in Europe

#2093 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

68. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Biology

#594 in Europe

#2164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

69. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Biology

#599 in Europe

#2189 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

70. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#600 in Europe

#2191 in the World

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

71. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Biology

#621 in Europe

#2300 in the World

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

72. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Biology

#623 in Europe

#2307 in the World

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

73. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#626 in Europe

#2318 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

74. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#641 in Europe

#2385 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

75. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Biology

#643 in Europe

#2389 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

76. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Biology

#646 in Europe

#2425 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

77. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Biology

#654 in Europe

#2513 in the World

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

78. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Biology

#657 in Europe

#2528 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

79. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#661 in Europe

#2545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

80. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Biology

#674 in Europe

#2633 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

81. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Biology

#679 in Europe

#2669 in the World

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

82. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Biology

#688 in Europe

#2698 in the World

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

83. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#690 in Europe

#2702 in the World

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

84. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Biology

#691 in Europe

#2712 in the World

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

85. Higher National Institute of Agricultural Science, Food and Environment

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Biology

#698 in Europe

#2760 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

86. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Biology

#715 in Europe

#2825 in the World

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

87. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Biology

#736 in Europe

#2923 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

88. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Biology

#737 in Europe

#2930 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

89. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Biology

#748 in Europe

#2978 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

90. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#755 in Europe

#3029 in the World

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

91. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Biology

#758 in Europe

#3036 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

92. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#778 in Europe

#3121 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

93. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Biology

#779 in Europe

#3124 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

94. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Biology

#782 in Europe

#3143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 20,784
Founded: 1991

95. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#807 in Europe

#3265 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

96. Eurecom

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

For Biology

#819 in Europe

#3357 in the World

Founded: 1991

97. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Biology

#820 in Europe

#3358 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

98. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Biology

#857 in Europe

#3568 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

99. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Biology

#863 in Europe

#3599 in the World

Founded: 2017

100. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Biology

#870 in Europe

#3641 in the World

Founded: 1907

The best cities to study Biology in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Orsay, and Montpellier.