100 Best universities for Biology 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 Biology. A graph of 43M citations received by 1.32M 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

#8 in Europe

#49 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Biology

#46 in Europe

#155 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Biology

#91 in Europe

#257 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

4. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#93 in Europe

#263 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Biology

#113 in Europe

#316 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

6. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#115 in Europe

#318 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

7. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Biology

#129 in Europe

#353 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

8. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Biology

#146 in Europe

#396 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

9. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Biology

#171 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

10. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#182 in Europe

#494 in the World

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

11. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Biology

#183 in Europe

#501 in the World

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

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Biology

#185 in Europe

#510 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

13. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#223 in Europe

#629 in the World

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

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Biology

#234 in Europe

#679 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#238 in Europe

#690 in the World

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

16. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Biology

#242 in Europe

#694 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

17. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Biology

#256 in Europe

#736 in the World

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

18. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Biology

#257 in Europe

#741 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Biology

#269 in Europe

#779 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

20. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Biology

#271 in Europe

#783 in the World

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

21. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Biology

#279 in Europe

#805 in the World

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

22. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Biology

#284 in Europe

#828 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

23. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Biology

#288 in Europe

#849 in the World

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

24. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Biology

#302 in Europe

#895 in the World

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

25. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Biology

#303 in Europe

#897 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

26. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Biology

#307 in Europe

#907 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#336 in Europe

#1014 in the World

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

28. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Biology

#337 in Europe

#1021 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

29. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Biology

#345 in Europe

#1045 in the World

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

30. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#354 in Europe

#1087 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

31. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Biology

#356 in Europe

#1092 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

32. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Biology

#366 in Europe

#1113 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

33. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Biology

#368 in Europe

#1119 in the World

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

34. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Biology

#391 in Europe

#1210 in the World

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

35. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#403 in Europe

#1261 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

36. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#408 in Europe

#1290 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

37. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Biology

#409 in Europe

#1294 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

38. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Biology

#418 in Europe

#1333 in the World

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

39. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Biology

#420 in Europe

#1339 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

40. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#449 in Europe

#1462 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

41. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#456 in Europe

#1493 in the World

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

42. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Biology

#457 in Europe

#1508 in the World

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

43. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#467 in Europe

#1550 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

44. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Biology

#468 in Europe

#1554 in the World

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

45. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#472 in Europe

#1570 in the World

Founded: 1828

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#493 in Europe

#1644 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

47. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Biology

#499 in Europe

#1687 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

48. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Biology

#515 in Europe

#1788 in the World

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

49. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Biology

#527 in Europe

#1827 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

50. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#531 in Europe

#1846 in the World

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

51. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Biology

#533 in Europe

#1862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

52. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Biology

#534 in Europe

#1865 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Biology

#535 in Europe

#1866 in the World

Founded: 1994

54. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Biology

#544 in Europe

#1922 in the World

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

55. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Biology

#549 in Europe

#1948 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

56. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#550 in Europe

#1951 in the World

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

57. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Biology

#552 in Europe

#1966 in the World

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

58. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Biology

#553 in Europe

#1975 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

59. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Biology

#566 in Europe

#2061 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

60. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#568 in Europe

#2068 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

61. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Biology

#570 in Europe

#2081 in the World

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

62. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Biology

#572 in Europe

#2087 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

63. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Biology

#577 in Europe

#2119 in the World

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

64. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#580 in Europe

#2155 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

65. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#584 in Europe

#2170 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

66. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Biology

#587 in Europe

#2184 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

67. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Biology

#598 in Europe

#2229 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

68. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Biology

#601 in Europe

#2248 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

69. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Biology

#610 in Europe

#2282 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

70. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Biology

#627 in Europe

#2390 in the World

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

71. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Biology

#634 in Europe

#2408 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

72. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#641 in Europe

#2482 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

73. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Biology

#647 in Europe

#2507 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

74. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#652 in Europe

#2542 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

75. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Biology

#660 in Europe

#2596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

76. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Biology

#661 in Europe

#2602 in the World

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

77. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Biology

#667 in Europe

#2661 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

78. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#670 in Europe

#2687 in the World

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

79. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Biology

#691 in Europe

#2806 in the World

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

80. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Biology

#695 in Europe

#2812 in the World

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

81. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Biology

#709 in Europe

#2875 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

82. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Biology

#719 in Europe

#2914 in the World

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

83. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Biology

#728 in Europe

#2958 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

84. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Biology

#735 in Europe

#2972 in the World

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

85. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Biology

#744 in Europe

#3023 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

86. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Biology

#751 in Europe

#3046 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

87. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Biology

#753 in Europe

#3060 in the World

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

88. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Biology

#759 in Europe

#3071 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

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

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Biology

#760 in Europe

#3074 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

90. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Biology

#767 in Europe

#3099 in the World

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

91. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Biology

#768 in Europe

#3105 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

92. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Biology

#807 in Europe

#3323 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

93. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#822 in Europe

#3407 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

94. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Biology

#830 in Europe

#3438 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

95. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Biology

#835 in Europe

#3467 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

96. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Biology

#837 in Europe

#3480 in the World

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

97. Eurecom

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

For Biology

#857 in Europe

#3593 in the World

Founded: 1991

98. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Biology

#869 in Europe

#3669 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

99. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Biology

#893 in Europe

#3838 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

100. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Biology

#896 in Europe

#3846 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.