54 Best universities for Automotive Engineering 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 Automotive Engineering. A graph of 243K citations received by 11.2K academic papers made by 54 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 Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Automotive Engineering

#92 in Europe

#302 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

2. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Automotive Engineering

#93 in Europe

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

3. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Automotive Engineering

#109 in Europe

#380 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

4. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Automotive Engineering

#144 in Europe

#476 in the World

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

5. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Automotive Engineering

#145 in Europe

#480 in the World

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

6. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Automotive Engineering

#156 in Europe

#514 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

7. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Automotive Engineering

#159 in Europe

#524 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

8. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Automotive Engineering

#165 in Europe

#540 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

#170 in Europe

#551 in the World

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

10. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#174 in Europe

#561 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

11. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Automotive Engineering

#180 in Europe

#599 in the World

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

12. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Automotive Engineering

#201 in Europe

#662 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

13. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Automotive Engineering

#207 in Europe

#673 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

14. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Automotive Engineering

#209 in Europe

#676 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

15. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Automotive Engineering

#217 in Europe

#694 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

16. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Automotive Engineering

#219 in Europe

#700 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

#236 in Europe

#748 in the World

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

18. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Automotive Engineering

#259 in Europe

#824 in the World

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

19. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Automotive Engineering

#270 in Europe

#854 in the World

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

20. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Automotive Engineering

#276 in Europe

#867 in the World

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

21. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#277 in Europe

#868 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

22. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Automotive Engineering

#283 in Europe

#887 in the World

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

23. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Automotive Engineering

#291 in Europe

#910 in the World

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

24. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Automotive Engineering

#292 in Europe

#917 in the World

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

25. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Automotive Engineering

#304 in Europe

#948 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

26. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Automotive Engineering

#314 in Europe

#984 in the World

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

27. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Automotive Engineering

#317 in Europe

#996 in the World

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

28. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Automotive Engineering

#330 in Europe

#1038 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

29. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Automotive Engineering

#343 in Europe

#1087 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

30. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Automotive Engineering

#383 in Europe

#1217 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

31. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Automotive Engineering

#408 in Europe

#1296 in the World

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

32. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Automotive Engineering

#431 in Europe

#1369 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

33. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Automotive Engineering

#433 in Europe

#1385 in the World

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

34. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Automotive Engineering

#435 in Europe

#1388 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

35. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Automotive Engineering

#449 in Europe

#1444 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

36. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Automotive Engineering

#467 in Europe

#1534 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

37. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Automotive Engineering

#469 in Europe

#1541 in the World

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

38. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Automotive Engineering

#490 in Europe

#1611 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

39. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#498 in Europe

#1632 in the World

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

40. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Automotive Engineering

#517 in Europe

#1703 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

#519 in Europe

#1723 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

#540 in Europe

#1839 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

43. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Automotive Engineering

#543 in Europe

#1847 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

44. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Automotive Engineering

#548 in Europe

#1862 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

45. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Automotive Engineering

#561 in Europe

#1904 in the World

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

46. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Automotive Engineering

#565 in Europe

#1936 in the World

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

47. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Automotive Engineering

#569 in Europe

#1951 in the World

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

48. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Automotive Engineering

#570 in Europe

#1971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

49. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Automotive Engineering

#574 in Europe

#1985 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Automotive Engineering

#575 in Europe

#1987 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

51. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Automotive Engineering

#577 in Europe

#1992 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

52. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Automotive Engineering

#581 in Europe

#2013 in the World

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

53. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#617 in Europe

#2191 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

54. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Automotive Engineering

#634 in Europe

#2266 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 Lille, Belfort, Villeurbanne, and Nancy.