100 Best universities for Paleontology 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 Paleontology. A graph of 11.2M citations received by 345K academic papers made by 128 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

#10 in Europe

#48 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Paleontology

#36 in Europe

#121 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#62 in Europe

#194 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#92 in Europe

#259 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Paleontology

#98 in Europe

#278 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

6. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Paleontology

#99 in Europe

#280 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Paleontology

#118 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Paleontology

#122 in Europe

#328 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

9. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Paleontology

#142 in Europe

#378 in the World

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

10. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Paleontology

#187 in Europe

#492 in the World

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

11. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Paleontology

#194 in Europe

#509 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Paleontology

#195 in Europe

#513 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

13. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#212 in Europe

#549 in the World

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

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Paleontology

#233 in Europe

#622 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Paleontology

#237 in Europe

#633 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

16. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#245 in Europe

#669 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

17. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Paleontology

#252 in Europe

#694 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

18. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Paleontology

#266 in Europe

#744 in the World

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

19. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Paleontology

#273 in Europe

#766 in the World

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

20. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Paleontology

#281 in Europe

#801 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#284 in Europe

#811 in the World

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

22. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Paleontology

#296 in Europe

#847 in the World

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

23. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#311 in Europe

#889 in the World

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

24. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Paleontology

#315 in Europe

#899 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

25. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#321 in Europe

#918 in the World

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

26. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Paleontology

#322 in Europe

#921 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Paleontology

#326 in Europe

#932 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

28. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#327 in Europe

#938 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

29. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Paleontology

#341 in Europe

#973 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

30. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Paleontology

#357 in Europe

#1019 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

31. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Paleontology

#359 in Europe

#1021 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

32. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Paleontology

#377 in Europe

#1080 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

33. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#381 in Europe

#1095 in the World

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

34. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#385 in Europe

#1122 in the World

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

35. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Paleontology

#400 in Europe

#1171 in the World

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

36. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Paleontology

#401 in Europe

#1174 in the World

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

37. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Paleontology

#406 in Europe

#1194 in the World

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

38. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Paleontology

#428 in Europe

#1299 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

39. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Paleontology

#435 in Europe

#1330 in the World

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

40. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#437 in Europe

#1337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

41. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Paleontology

#449 in Europe

#1388 in the World

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

42. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#458 in Europe

#1421 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

43. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Paleontology

#460 in Europe

#1424 in the World

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

44. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#462 in Europe

#1429 in the World

Founded: 1828

45. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Paleontology

#475 in Europe

#1487 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

46. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#479 in Europe

#1495 in the World

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

47. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#480 in Europe

#1497 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

48. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Paleontology

#487 in Europe

#1518 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

49. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#492 in Europe

#1552 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

50. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#496 in Europe

#1572 in the World

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

51. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Paleontology

#500 in Europe

#1592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

52. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Paleontology

#504 in Europe

#1625 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

53. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Paleontology

#509 in Europe

#1660 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

54. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Paleontology

#510 in Europe

#1673 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

55. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#533 in Europe

#1773 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

56. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#534 in Europe

#1774 in the World

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

57. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Paleontology

#537 in Europe

#1779 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

58. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Paleontology

#543 in Europe

#1803 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

59. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#558 in Europe

#1873 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

60. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Paleontology

#569 in Europe

#1936 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

61. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Paleontology

#573 in Europe

#1961 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#579 in Europe

#1976 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

63. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#583 in Europe

#1983 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

64. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Paleontology

#589 in Europe

#2008 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

65. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#618 in Europe

#2207 in the World

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

66. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Paleontology

#626 in Europe

#2249 in the World

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

67. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Paleontology

#628 in Europe

#2251 in the World

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

68. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Paleontology

#631 in Europe

#2262 in the World

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

69. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Paleontology

#635 in Europe

#2300 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

70. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Paleontology

#638 in Europe

#2316 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

71. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Paleontology

#641 in Europe

#2334 in the World

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

72. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#642 in Europe

#2343 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

73. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Paleontology

#645 in Europe

#2354 in the World

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

74. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Paleontology

#658 in Europe

#2422 in the World

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

75. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Paleontology

#660 in Europe

#2426 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

76. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Paleontology

#672 in Europe

#2507 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

77. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Paleontology

#673 in Europe

#2510 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

78. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#684 in Europe

#2566 in the World

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

79. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Paleontology

#687 in Europe

#2586 in the World

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

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Paleontology

#688 in Europe

#2591 in the World

Founded: 1994

81. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Paleontology

#693 in Europe

#2608 in the World

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

82. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Paleontology

#697 in Europe

#2622 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

83. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Paleontology

#730 in Europe

#2785 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

84. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Paleontology

#738 in Europe

#2826 in the World

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

85. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#741 in Europe

#2876 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

86. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Paleontology

#752 in Europe

#2931 in the World

Founded: 1907

87. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Paleontology

#757 in Europe

#2956 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

88. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Paleontology

#758 in Europe

#2970 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

89. Eurecom

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

For Paleontology

#780 in Europe

#3085 in the World

Founded: 1991

90. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Paleontology

#790 in Europe

#3113 in the World

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

91. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#799 in Europe

#3167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

92. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Paleontology

#800 in Europe

#3176 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

93. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Paleontology

#803 in Europe

#3208 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

94. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#805 in Europe

#3222 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

95. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#806 in Europe

#3226 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

96. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Paleontology

#808 in Europe

#3237 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

97. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Paleontology

#848 in Europe

#3459 in the World

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

98. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#853 in Europe

#3476 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

99. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Paleontology

#857 in Europe

#3489 in the World

Founded: 2017

100. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#859 in Europe

#3504 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 Toulouse.