66 Best universities for Molecular 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 Molecular Biology. A graph of 1.37M citations received by 45.9K academic papers made by 66 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 Molecular Biology

#9 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 Molecular Biology

#48 in Europe

#151 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Molecular Biology

#82 in Europe

#247 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#90 in Europe

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Molecular Biology

#102 in Europe

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

6. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Molecular Biology

#103 in Europe

#299 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

7. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Molecular Biology

#114 in Europe

#337 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

8. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#118 in Europe

#354 in the World

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

9. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Molecular Biology

#119 in Europe

#356 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

10. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Molecular Biology

#136 in Europe

#404 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

11. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Molecular Biology

#138 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

12. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Molecular Biology

#147 in Europe

#430 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

13. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Molecular Biology

#148 in Europe

#431 in the World

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

14. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Molecular Biology

#149 in Europe

#435 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

15. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#171 in Europe

#518 in the World

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

16. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Molecular Biology

#175 in Europe

#531 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

17. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#191 in Europe

#581 in the World

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

18. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Molecular Biology

#195 in Europe

#591 in the World

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

19. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Molecular Biology

#199 in Europe

#596 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

20. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Molecular Biology

#201 in Europe

#599 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Molecular Biology

#212 in Europe

#628 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

22. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Molecular Biology

#214 in Europe

#636 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

23. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Molecular Biology

#217 in Europe

#641 in the World

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

24. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Molecular Biology

#245 in Europe

#736 in the World

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

25. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Molecular Biology

#263 in Europe

#789 in the World

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

26. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Molecular Biology

#264 in Europe

#792 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

27. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Molecular Biology

#276 in Europe

#833 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

28. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Molecular Biology

#280 in Europe

#855 in the World

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

29. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Molecular Biology

#294 in Europe

#886 in the World

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

30. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Molecular Biology

#297 in Europe

#893 in the World

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

31. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Molecular Biology

#301 in Europe

#912 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

32. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#303 in Europe

#926 in the World

Founded: 1828

33. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Molecular Biology

#308 in Europe

#943 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#318 in Europe

#974 in the World

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

35. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#319 in Europe

#976 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

36. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Molecular Biology

#333 in Europe

#1025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

37. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Molecular Biology

#340 in Europe

#1056 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

38. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#341 in Europe

#1063 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

39. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Molecular Biology

#345 in Europe

#1076 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

40. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Molecular Biology

#348 in Europe

#1092 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

41. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#350 in Europe

#1097 in the World

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

42. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Molecular Biology

#358 in Europe

#1131 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#360 in Europe

#1151 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

44. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Molecular Biology

#361 in Europe

#1157 in the World

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

45. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Molecular Biology

#366 in Europe

#1183 in the World

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

46. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#380 in Europe

#1287 in the World

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

47. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Molecular Biology

#387 in Europe

#1305 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

48. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Molecular Biology

#410 in Europe

#1414 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

49. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#423 in Europe

#1441 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

50. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Molecular Biology

#437 in Europe

#1520 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

51. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#447 in Europe

#1567 in the World

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

52. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#448 in Europe

#1568 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

53. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Molecular Biology

#461 in Europe

#1615 in the World

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

54. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Molecular Biology

#465 in Europe

#1633 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

55. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#468 in Europe

#1645 in the World

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

56. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Molecular Biology

#477 in Europe

#1707 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

57. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Molecular Biology

#485 in Europe

#1789 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

58. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Molecular Biology

#501 in Europe

#1867 in the World

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

59. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Molecular Biology

#509 in Europe

#1894 in the World

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

60. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Molecular Biology

#517 in Europe

#1937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

61. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Molecular Biology

#518 in Europe

#1941 in the World

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

62. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Molecular Biology

#536 in Europe

#2065 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

63. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Molecular Biology

#537 in Europe

#2069 in the World

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

64. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Molecular Biology

#538 in Europe

#2097 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Molecular Biology

#563 in Europe

#2218 in the World

Founded: 1994

66. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Molecular Biology

#580 in Europe

#2297 in the World

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

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