100 Best universities for Neuroscience 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 Neuroscience. A graph of 5.69M citations received by 172K academic papers made by 118 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

#9 in Europe

#50 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Neuroscience

#56 in Europe

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Neuroscience

#61 in Europe

#177 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

4. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Neuroscience

#112 in Europe

#294 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

5. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Neuroscience

#126 in Europe

#330 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

6. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#127 in Europe

#331 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Neuroscience

#148 in Europe

#381 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

8. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#154 in Europe

#399 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

9. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#167 in Europe

#427 in the World

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

10. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Neuroscience

#172 in Europe

#439 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

11. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Neuroscience

#175 in Europe

#443 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#181 in Europe

#456 in the World

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

13. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Neuroscience

#189 in Europe

#482 in the World

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

14. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Neuroscience

#204 in Europe

#525 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

15. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Neuroscience

#218 in Europe

#557 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Neuroscience

#237 in Europe

#590 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Neuroscience

#243 in Europe

#632 in the World

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

18. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#264 in Europe

#709 in the World

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

19. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Neuroscience

#274 in Europe

#737 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Neuroscience

#277 in Europe

#745 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

21. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Neuroscience

#283 in Europe

#766 in the World

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

22. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Neuroscience

#297 in Europe

#799 in the World

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

23. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Neuroscience

#313 in Europe

#867 in the World

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

24. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Neuroscience

#319 in Europe

#891 in the World

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

25. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Neuroscience

#336 in Europe

#950 in the World

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

26. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Neuroscience

#355 in Europe

#1018 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

27. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#357 in Europe

#1022 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

28. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#360 in Europe

#1030 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

29. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Neuroscience

#367 in Europe

#1057 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

30. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Neuroscience

#371 in Europe

#1064 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

31. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Neuroscience

#404 in Europe

#1181 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#411 in Europe

#1215 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

33. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Neuroscience

#413 in Europe

#1223 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

34. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Neuroscience

#432 in Europe

#1326 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

35. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Neuroscience

#436 in Europe

#1342 in the World

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

36. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Neuroscience

#438 in Europe

#1346 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

37. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#439 in Europe

#1356 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

38. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#447 in Europe

#1380 in the World

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

39. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Neuroscience

#452 in Europe

#1410 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

40. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Neuroscience

#480 in Europe

#1527 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

41. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Neuroscience

#494 in Europe

#1563 in the World

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

42. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#505 in Europe

#1596 in the World

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

43. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Neuroscience

#511 in Europe

#1616 in the World

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

44. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Neuroscience

#517 in Europe

#1638 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#537 in Europe

#1731 in the World

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

46. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#540 in Europe

#1752 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

47. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Neuroscience

#551 in Europe

#1799 in the World

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

48. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Neuroscience

#562 in Europe

#1849 in the World

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

49. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#564 in Europe

#1857 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

50. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#565 in Europe

#1865 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

51. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Neuroscience

#578 in Europe

#1950 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

52. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#593 in Europe

#2028 in the World

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

53. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Neuroscience

#603 in Europe

#2052 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

54. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Neuroscience

#604 in Europe

#2056 in the World

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

55. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#606 in Europe

#2063 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

56. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Neuroscience

#630 in Europe

#2170 in the World

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

57. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#637 in Europe

#2231 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

58. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#645 in Europe

#2256 in the World

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

59. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#646 in Europe

#2257 in the World

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

60. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#648 in Europe

#2279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

61. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Neuroscience

#650 in Europe

#2287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

62. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Neuroscience

#654 in Europe

#2304 in the World

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

63. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#659 in Europe

#2323 in the World

Founded: 1828

64. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#662 in Europe

#2348 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

65. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#678 in Europe

#2410 in the World

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

66. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#685 in Europe

#2448 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

67. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#687 in Europe

#2461 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

68. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#696 in Europe

#2497 in the World

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

69. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#710 in Europe

#2547 in the World

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

70. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#713 in Europe

#2566 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

71. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Neuroscience

#716 in Europe

#2587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

72. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Neuroscience

#731 in Europe

#2657 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

73. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Neuroscience

#735 in Europe

#2696 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

74. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Neuroscience

#739 in Europe

#2705 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

75. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#749 in Europe

#2752 in the World

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

76. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Neuroscience

#761 in Europe

#2827 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

77. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Neuroscience

#768 in Europe

#2861 in the World

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

78. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Neuroscience

#777 in Europe

#2900 in the World

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

79. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#778 in Europe

#2901 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

80. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Neuroscience

#803 in Europe

#3040 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

81. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Neuroscience

#817 in Europe

#3122 in the World

Founded: 1907

82. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Neuroscience

#825 in Europe

#3165 in the World

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

83. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Neuroscience

#826 in Europe

#3171 in the World

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

84. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Neuroscience

#831 in Europe

#3207 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

85. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Neuroscience

#833 in Europe

#3215 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

86. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Neuroscience

#836 in Europe

#3231 in the World

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

87. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Neuroscience

#837 in Europe

#3237 in the World

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

88. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Neuroscience

#843 in Europe

#3257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

89. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Neuroscience

#844 in Europe

#3266 in the World

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

90. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Neuroscience

#847 in Europe

#3276 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

91. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Neuroscience

#851 in Europe

#3299 in the World

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

92. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Neuroscience

#866 in Europe

#3381 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

93. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Neuroscience

#873 in Europe

#3421 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

94. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Neuroscience

#876 in Europe

#3435 in the World

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

95. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#877 in Europe

#3451 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

96. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Neuroscience

#921 in Europe

#3685 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

97. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Neuroscience

#922 in Europe

#3687 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

98. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Neuroscience

#943 in Europe

#3773 in the World

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

99. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Neuroscience

#953 in Europe

#3833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

100. Eurecom

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

For Neuroscience

#967 in Europe

#3933 in the World

Founded: 1991

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