74 Best universities for Virology 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 Virology. A graph of 2.39M citations received by 67.7K academic papers made by 74 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 Virology

#5 in Europe

#34 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Virology

#23 in Europe

#91 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Virology

#55 in Europe

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

4. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Virology

#74 in Europe

#230 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

5. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#101 in Europe

#308 in the World

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

6. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Virology

#109 in Europe

#328 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

7. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Virology

#112 in Europe

#335 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

8. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Virology

#116 in Europe

#345 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

9. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Virology

#122 in Europe

#358 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Virology

#133 in Europe

#381 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

11. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Virology

#142 in Europe

#410 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

12. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#144 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

13. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Virology

#163 in Europe

#491 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

14. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Virology

#165 in Europe

#498 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

15. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Virology

#170 in Europe

#507 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

16. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Virology

#173 in Europe

#519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

17. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Virology

#197 in Europe

#613 in the World

Founded: 1828

18. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Virology

#202 in Europe

#633 in the World

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

19. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Virology

#235 in Europe

#734 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

20. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Virology

#246 in Europe

#760 in the World

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

21. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Virology

#247 in Europe

#762 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

22. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Virology

#251 in Europe

#770 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

23. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Virology

#254 in Europe

#778 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

24. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Virology

#257 in Europe

#789 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

25. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Virology

#268 in Europe

#818 in the World

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

26. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Virology

#269 in Europe

#819 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

27. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Virology

#279 in Europe

#906 in the World

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

28. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Virology

#296 in Europe

#982 in the World

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

29. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Virology

#299 in Europe

#985 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

30. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#317 in Europe

#1084 in the World

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

31. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Virology

#329 in Europe

#1135 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

32. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Virology

#337 in Europe

#1158 in the World

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

33. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Virology

#338 in Europe

#1162 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

34. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Virology

#349 in Europe

#1216 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

35. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Virology

#364 in Europe

#1262 in the World

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

36. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#383 in Europe

#1370 in the World

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

37. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Virology

#385 in Europe

#1378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

38. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Virology

#394 in Europe

#1413 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

39. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Virology

#413 in Europe

#1524 in the World

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

40. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#417 in Europe

#1544 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

41. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Virology

#430 in Europe

#1606 in the World

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

42. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Virology

#438 in Europe

#1640 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

43. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Virology

#451 in Europe

#1703 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

44. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Virology

#452 in Europe

#1706 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

45. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Virology

#457 in Europe

#1719 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#468 in Europe

#1761 in the World

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

47. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Virology

#501 in Europe

#1957 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

48. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Virology

#507 in Europe

#1986 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

49. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Virology

#513 in Europe

#2025 in the World

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

50. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#518 in Europe

#2047 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

51. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Virology

#532 in Europe

#2120 in the World

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

52. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Virology

#539 in Europe

#2144 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

53. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#543 in Europe

#2157 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

54. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#548 in Europe

#2203 in the World

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

55. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Virology

#552 in Europe

#2216 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

56. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Virology

#565 in Europe

#2294 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

57. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#566 in Europe

#2299 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

58. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Virology

#598 in Europe

#2445 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

59. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Virology

#604 in Europe

#2476 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Virology

#607 in Europe

#2488 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

61. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Virology

#616 in Europe

#2543 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

62. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Virology

#621 in Europe

#2579 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

63. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Virology

#623 in Europe

#2596 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

64. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Virology

#654 in Europe

#2738 in the World

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

65. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Virology

#710 in Europe

#3095 in the World

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

66. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Virology

#715 in Europe

#3118 in the World

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

67. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Virology

#720 in Europe

#3135 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

68. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Virology

#726 in Europe

#3161 in the World

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

69. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Virology

#737 in Europe

#3294 in the World

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

70. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Virology

#748 in Europe

#3348 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

71. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Virology

#750 in Europe

#3356 in the World

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

72. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Virology

#763 in Europe

#3448 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

73. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Virology

#780 in Europe

#3518 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

74. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Virology

#788 in Europe

#3536 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

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