100 Best universities for Neuroscience 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 Neuroscience. A graph of 4.64M citations received by 158K academic papers made by 114 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 Neuroscience

#7 in Europe

#41 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Neuroscience

#50 in Europe

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Neuroscience

#53 in Europe

#159 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

4. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Neuroscience

#109 in Europe

#291 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

5. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#111 in Europe

#295 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

6. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Neuroscience

#113 in Europe

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Neuroscience

#136 in Europe

#352 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#149 in Europe

#378 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

9. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Neuroscience

#163 in Europe

#410 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

10. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#169 in Europe

#426 in the World

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

11. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Neuroscience

#173 in Europe

#436 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

12. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Neuroscience

#183 in Europe

#459 in the World

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

13. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Neuroscience

#189 in Europe

#479 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

14. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Neuroscience

#205 in Europe

#526 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

15. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#233 in Europe

#589 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Neuroscience

#243 in Europe

#630 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Neuroscience

#261 in Europe

#682 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

18. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#263 in Europe

#688 in the World

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

19. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Neuroscience

#268 in Europe

#705 in the World

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

20. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Neuroscience

#273 in Europe

#731 in the World

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

21. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Neuroscience

#275 in Europe

#734 in the World

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

22. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Neuroscience

#277 in Europe

#737 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

23. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Neuroscience

#310 in Europe

#842 in the World

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

24. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Neuroscience

#326 in Europe

#914 in the World

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

25. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#342 in Europe

#974 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

26. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Neuroscience

#343 in Europe

#978 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

27. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Neuroscience

#344 in Europe

#987 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

28. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#350 in Europe

#997 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

29. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Neuroscience

#373 in Europe

#1069 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

30. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Neuroscience

#379 in Europe

#1080 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#390 in Europe

#1120 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

32. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Neuroscience

#403 in Europe

#1184 in the World

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

33. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#425 in Europe

#1284 in the World

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

34. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Neuroscience

#436 in Europe

#1315 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

35. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Neuroscience

#437 in Europe

#1320 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

36. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Neuroscience

#446 in Europe

#1364 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

37. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Neuroscience

#465 in Europe

#1413 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

38. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Neuroscience

#471 in Europe

#1436 in the World

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

39. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Neuroscience

#474 in Europe

#1447 in the World

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

40. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#481 in Europe

#1479 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#483 in Europe

#1483 in the World

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

42. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Neuroscience

#485 in Europe

#1495 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

43. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Neuroscience

#488 in Europe

#1512 in the World

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

44. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Neuroscience

#492 in Europe

#1522 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

45. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#508 in Europe

#1579 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

46. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Neuroscience

#512 in Europe

#1597 in the World

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

47. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#520 in Europe

#1632 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

48. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#537 in Europe

#1710 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

49. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Neuroscience

#542 in Europe

#1740 in the World

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

50. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#552 in Europe

#1801 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

51. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Neuroscience

#557 in Europe

#1821 in the World

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

52. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Neuroscience

#562 in Europe

#1838 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

53. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Neuroscience

#574 in Europe

#1878 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

54. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#577 in Europe

#1888 in the World

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

55. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#591 in Europe

#1958 in the World

Founded: 1828

56. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Neuroscience

#593 in Europe

#1965 in the World

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

57. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#595 in Europe

#1969 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

58. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#604 in Europe

#2018 in the World

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

59. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Neuroscience

#609 in Europe

#2038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

60. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#615 in Europe

#2075 in the World

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

61. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Neuroscience

#635 in Europe

#2176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 5,453
Founded: 1881

62. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#641 in Europe

#2220 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

63. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#646 in Europe

#2237 in the World

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

64. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#649 in Europe

#2243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

65. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#653 in Europe

#2263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

66. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#662 in Europe

#2323 in the World

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

67. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Neuroscience

#666 in Europe

#2335 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

68. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#667 in Europe

#2347 in the World

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

69. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#674 in Europe

#2375 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

70. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#681 in Europe

#2427 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

71. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#692 in Europe

#2465 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

72. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Neuroscience

#699 in Europe

#2479 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

73. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Neuroscience

#700 in Europe

#2480 in the World

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

74. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Neuroscience

#720 in Europe

#2586 in the World

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

75. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#732 in Europe

#2651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,700
Founded: 2007

76. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Neuroscience

#744 in Europe

#2700 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

77. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Neuroscience

#752 in Europe

#2740 in the World

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

78. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#754 in Europe

#2749 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

79. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Neuroscience

#766 in Europe

#2819 in the World

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

80. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Neuroscience

#769 in Europe

#2842 in the World

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

81. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Neuroscience

#770 in Europe

#2843 in the World

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

82. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Neuroscience

#775 in Europe

#2852 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

83. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Neuroscience

#776 in Europe

#2854 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

84. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Neuroscience

#779 in Europe

#2886 in the World

Founded: 1907

85. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Neuroscience

#795 in Europe

#2960 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

86. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#797 in Europe

#2979 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

87. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Neuroscience

#819 in Europe

#3115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 14,800
Founded: 2013

88. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#821 in Europe

#3134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1819

89. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Neuroscience

#824 in Europe

#3143 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

90. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Neuroscience

#827 in Europe

#3162 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

91. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Neuroscience

#828 in Europe

#3177 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

92. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Neuroscience

#846 in Europe

#3271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1984

93. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#860 in Europe

#3322 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

94. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Neuroscience

#863 in Europe

#3336 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

95. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Neuroscience

#867 in Europe

#3358 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

96. Eurecom

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

For Neuroscience

#894 in Europe

#3581 in the World

Founded: 1991

97. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Neuroscience

#925 in Europe

#3728 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

98. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#933 in Europe

#3756 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

99. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#939 in Europe

#3775 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 19,018
Founded: 1970

100. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Neuroscience

#940 in Europe

#3777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

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