100 Best universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 38.7M citations received by 1.22M academic papers made by 138 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

#9 in Europe

#53 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Chemistry

#41 in Europe

#149 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Chemistry

#59 in Europe

#186 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#88 in Europe

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#89 in Europe

#270 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Chemistry

#102 in Europe

#301 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Chemistry

#128 in Europe

#360 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

8. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Chemistry

#143 in Europe

#387 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

9. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Chemistry

#163 in Europe

#438 in the World

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

10. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Chemistry

#169 in Europe

#449 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

11. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Chemistry

#176 in Europe

#463 in the World

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

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#186 in Europe

#488 in the World

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

13. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Chemistry

#189 in Europe

#501 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Chemistry

#230 in Europe

#652 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#231 in Europe

#653 in the World

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

16. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Chemistry

#246 in Europe

#702 in the World

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

17. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Chemistry

#250 in Europe

#714 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

18. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Chemistry

#256 in Europe

#734 in the World

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

19. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Chemistry

#257 in Europe

#738 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

20. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Chemistry

#261 in Europe

#760 in the World

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

21. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Chemistry

#262 in Europe

#761 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

22. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#273 in Europe

#790 in the World

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

23. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Chemistry

#297 in Europe

#874 in the World

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

24. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Chemistry

#298 in Europe

#876 in the World

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

25. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#307 in Europe

#900 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

26. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#309 in Europe

#904 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Chemistry

#312 in Europe

#912 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

28. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Chemistry

#316 in Europe

#920 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

29. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Chemistry

#334 in Europe

#981 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

30. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Chemistry

#341 in Europe

#1022 in the World

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

31. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#347 in Europe

#1040 in the World

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

32. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#349 in Europe

#1043 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

33. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Chemistry

#353 in Europe

#1059 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

34. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Chemistry

#354 in Europe

#1062 in the World

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

35. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Chemistry

#359 in Europe

#1086 in the World

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

36. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Chemistry

#366 in Europe

#1100 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

37. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Chemistry

#371 in Europe

#1111 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#378 in Europe

#1132 in the World

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

39. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Chemistry

#390 in Europe

#1187 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

40. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Chemistry

#398 in Europe

#1212 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#405 in Europe

#1244 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

42. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Chemistry

#422 in Europe

#1307 in the World

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

43. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Chemistry

#431 in Europe

#1328 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

44. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Chemistry

#434 in Europe

#1340 in the World

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

45. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#441 in Europe

#1364 in the World

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

46. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Chemistry

#461 in Europe

#1481 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

47. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Chemistry

#466 in Europe

#1510 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

48. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#468 in Europe

#1518 in the World

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

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Chemistry

#474 in Europe

#1545 in the World

Founded: 1994

50. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Chemistry

#475 in Europe

#1546 in the World

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

51. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Chemistry

#482 in Europe

#1566 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

52. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Chemistry

#492 in Europe

#1595 in the World

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

53. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Chemistry

#494 in Europe

#1603 in the World

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

54. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#507 in Europe

#1693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

55. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Chemistry

#517 in Europe

#1749 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

56. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Chemistry

#533 in Europe

#1808 in the World

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

57. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Chemistry

#539 in Europe

#1827 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

58. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#541 in Europe

#1832 in the World

Founded: 1828

59. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#550 in Europe

#1859 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

60. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Chemistry

#555 in Europe

#1892 in the World

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

61. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Chemistry

#559 in Europe

#1915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

62. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Chemistry

#564 in Europe

#1964 in the World

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

63. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Chemistry

#571 in Europe

#1999 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

64. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#573 in Europe

#2003 in the World

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

65. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Chemistry

#578 in Europe

#2044 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

66. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Chemistry

#579 in Europe

#2052 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

67. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Chemistry

#582 in Europe

#2067 in the World

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

68. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Chemistry

#589 in Europe

#2086 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

69. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Chemistry

#596 in Europe

#2115 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

70. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#604 in Europe

#2179 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

71. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Chemistry

#605 in Europe

#2181 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

72. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#609 in Europe

#2204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

73. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#618 in Europe

#2239 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

74. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Chemistry

#621 in Europe

#2290 in the World

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

75. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Chemistry

#622 in Europe

#2296 in the World

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

76. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#630 in Europe

#2348 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

77. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Chemistry

#637 in Europe

#2396 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

78. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Chemistry

#638 in Europe

#2397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

79. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Chemistry

#642 in Europe

#2417 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

80. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Chemistry

#646 in Europe

#2434 in the World

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

81. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Chemistry

#647 in Europe

#2437 in the World

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

82. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#648 in Europe

#2438 in the World

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

83. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#668 in Europe

#2576 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

84. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#673 in Europe

#2625 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

85. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Chemistry

#695 in Europe

#2710 in the World

Founded: 2017

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

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Chemistry

#698 in Europe

#2732 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

87. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#709 in Europe

#2761 in the World

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

88. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Chemistry

#712 in Europe

#2772 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

89. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Chemistry

#717 in Europe

#2799 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

90. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

For Chemistry

#747 in Europe

#2971 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

91. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Chemistry

#766 in Europe

#3086 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

92. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#770 in Europe

#3098 in the World

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

93. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#779 in Europe

#3148 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

94. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Chemistry

#796 in Europe

#3212 in the World

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

95. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Chemistry

#807 in Europe

#3275 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

96. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Chemistry

#815 in Europe

#3308 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

97. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#834 in Europe

#3396 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

98. Eurecom

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

For Chemistry

#854 in Europe

#3483 in the World

Founded: 1991

99. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#864 in Europe

#3536 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

100. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Chemistry

#873 in Europe

#3582 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

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

Chemistry subfields in France

Biochemical Engineering41

Biochemistry128

Chemical Engineering96

Computational Chemistry73

Environmental Chemistry85

Inorganic Chemistry68

Materials Science133

Nanotechnology100

Nutrition and Food Science74

Organic Chemistry121

Petrology and Geochemistry90

Physical chemistry101

Polymer science and Plastics engineering34

Radiochemistry60