100 Best universities for Paleontology 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 Paleontology. A graph of 10.7M citations received by 336K 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

#47 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

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#62 in Europe

#197 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#92 in Europe

#258 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Paleontology

#96 in Europe

#269 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

6. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Paleontology

#102 in Europe

#281 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Paleontology

#120 in Europe

#318 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

8. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Paleontology

#122 in Europe

#324 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

9. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Paleontology

#144 in Europe

#384 in the World

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

10. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Paleontology

#195 in Europe

#510 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

11. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Paleontology

#197 in Europe

#513 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#208 in Europe

#538 in the World

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

13. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Paleontology

#229 in Europe

#601 in the World

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

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Paleontology

#233 in Europe

#613 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Paleontology

#236 in Europe

#625 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

16. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#249 in Europe

#679 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

17. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Paleontology

#252 in Europe

#685 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

18. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Paleontology

#264 in Europe

#730 in the World

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

19. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Paleontology

#273 in Europe

#764 in the World

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

20. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Paleontology

#280 in Europe

#788 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

#294 in Europe

#831 in the World

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

22. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Paleontology

#298 in Europe

#846 in the World

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

23. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#307 in Europe

#870 in the World

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

24. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Paleontology

#314 in Europe

#889 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

25. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#317 in Europe

#904 in the World

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

26. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Paleontology

#320 in Europe

#916 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

#323 in Europe

#924 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

28. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#327 in Europe

#933 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

29. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Paleontology

#342 in Europe

#976 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

30. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Paleontology

#357 in Europe

#1012 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

31. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Paleontology

#361 in Europe

#1020 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

32. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#372 in Europe

#1062 in the World

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

33. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Paleontology

#376 in Europe

#1078 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

34. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#384 in Europe

#1107 in the World

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

35. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Paleontology

#398 in Europe

#1166 in the World

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

36. 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

37. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Paleontology

#404 in Europe

#1187 in the World

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

38. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Paleontology

#427 in Europe

#1278 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

39. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Paleontology

#432 in Europe

#1298 in the World

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

40. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#441 in Europe

#1349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

41. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Paleontology

#448 in Europe

#1375 in the World

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

42. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#454 in Europe

#1408 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

43. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#456 in Europe

#1412 in the World

Founded: 1828

44. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Paleontology

#459 in Europe

#1423 in the World

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

45. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#472 in Europe

#1467 in the World

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

46. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Paleontology

#474 in Europe

#1473 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

47. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#475 in Europe

#1474 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

48. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Paleontology

#482 in Europe

#1504 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

49. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Paleontology

#492 in Europe

#1548 in the World

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

50. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#493 in Europe

#1550 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

51. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Paleontology

#497 in Europe

#1581 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

52. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Paleontology

#498 in Europe

#1585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

53. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Paleontology

#507 in Europe

#1639 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

54. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Paleontology

#510 in Europe

#1666 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

55. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#524 in Europe

#1732 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

56. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Paleontology

#536 in Europe

#1771 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

57. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#537 in Europe

#1774 in the World

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

58. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Paleontology

#546 in Europe

#1804 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

59. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#548 in Europe

#1826 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

60. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Paleontology

#565 in Europe

#1904 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

61. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Paleontology

#573 in Europe

#1938 in the World

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

62. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#576 in Europe

#1960 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#577 in Europe

#1965 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

64. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Paleontology

#581 in Europe

#1982 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

65. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#617 in Europe

#2195 in the World

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

66. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Paleontology

#620 in Europe

#2203 in the World

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

67. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Paleontology

#625 in Europe

#2225 in the World

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

68. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Paleontology

#627 in Europe

#2247 in the World

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

69. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Paleontology

#631 in Europe

#2268 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

70. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Paleontology

#636 in Europe

#2300 in the World

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

71. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Paleontology

#638 in Europe

#2314 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

72. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Paleontology

#641 in Europe

#2323 in the World

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

73. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Paleontology

#642 in Europe

#2332 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

74. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Paleontology

#654 in Europe

#2408 in the World

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

75. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Paleontology

#655 in Europe

#2409 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

76. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Paleontology

#667 in Europe

#2480 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

77. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#672 in Europe

#2502 in the World

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

78. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Paleontology

#673 in Europe

#2504 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

79. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Paleontology

#683 in Europe

#2550 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

#684 in Europe

#2552 in the World

Founded: 1994

81. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Paleontology

#686 in Europe

#2568 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

#691 in Europe

#2587 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

83. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Paleontology

#721 in Europe

#2756 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

84. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Paleontology

#736 in Europe

#2835 in the World

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

85. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#740 in Europe

#2870 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

86. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Paleontology

#744 in Europe

#2884 in the World

Founded: 1907

87. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Paleontology

#755 in Europe

#2936 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

88. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Paleontology

#757 in Europe

#2951 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

89. Eurecom

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

For Paleontology

#766 in Europe

#3018 in the World

Founded: 1991

90. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Paleontology

#779 in Europe

#3063 in the World

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

91. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Paleontology

#787 in Europe

#3117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

92. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Paleontology

#796 in Europe

#3155 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

93. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Paleontology

#799 in Europe

#3167 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

94. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Paleontology

#801 in Europe

#3182 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

95. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#803 in Europe

#3197 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

96. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#805 in Europe

#3210 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

97. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Paleontology

#847 in Europe

#3452 in the World

Founded: 2017

98. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Paleontology

#853 in Europe

#3469 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

99. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Paleontology

#858 in Europe

#3517 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

100. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Paleontology

#860 in Europe

#3524 in the World

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

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