100 Best universities for 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 Engineering. A graph of 34.6M citations received by 1.23M 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

#12 in Europe

#70 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Engineering

#50 in Europe

#179 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Engineering

#58 in Europe

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#85 in Europe

#272 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Engineering

#88 in Europe

#280 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Engineering

#103 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

7. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Engineering

#110 in Europe

#332 in the World

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

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Engineering

#120 in Europe

#354 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

9. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#144 in Europe

#402 in the World

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

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Engineering

#154 in Europe

#422 in the World

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

11. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Engineering

#178 in Europe

#484 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Engineering

#182 in Europe

#492 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

13. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Engineering

#204 in Europe

#563 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

14. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Engineering

#221 in Europe

#608 in the World

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

15. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Engineering

#249 in Europe

#700 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Engineering

#250 in Europe

#704 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Engineering

#252 in Europe

#710 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

18. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Engineering

#255 in Europe

#722 in the World

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

19. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Engineering

#259 in Europe

#728 in the World

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

20. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Engineering

#266 in Europe

#761 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

21. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#273 in Europe

#783 in the World

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

22. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Engineering

#277 in Europe

#795 in the World

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

23. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#296 in Europe

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

24. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#328 in Europe

#945 in the World

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

25. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Engineering

#332 in Europe

#952 in the World

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

26. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#334 in Europe

#956 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

27. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Engineering

#338 in Europe

#972 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

28. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Engineering

#347 in Europe

#995 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

29. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Engineering

#348 in Europe

#996 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

30. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Engineering

#358 in Europe

#1022 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

31. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#364 in Europe

#1039 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

32. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Engineering

#366 in Europe

#1048 in the World

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

33. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Engineering

#374 in Europe

#1073 in the World

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

34. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Engineering

#376 in Europe

#1081 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Engineering

#380 in Europe

#1089 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#392 in Europe

#1131 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

37. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Engineering

#395 in Europe

#1140 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

38. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#401 in Europe

#1160 in the World

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

39. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Engineering

#409 in Europe

#1194 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

40. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Engineering

#412 in Europe

#1202 in the World

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

41. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Engineering

#414 in Europe

#1211 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

42. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Engineering

#421 in Europe

#1237 in the World

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

43. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Engineering

#434 in Europe

#1280 in the World

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

44. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Engineering

#435 in Europe

#1282 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

45. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Engineering

#437 in Europe

#1290 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

46. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#460 in Europe

#1369 in the World

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

47. Eurecom

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

For Engineering

#466 in Europe

#1396 in the World

Founded: 1991

48. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Engineering

#470 in Europe

#1417 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

49. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Engineering

#472 in Europe

#1420 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

50. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Engineering

#474 in Europe

#1434 in the World

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

51. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Engineering

#475 in Europe

#1442 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

52. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Engineering

#476 in Europe

#1448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

53. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#479 in Europe

#1459 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

54. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#490 in Europe

#1512 in the World

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

55. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Engineering

#501 in Europe

#1553 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

56. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Engineering

#507 in Europe

#1585 in the World

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

57. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Engineering

#521 in Europe

#1635 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

#522 in Europe

#1638 in the World

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

59. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Engineering

#523 in Europe

#1644 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

60. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Engineering

#526 in Europe

#1657 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#539 in Europe

#1729 in the World

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

62. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Engineering

#541 in Europe

#1738 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

63. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#547 in Europe

#1760 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

64. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Engineering

#552 in Europe

#1791 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

65. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#553 in Europe

#1792 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

#1796 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Engineering

#558 in Europe

#1808 in the World

Founded: 1994

68. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Engineering

#560 in Europe

#1820 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

69. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Engineering

#562 in Europe

#1823 in the World

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

70. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Engineering

#565 in Europe

#1847 in the World

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

71. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Engineering

#584 in Europe

#1897 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

72. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#585 in Europe

#1899 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

73. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Engineering

#587 in Europe

#1909 in the World

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

74. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Engineering

#611 in Europe

#2021 in the World

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

75. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#612 in Europe

#2023 in the World

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

76. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Engineering

#618 in Europe

#2052 in the World

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

77. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Engineering

#631 in Europe

#2103 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

78. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Engineering

#633 in Europe

#2113 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

79. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Engineering

#645 in Europe

#2220 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

#650 in Europe

#2236 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

81. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Engineering

#653 in Europe

#2246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

82. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#654 in Europe

#2247 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

83. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Engineering

#670 in Europe

#2334 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

84. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#692 in Europe

#2475 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

85. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Engineering

#700 in Europe

#2534 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

86. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#703 in Europe

#2551 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

#725 in Europe

#2645 in the World

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

88. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Engineering

#731 in Europe

#2664 in the World

Founded: 2017

89. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#734 in Europe

#2678 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

90. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Engineering

#736 in Europe

#2683 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

91. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

For Engineering

#747 in Europe

#2727 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

92. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#767 in Europe

#2846 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

93. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Engineering

#784 in Europe

#2948 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

94. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Engineering

#800 in Europe

#3005 in the World

Founded: 1828

95. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Engineering

#806 in Europe

#3039 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

96. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Engineering

#815 in Europe

#3115 in the World

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

97. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Engineering

#820 in Europe

#3137 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

98. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Engineering

#822 in Europe

#3140 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

99. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Engineering

#823 in Europe

#3144 in the World

Founded: 1907

100. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Engineering

#833 in Europe

#3187 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 Engineering119

Aerospace Engineering117

Agricultural Engineering14

Applied/Engineering Physics56

Architectural Engineering43

Automation and Control engineering62

Automotive Engineering56

Biochemical Engineering42

Biomedical Engineering52

Biotechnology67

Chemical Engineering97

Civil Engineering98

Computer Engineering62

Computer Networking121

Construction Management27

Electrical Engineering124

Electronic Engineering96

Engineering Management14

Environmental Engineering70

Firefighting and Fire Science21

Geotechnical Engineering89

Human-Computer Interaction87

Industrial Engineering28

Landscape Architecture15

Marine Engineering33

Materials Science134

Mechanical Engineering125

Metallurgical Engineering118

Mining Engineering18

Nanotechnology100

Nuclear Engineering33

Operations Research62

Optical Engineering125

Petroleum Engineering35

Polymer science and Plastics engineering36

Product and Industrial Design26

Reliability and Quality Engineering60

Remote Sensing79

Renewable Energy Engineering56

Structural Engineering105

Systems Engineering106

Technical Drawing25

Telecommunications123

Transportation Engineering50