77 Best universities for Microbiology 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 Microbiology. A graph of 2.19M citations received by 56.8K academic papers made by 77 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 Microbiology

#14 in Europe

#60 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Microbiology

#31 in Europe

#112 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Microbiology

#44 in Europe

#146 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

4. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Microbiology

#89 in Europe

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

5. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Microbiology

#104 in Europe

#291 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Microbiology

#127 in Europe

#356 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

7. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Microbiology

#128 in Europe

#357 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

8. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Microbiology

#141 in Europe

#397 in the World

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

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Microbiology

#163 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

10. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#171 in Europe

#489 in the World

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

11. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#173 in Europe

#492 in the World

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

12. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Microbiology

#189 in Europe

#541 in the World

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

13. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Microbiology

#198 in Europe

#593 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

14. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Microbiology

#208 in Europe

#616 in the World

Founded: 1828

15. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Microbiology

#209 in Europe

#622 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#210 in Europe

#623 in the World

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

17. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Microbiology

#217 in Europe

#642 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

18. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Microbiology

#219 in Europe

#650 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

19. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Microbiology

#233 in Europe

#699 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

20. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Microbiology

#235 in Europe

#706 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Microbiology

#236 in Europe

#707 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

22. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Microbiology

#245 in Europe

#726 in the World

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

23. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Microbiology

#281 in Europe

#846 in the World

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

24. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Microbiology

#282 in Europe

#854 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

25. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Microbiology

#287 in Europe

#878 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

26. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Microbiology

#288 in Europe

#879 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

27. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Microbiology

#289 in Europe

#880 in the World

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

28. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Microbiology

#303 in Europe

#937 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

29. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Microbiology

#313 in Europe

#966 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

30. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Microbiology

#361 in Europe

#1164 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

31. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Microbiology

#364 in Europe

#1187 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

32. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#372 in Europe

#1221 in the World

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

33. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Microbiology

#374 in Europe

#1256 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

34. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Microbiology

#391 in Europe

#1333 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

35. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Microbiology

#404 in Europe

#1411 in the World

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

36. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Microbiology

#406 in Europe

#1415 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

37. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Microbiology

#420 in Europe

#1520 in the World

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

38. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Microbiology

#431 in Europe

#1567 in the World

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

39. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Microbiology

#440 in Europe

#1612 in the World

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

40. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Microbiology

#441 in Europe

#1621 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

41. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Microbiology

#459 in Europe

#1761 in the World

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

42. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Microbiology

#464 in Europe

#1790 in the World

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

43. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Microbiology

#470 in Europe

#1820 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

44. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#471 in Europe

#1826 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

45. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Microbiology

#486 in Europe

#1968 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

46. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Microbiology

#493 in Europe

#2006 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

47. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Microbiology

#496 in Europe

#2031 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

48. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Microbiology

#497 in Europe

#2032 in the World

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

49. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Microbiology

#506 in Europe

#2073 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

50. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Microbiology

#507 in Europe

#2074 in the World

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

51. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Microbiology

#530 in Europe

#2212 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

52. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Microbiology

#536 in Europe

#2231 in the World

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

53. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Microbiology

#538 in Europe

#2238 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

54. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Microbiology

#541 in Europe

#2253 in the World

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

55. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Microbiology

#546 in Europe

#2278 in the World

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

56. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Microbiology

#557 in Europe

#2369 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

57. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Microbiology

#564 in Europe

#2428 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

58. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Microbiology

#568 in Europe

#2445 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

59. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Microbiology

#582 in Europe

#2538 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

60. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Microbiology

#585 in Europe

#2542 in the World

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

61. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#598 in Europe

#2585 in the World

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

62. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Microbiology

#608 in Europe

#2704 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

63. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Microbiology

#623 in Europe

#2796 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

64. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Microbiology

#627 in Europe

#2835 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

65. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Microbiology

#629 in Europe

#2838 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

66. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Microbiology

#637 in Europe

#2904 in the World

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

67. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#650 in Europe

#2979 in the World

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

68. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Microbiology

#653 in Europe

#2986 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

69. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Microbiology

#674 in Europe

#3136 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

70. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Microbiology

#680 in Europe

#3167 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Microbiology

#681 in Europe

#3176 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Microbiology

#690 in Europe

#3207 in the World

Founded: 1994

73. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Microbiology

#697 in Europe

#3229 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

74. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Microbiology

#704 in Europe

#3265 in the World

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

75. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Microbiology

#744 in Europe

#3467 in the World

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

76. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Microbiology

#762 in Europe

#3564 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

77. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Microbiology

#773 in Europe

#3593 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

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