100 Best universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 41.2M citations received by 1.26M 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

#42 in Europe

#150 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Chemistry

#61 in Europe

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#88 in Europe

#270 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#89 in Europe

#271 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Chemistry

#102 in Europe

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Chemistry

#127 in Europe

#359 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Chemistry

#142 in Europe

#390 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

9. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Chemistry

#162 in Europe

#435 in the World

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

10. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Chemistry

#167 in Europe

#446 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

11. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Chemistry

#179 in Europe

#477 in the World

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

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Chemistry

#187 in Europe

#498 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

13. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#189 in Europe

#504 in the World

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

14. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Chemistry

#218 in Europe

#614 in the World

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

15. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#232 in Europe

#658 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Chemistry

#233 in Europe

#660 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Chemistry

#242 in Europe

#695 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

18. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Chemistry

#244 in Europe

#703 in the World

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

19. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Chemistry

#257 in Europe

#750 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

20. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Chemistry

#262 in Europe

#774 in the World

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

21. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Chemistry

#263 in Europe

#775 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

22. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#273 in Europe

#796 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

#870 in the World

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

24. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Chemistry

#300 in Europe

#880 in the World

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

25. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#307 in Europe

#910 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

26. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#308 in Europe

#911 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Chemistry

#311 in Europe

#916 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

28. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Chemistry

#316 in Europe

#932 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

29. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Chemistry

#334 in Europe

#1002 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

30. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Chemistry

#342 in Europe

#1026 in the World

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

31. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#350 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

32. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#351 in Europe

#1061 in the World

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

33. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Chemistry

#353 in Europe

#1065 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

34. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Chemistry

#354 in Europe

#1075 in the World

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

35. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Chemistry

#364 in Europe

#1101 in the World

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

36. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Chemistry

#365 in Europe

#1102 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#369 in Europe

#1117 in the World

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

38. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Chemistry

#370 in Europe

#1118 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

39. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Chemistry

#395 in Europe

#1218 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

40. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Chemistry

#398 in Europe

#1228 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

#407 in Europe

#1262 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

42. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Chemistry

#430 in Europe

#1337 in the World

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

43. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Chemistry

#434 in Europe

#1358 in the World

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

44. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Chemistry

#435 in Europe

#1360 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

45. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#443 in Europe

#1379 in the World

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

46. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Chemistry

#461 in Europe

#1501 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

47. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#468 in Europe

#1534 in the World

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

48. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Chemistry

#469 in Europe

#1535 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

49. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Chemistry

#479 in Europe

#1565 in the World

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

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Chemistry

#480 in Europe

#1570 in the World

Founded: 1994

51. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Chemistry

#482 in Europe

#1572 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

52. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Chemistry

#497 in Europe

#1630 in the World

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

53. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Chemistry

#500 in Europe

#1642 in the World

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

54. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Chemistry

#503 in Europe

#1680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

55. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Chemistry

#518 in Europe

#1761 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

56. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Chemistry

#529 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

#533 in Europe

#1816 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

58. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Chemistry

#544 in Europe

#1854 in the World

Founded: 1828

59. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#547 in Europe

#1870 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

60. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Chemistry

#559 in Europe

#1937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

61. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Chemistry

#562 in Europe

#1955 in the World

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

62. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Chemistry

#571 in Europe

#2013 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

63. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Chemistry

#572 in Europe

#2017 in the World

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

64. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Chemistry

#577 in Europe

#2051 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

65. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#581 in Europe

#2061 in the World

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

66. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Chemistry

#583 in Europe

#2067 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

67. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Chemistry

#593 in Europe

#2108 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

68. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Chemistry

#595 in Europe

#2118 in the World

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

69. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Chemistry

#596 in Europe

#2134 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

70. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#604 in Europe

#2181 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

#2187 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

72. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#612 in Europe

#2234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

73. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#620 in Europe

#2282 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

74. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Chemistry

#623 in Europe

#2312 in the World

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

75. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Chemistry

#624 in Europe

#2313 in the World

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

76. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#634 in Europe

#2368 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

77. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Chemistry

#640 in Europe

#2412 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

78. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Chemistry

#642 in Europe

#2424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

79. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Chemistry

#644 in Europe

#2430 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

80. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#647 in Europe

#2453 in the World

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

81. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Chemistry

#648 in Europe

#2459 in the World

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

82. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Chemistry

#650 in Europe

#2466 in the World

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

83. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#668 in Europe

#2584 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

84. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#679 in Europe

#2663 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

85. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Chemistry

#702 in Europe

#2745 in the World

Founded: 2017

86. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Chemistry

#707 in Europe

#2784 in the World

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

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

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Chemistry

#710 in Europe

#2789 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

88. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Chemistry

#711 in Europe

#2798 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

89. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Chemistry

#719 in Europe

#2830 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

90. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

For Chemistry

#759 in Europe

#3017 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

91. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Chemistry

#773 in Europe

#3125 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

92. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#775 in Europe

#3139 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

93. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Chemistry

#795 in Europe

#3222 in the World

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

94. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#802 in Europe

#3238 in the World

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

95. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Chemistry

#808 in Europe

#3278 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

96. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Chemistry

#820 in Europe

#3344 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

97. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

For Chemistry

#847 in Europe

#3465 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

98. Eurecom

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

For Chemistry

#856 in Europe

#3517 in the World

Founded: 1991

99. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Chemistry

#866 in Europe

#3550 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

100. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Chemistry

#873 in Europe

#3573 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 Engineering42

Biochemistry128

Chemical Engineering97

Computational Chemistry74

Environmental Chemistry85

Inorganic Chemistry68

Materials Science134

Nanotechnology100

Nutrition and Food Science75

Organic Chemistry123

Petrology and Geochemistry92

Physical chemistry101

Polymer science and Plastics engineering36

Radiochemistry60