100 Best universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 31.9M citations received by 1.13M academic papers made by 136 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 Chemistry

#6 in Europe

#44 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Chemistry

#30 in Europe

#131 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Chemistry

#46 in Europe

#157 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

4. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#82 in Europe

#247 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

5. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#86 in Europe

#254 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Chemistry

#97 in Europe

#283 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Chemistry

#98 in Europe

#285 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Chemistry

#138 in Europe

#374 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

9. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Chemistry

#156 in Europe

#409 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

10. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Chemistry

#170 in Europe

#445 in the World

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

11. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Chemistry

#192 in Europe

#516 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

12. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Chemistry

#201 in Europe

#537 in the World

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

13. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#231 in Europe

#644 in the World

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

14. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Chemistry

#233 in Europe

#650 in the World

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

15. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Chemistry

#238 in Europe

#666 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

16. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Chemistry

#239 in Europe

#667 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

17. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Chemistry

#250 in Europe

#701 in the World

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

18. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Chemistry

#252 in Europe

#708 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

19. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#259 in Europe

#731 in the World

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

20. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Chemistry

#260 in Europe

#734 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

21. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#273 in Europe

#781 in the World

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

22. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Chemistry

#275 in Europe

#791 in the World

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

23. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#283 in Europe

#813 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

24. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#285 in Europe

#817 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

25. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#296 in Europe

#850 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

26. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Chemistry

#297 in Europe

#853 in the World

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

27. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Chemistry

#300 in Europe

#858 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

28. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Chemistry

#322 in Europe

#919 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Chemistry

#323 in Europe

#921 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#326 in Europe

#927 in the World

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

31. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#341 in Europe

#981 in the World

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

32. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Chemistry

#342 in Europe

#985 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

33. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Chemistry

#344 in Europe

#994 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

34. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Chemistry

#353 in Europe

#1024 in the World

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

35. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Chemistry

#355 in Europe

#1027 in the World

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

36. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Chemistry

#358 in Europe

#1042 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

37. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Chemistry

#359 in Europe

#1048 in the World

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

38. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Chemistry

#374 in Europe

#1101 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#376 in Europe

#1105 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

40. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Chemistry

#381 in Europe

#1124 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

41. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#400 in Europe

#1197 in the World

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

42. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Chemistry

#411 in Europe

#1218 in the World

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

43. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Chemistry

#416 in Europe

#1243 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

44. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Chemistry

#419 in Europe

#1252 in the World

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

45. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Chemistry

#434 in Europe

#1316 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

46. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Chemistry

#445 in Europe

#1375 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Chemistry

#448 in Europe

#1396 in the World

Founded: 1994

48. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Chemistry

#450 in Europe

#1404 in the World

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

49. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Chemistry

#451 in Europe

#1407 in the World

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

50. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Chemistry

#457 in Europe

#1432 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

51. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#458 in Europe

#1434 in the World

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

52. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Chemistry

#460 in Europe

#1449 in the World

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

53. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#466 in Europe

#1477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

54. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Chemistry

#467 in Europe

#1489 in the World

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

55. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Chemistry

#480 in Europe

#1532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

56. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Chemistry

#491 in Europe

#1573 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

57. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#495 in Europe

#1583 in the World

Founded: 1828

58. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Chemistry

#516 in Europe

#1710 in the World

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

59. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Chemistry

#517 in Europe

#1711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 20,784
Founded: 1991

60. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Chemistry

#518 in Europe

#1712 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

61. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#524 in Europe

#1735 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

62. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#529 in Europe

#1755 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

63. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#547 in Europe

#1809 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,500
Male:Female: 80:20
Founded: 1816

64. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Chemistry

#554 in Europe

#1842 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

65. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Chemistry

#558 in Europe

#1849 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

66. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Chemistry

#562 in Europe

#1886 in the World

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

67. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Chemistry

#564 in Europe

#1897 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

68. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Chemistry

#566 in Europe

#1913 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

69. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Chemistry

#567 in Europe

#1917 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

70. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#581 in Europe

#2002 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

71. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Chemistry

#582 in Europe

#2006 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

72. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Chemistry

#587 in Europe

#2044 in the World

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

73. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#603 in Europe

#2120 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

74. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#604 in Europe

#2124 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

75. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Chemistry

#605 in Europe

#2129 in the World

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

76. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Chemistry

#606 in Europe

#2138 in the World

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

77. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Chemistry

#621 in Europe

#2222 in the World

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

78. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Chemistry

#624 in Europe

#2268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

79. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Chemistry

#633 in Europe

#2324 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

80. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Chemistry

#636 in Europe

#2342 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

81. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Chemistry

#637 in Europe

#2348 in the World

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

82. Higher National Institute of Agricultural Science, Food and Environment

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Chemistry

#663 in Europe

#2477 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

83. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#670 in Europe

#2501 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

84. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Chemistry

#672 in Europe

#2510 in the World

Founded: 2017

85. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Chemistry

#681 in Europe

#2556 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

86. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#684 in Europe

#2565 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

87. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#689 in Europe

#2596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 1,022
Founded: 1961

88. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Chemistry

#697 in Europe

#2659 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

89. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

For Chemistry

#706 in Europe

#2696 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

90. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Chemistry

#724 in Europe

#2815 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

91. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#732 in Europe

#2843 in the World

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

92. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#761 in Europe

#2985 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

93. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Chemistry

#762 in Europe

#2991 in the World

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

94. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Chemistry

#779 in Europe

#3068 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

95. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#791 in Europe

#3112 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

96. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#816 in Europe

#3272 in the World

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

97. Eurecom

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

For Chemistry

#818 in Europe

#3278 in the World

Founded: 1991

98. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#843 in Europe

#3403 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

99. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Chemistry

#845 in Europe

#3406 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

100. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#870 in Europe

#3529 in the World

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

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

Chemistry subfields in France

Biochemical Engineering33

Biochemistry126

Chemical Engineering93

Computational Chemistry73

Environmental Chemistry84

Inorganic Chemistry68

Materials Science131

Nanotechnology99

Nutrition and Food Science72

Organic Chemistry119

Petrology and Geochemistry89

Physical chemistry102

Polymer science and Plastics engineering36

Radiochemistry61