100 Best universities for Paleontology 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 Paleontology. A graph of 8.46M citations received by 311K academic papers made by 126 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 Paleontology

#5 in Europe

#37 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Paleontology

#31 in Europe

#109 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#57 in Europe

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

4. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Paleontology

#79 in Europe

#231 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

5. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#88 in Europe

#245 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

6. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Paleontology

#99 in Europe

#270 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Paleontology

#103 in Europe

#276 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Paleontology

#111 in Europe

#303 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

9. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Paleontology

#174 in Europe

#452 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Paleontology

#199 in Europe

#502 in the World

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

11. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Paleontology

#202 in Europe

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

12. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Paleontology

#235 in Europe

#621 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

13. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#238 in Europe

#633 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

14. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Paleontology

#239 in Europe

#634 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

15. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Paleontology

#240 in Europe

#635 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#252 in Europe

#674 in the World

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

17. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Paleontology

#262 in Europe

#711 in the World

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

18. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Paleontology

#265 in Europe

#725 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

19. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Paleontology

#269 in Europe

#732 in the World

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

20. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Paleontology

#276 in Europe

#753 in the World

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

21. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Paleontology

#290 in Europe

#791 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

22. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Paleontology

#299 in Europe

#828 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

23. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#308 in Europe

#846 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

24. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#310 in Europe

#852 in the World

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

25. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#313 in Europe

#860 in the World

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

26. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Paleontology

#314 in Europe

#863 in the World

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

27. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#318 in Europe

#884 in the World

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

28. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Paleontology

#325 in Europe

#909 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Paleontology

#329 in Europe

#923 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

30. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#334 in Europe

#944 in the World

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

31. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Paleontology

#349 in Europe

#980 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

32. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#350 in Europe

#982 in the World

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

33. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Paleontology

#368 in Europe

#1039 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

34. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Paleontology

#374 in Europe

#1062 in the World

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

35. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Paleontology

#387 in Europe

#1100 in the World

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

36. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Paleontology

#390 in Europe

#1103 in the World

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

37. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#396 in Europe

#1136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

38. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Paleontology

#398 in Europe

#1147 in the World

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

39. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Paleontology

#401 in Europe

#1160 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

40. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#405 in Europe

#1174 in the World

Founded: 1828

41. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Paleontology

#412 in Europe

#1191 in the World

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

42. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Paleontology

#435 in Europe

#1288 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

43. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Paleontology

#441 in Europe

#1297 in the World

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

44. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Paleontology

#444 in Europe

#1310 in the World

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

45. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#451 in Europe

#1339 in the World

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

46. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Paleontology

#453 in Europe

#1346 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

47. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#456 in Europe

#1350 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

48. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Paleontology

#458 in Europe

#1362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

49. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#474 in Europe

#1433 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

50. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Paleontology

#479 in Europe

#1452 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

51. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#484 in Europe

#1473 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

52. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#487 in Europe

#1478 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

53. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#489 in Europe

#1487 in the World

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

54. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Paleontology

#501 in Europe

#1577 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

55. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Paleontology

#503 in Europe

#1580 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#523 in Europe

#1655 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

57. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Paleontology

#537 in Europe

#1739 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

58. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#540 in Europe

#1747 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

59. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Paleontology

#549 in Europe

#1790 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

60. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Paleontology

#551 in Europe

#1793 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

61. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Paleontology

#553 in Europe

#1795 in the World

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

62. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Paleontology

#570 in Europe

#1895 in the World

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

63. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#573 in Europe

#1914 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

64. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#578 in Europe

#1939 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

65. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Paleontology

#584 in Europe

#1969 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

66. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Paleontology

#586 in Europe

#1983 in the World

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

67. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Paleontology

#587 in Europe

#1988 in the World

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

68. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Paleontology

#588 in Europe

#1992 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

69. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#590 in Europe

#2006 in the World

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

70. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Paleontology

#608 in Europe

#2093 in the World

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

71. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Paleontology

#610 in Europe

#2118 in the World

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

72. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#617 in Europe

#2165 in the World

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

73. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Paleontology

#635 in Europe

#2252 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

74. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Paleontology

#640 in Europe

#2280 in the World

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

75. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Paleontology

#642 in Europe

#2285 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Paleontology

#643 in Europe

#2286 in the World

Founded: 1994

77. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Paleontology

#644 in Europe

#2289 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

78. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Paleontology

#645 in Europe

#2290 in the World

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

79. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Paleontology

#646 in Europe

#2291 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

80. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Paleontology

#655 in Europe

#2326 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

81. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Paleontology

#660 in Europe

#2349 in the World

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

82. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Paleontology

#669 in Europe

#2389 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

83. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Paleontology

#686 in Europe

#2495 in the World

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

84. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Paleontology

#694 in Europe

#2535 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

85. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Paleontology

#703 in Europe

#2597 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

86. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Paleontology

#708 in Europe

#2625 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

87. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Paleontology

#709 in Europe

#2627 in the World

Founded: 1907

88. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#710 in Europe

#2641 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

89. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#720 in Europe

#2696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

90. Eurecom

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

For Paleontology

#742 in Europe

#2814 in the World

Founded: 1991

91. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#746 in Europe

#2850 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

92. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#748 in Europe

#2859 in the World

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

93. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Paleontology

#755 in Europe

#2884 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

94. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Paleontology

#760 in Europe

#2905 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

95. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Paleontology

#768 in Europe

#2950 in the World

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

96. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Paleontology

#781 in Europe

#3086 in the World

Founded: 2017

97. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Paleontology

#794 in Europe

#3168 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

98. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#803 in Europe

#3236 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

99. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#828 in Europe

#3317 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

100. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#833 in Europe

#3337 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

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