100 Best universities for 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 Engineering. A graph of 32.7M citations received by 1.2M academic papers made by 139 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 Engineering

#11 in Europe

#69 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Engineering

#49 in Europe

#177 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Engineering

#53 in Europe

#197 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#84 in Europe

#271 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Engineering

#91 in Europe

#283 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Engineering

#102 in Europe

#313 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Engineering

#106 in Europe

#325 in the World

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

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Engineering

#118 in Europe

#350 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

9. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#139 in Europe

#390 in the World

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

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Engineering

#158 in Europe

#428 in the World

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

11. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Engineering

#181 in Europe

#486 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Engineering

#186 in Europe

#496 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

13. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Engineering

#209 in Europe

#570 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

14. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Engineering

#222 in Europe

#605 in the World

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

15. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Engineering

#248 in Europe

#695 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Engineering

#251 in Europe

#700 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Engineering

#254 in Europe

#716 in the World

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

18. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Engineering

#258 in Europe

#723 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

19. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Engineering

#266 in Europe

#752 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

20. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#268 in Europe

#759 in the World

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

21. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Engineering

#275 in Europe

#783 in the World

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

22. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#291 in Europe

#820 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

23. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Engineering

#299 in Europe

#840 in the World

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

24. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#328 in Europe

#932 in the World

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

25. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#329 in Europe

#944 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

26. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Engineering

#333 in Europe

#951 in the World

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

27. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Engineering

#340 in Europe

#969 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

28. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Engineering

#341 in Europe

#971 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

29. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Engineering

#345 in Europe

#980 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

30. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Engineering

#354 in Europe

#1005 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

31. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#362 in Europe

#1026 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

32. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Engineering

#365 in Europe

#1032 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Engineering

#374 in Europe

#1063 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

34. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Engineering

#375 in Europe

#1064 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

35. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Engineering

#377 in Europe

#1068 in the World

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

36. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Engineering

#390 in Europe

#1107 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#395 in Europe

#1123 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

38. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#399 in Europe

#1143 in the World

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

39. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Engineering

#404 in Europe

#1162 in the World

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

40. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Engineering

#411 in Europe

#1191 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

41. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Engineering

#414 in Europe

#1200 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

42. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Engineering

#420 in Europe

#1223 in the World

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

43. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Engineering

#432 in Europe

#1258 in the World

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

44. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Engineering

#433 in Europe

#1262 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

45. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Engineering

#437 in Europe

#1279 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

46. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#457 in Europe

#1353 in the World

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

47. Eurecom

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

For Engineering

#462 in Europe

#1365 in the World

Founded: 1991

48. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Engineering

#469 in Europe

#1402 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

49. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Engineering

#471 in Europe

#1422 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

50. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Engineering

#472 in Europe

#1424 in the World

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

51. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Engineering

#474 in Europe

#1428 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

52. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#475 in Europe

#1429 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

53. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Engineering

#477 in Europe

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

54. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#486 in Europe

#1493 in the World

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

55. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Engineering

#496 in Europe

#1529 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

56. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Engineering

#508 in Europe

#1566 in the World

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

57. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Engineering

#514 in Europe

#1590 in the World

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

58. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Engineering

#517 in Europe

#1616 in the World

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

59. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Engineering

#519 in Europe

#1624 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

60. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Engineering

#521 in Europe

#1627 in the World

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

61. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Engineering

#539 in Europe

#1714 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#544 in Europe

#1738 in the World

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

63. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#546 in Europe

#1745 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

64. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Engineering

#547 in Europe

#1752 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

65. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#549 in Europe

#1758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

66. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Engineering

#554 in Europe

#1776 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Engineering

#555 in Europe

#1780 in the World

Founded: 1994

68. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Engineering

#556 in Europe

#1781 in the World

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

69. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Engineering

#560 in Europe

#1804 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

70. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Engineering

#561 in Europe

#1805 in the World

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

71. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Engineering

#573 in Europe

#1855 in the World

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

72. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#580 in Europe

#1874 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

73. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Engineering

#581 in Europe

#1876 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

74. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Engineering

#606 in Europe

#2013 in the World

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

75. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Engineering

#610 in Europe

#2020 in the World

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

76. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#611 in Europe

#2021 in the World

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

77. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Engineering

#629 in Europe

#2092 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

78. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Engineering

#630 in Europe

#2094 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

79. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Engineering

#643 in Europe

#2196 in the World

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

80. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Engineering

#646 in Europe

#2217 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

81. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#649 in Europe

#2230 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

82. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Engineering

#655 in Europe

#2258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

83. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Engineering

#660 in Europe

#2294 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

84. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#692 in Europe

#2478 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

85. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Engineering

#697 in Europe

#2514 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

86. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#711 in Europe

#2571 in the World

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

87. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Engineering

#722 in Europe

#2623 in the World

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

88. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Engineering

#723 in Europe

#2629 in the World

Founded: 2017

89. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Engineering

#726 in Europe

#2645 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

90. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#732 in Europe

#2660 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

91. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

For Engineering

#737 in Europe

#2674 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

92. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#757 in Europe

#2779 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

93. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Engineering

#774 in Europe

#2899 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

94. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#798 in Europe

#2997 in the World

Founded: 1828

95. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Engineering

#803 in Europe

#3011 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

96. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#807 in Europe

#3030 in the World

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

97. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Engineering

#819 in Europe

#3120 in the World

Founded: 1907

98. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#820 in Europe

#3121 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

99. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Engineering

#822 in Europe

#3126 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

100. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Engineering

#835 in Europe

#3179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 5,453
Founded: 1881

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

Engineering subfields in France

Acoustical Engineering118

Aerospace Engineering115

Agricultural Engineering14

Applied/Engineering Physics54

Architectural Engineering43

Automation and Control engineering60

Automotive Engineering54

Biochemical Engineering41

Biomedical Engineering52

Biotechnology67

Chemical Engineering96

Civil Engineering97

Computer Engineering61

Computer Networking121

Construction Management27

Electrical Engineering124

Electronic Engineering97

Engineering Management12

Environmental Engineering69

Firefighting and Fire Science19

Geotechnical Engineering89

Human-Computer Interaction86

Industrial Engineering28

Landscape Architecture16

Marine Engineering31

Materials Science133

Mechanical Engineering125

Metallurgical Engineering117

Mining Engineering16

Nanotechnology100

Nuclear Engineering33

Operations Research60

Optical Engineering125

Petroleum Engineering35

Polymer science and Plastics engineering34

Product and Industrial Design26

Reliability and Quality Engineering59

Remote Sensing79

Renewable Energy Engineering55

Structural Engineering104

Systems Engineering106

Technical Drawing24

Telecommunications122

Transportation Engineering49