67 Best universities for Molecular Biology 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 Molecular Biology. A graph of 1.42M citations received by 46.6K academic papers made by 67 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

#246 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#89 in Europe

#272 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Molecular Biology

#101 in Europe

#296 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Molecular Biology

#102 in Europe

#298 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

7. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Molecular Biology

#113 in Europe

#332 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

8. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Molecular Biology

#117 in Europe

#355 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

9. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#118 in Europe

#356 in the World

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

10. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Molecular Biology

#136 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

11. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Molecular Biology

#139 in Europe

#411 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

12. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Molecular Biology

#146 in Europe

#431 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

13. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Molecular Biology

#147 in Europe

#433 in the World

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

14. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Molecular Biology

#149 in Europe

#436 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

15. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#171 in Europe

#515 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

#176 in Europe

#537 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

17. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Molecular Biology

#186 in Europe

#569 in the World

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

18. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Molecular Biology

#192 in Europe

#584 in the World

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

19. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#197 in Europe

#592 in the World

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

20. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Molecular Biology

#199 in Europe

#598 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

21. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Molecular Biology

#202 in Europe

#602 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Molecular Biology

#215 in Europe

#635 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

23. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Molecular Biology

#216 in Europe

#638 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

24. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Molecular Biology

#218 in Europe

#643 in the World

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

25. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Molecular Biology

#263 in Europe

#795 in the World

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

26. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Molecular Biology

#266 in Europe

#808 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

27. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Molecular Biology

#276 in Europe

#846 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

28. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Molecular Biology

#281 in Europe

#865 in the World

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

29. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Molecular Biology

#286 in Europe

#873 in the World

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

30. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Molecular Biology

#296 in Europe

#895 in the World

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

31. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Molecular Biology

#301 in Europe

#918 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

32. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#303 in Europe

#925 in the World

Founded: 1828

33. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Molecular Biology

#309 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

#312 in Europe

#961 in the World

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

35. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#321 in Europe

#985 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

#1031 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

37. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Molecular Biology

#341 in Europe

#1072 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

38. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#342 in Europe

#1074 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

39. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Molecular Biology

#346 in Europe

#1085 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

40. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Molecular Biology

#349 in Europe

#1102 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

41. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#352 in Europe

#1109 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

#356 in Europe

#1119 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

#1158 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

44. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Molecular Biology

#362 in Europe

#1168 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

#367 in Europe

#1201 in the World

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

46. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Molecular Biology

#379 in Europe

#1277 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

#394 in Europe

#1323 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

48. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Molecular Biology

#414 in Europe

#1424 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

49. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#421 in Europe

#1448 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

50. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Molecular Biology

#436 in Europe

#1524 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

51. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#459 in Europe

#1617 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

52. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Molecular Biology

#462 in Europe

#1631 in the World

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

53. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#467 in Europe

#1651 in the World

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

54. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Molecular Biology

#469 in Europe

#1660 in the World

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

55. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Molecular Biology

#471 in Europe

#1667 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

56. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Molecular Biology

#476 in Europe

#1700 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

57. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Molecular Biology

#488 in Europe

#1806 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

58. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Molecular Biology

#508 in Europe

#1896 in the World

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

59. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Molecular Biology

#510 in Europe

#1898 in the World

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

60. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Molecular Biology

#515 in Europe

#1932 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

61. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Molecular Biology

#523 in Europe

#1989 in the World

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

62. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Molecular Biology

#530 in Europe

#2034 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

63. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Molecular Biology

#537 in Europe

#2091 in the World

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

64. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Molecular Biology

#539 in Europe

#2107 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Molecular Biology

#570 in Europe

#2256 in the World

Founded: 1994

66. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Molecular Biology

#584 in Europe

#2326 in the World

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

67. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Molecular Biology

#614 in Europe

#2499 in the World

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

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