56 Best universities for Automotive Engineering 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 Automotive Engineering. A graph of 262K citations received by 11.5K academic papers made by 56 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. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Automotive Engineering

#91 in Europe

#295 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

2. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Automotive Engineering

#92 in Europe

#307 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

3. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Automotive Engineering

#111 in Europe

#382 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

4. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Automotive Engineering

#144 in Europe

#482 in the World

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

5. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Automotive Engineering

#145 in Europe

#483 in the World

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

6. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Automotive Engineering

#149 in Europe

#497 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

7. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Automotive Engineering

#161 in Europe

#533 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

8. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Automotive Engineering

#169 in Europe

#550 in the World

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

9. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Automotive Engineering

#177 in Europe

#575 in the World

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

10. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#178 in Europe

#576 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

11. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Automotive Engineering

#181 in Europe

#601 in the World

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

12. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Automotive Engineering

#207 in Europe

#677 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

13. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Automotive Engineering

#210 in Europe

#683 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

14. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Automotive Engineering

#214 in Europe

#688 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

15. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Automotive Engineering

#220 in Europe

#700 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

16. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Automotive Engineering

#224 in Europe

#715 in the World

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

17. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Automotive Engineering

#235 in Europe

#753 in the World

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

18. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Automotive Engineering

#258 in Europe

#823 in the World

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

19. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Automotive Engineering

#265 in Europe

#836 in the World

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

20. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#279 in Europe

#882 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

21. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Automotive Engineering

#284 in Europe

#893 in the World

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

22. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Automotive Engineering

#287 in Europe

#904 in the World

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

23. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Automotive Engineering

#290 in Europe

#911 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

24. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Automotive Engineering

#296 in Europe

#935 in the World

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

25. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Automotive Engineering

#307 in Europe

#955 in the World

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

26. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Automotive Engineering

#315 in Europe

#982 in the World

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

27. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Automotive Engineering

#318 in Europe

#1009 in the World

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

28. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Automotive Engineering

#339 in Europe

#1080 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

29. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Automotive Engineering

#350 in Europe

#1118 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

30. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Automotive Engineering

#394 in Europe

#1244 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

31. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Automotive Engineering

#413 in Europe

#1329 in the World

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

32. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Automotive Engineering

#420 in Europe

#1347 in the World

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

33. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Automotive Engineering

#434 in Europe

#1390 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

34. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Automotive Engineering

#447 in Europe

#1428 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

35. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Automotive Engineering

#451 in Europe

#1462 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

36. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Automotive Engineering

#461 in Europe

#1510 in the World

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

37. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Automotive Engineering

#476 in Europe

#1564 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

38. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Automotive Engineering

#496 in Europe

#1619 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

39. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#499 in Europe

#1636 in the World

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

40. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Automotive Engineering

#519 in Europe

#1715 in the World

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

41. Graduate School of Electrical Engineering

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Automotive Engineering

#525 in Europe

#1765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,650
Founded: 1901

42. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Automotive Engineering

#547 in Europe

#1856 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

43. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Automotive Engineering

#552 in Europe

#1866 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

44. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Automotive Engineering

#560 in Europe

#1909 in the World

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

45. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Automotive Engineering

#561 in Europe

#1919 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

46. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Automotive Engineering

#563 in Europe

#1933 in the World

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

47. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Automotive Engineering

#567 in Europe

#1953 in the World

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

48. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Automotive Engineering

#573 in Europe

#1977 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

49. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Automotive Engineering

#574 in Europe

#1978 in the World

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

50. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Automotive Engineering

#578 in Europe

#1996 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

51. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Automotive Engineering

#580 in Europe

#2001 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Automotive Engineering

#584 in Europe

#2021 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

53. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Automotive Engineering

#597 in Europe

#2073 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

54. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Automotive Engineering

#616 in Europe

#2184 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

55. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#623 in Europe

#2219 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

56. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#646 in Europe

#2318 in the World

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

The best cities to study Automotive Engineering in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Belfort, Lille, Villeurbanne, and Amiens.