100 Best universities for Ecology 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 Ecology. A graph of 12M citations received by 368K academic papers made by 128 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 Ecology

#18 in Europe

#81 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Ecology

#63 in Europe

#199 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Ecology

#66 in Europe

#217 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Ecology

#108 in Europe

#320 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Ecology

#148 in Europe

#401 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

6. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Ecology

#152 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Ecology

#162 in Europe

#433 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Ecology

#168 in Europe

#454 in the World

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

9. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Ecology

#178 in Europe

#484 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

10. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#225 in Europe

#622 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#236 in Europe

#651 in the World

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

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Ecology

#237 in Europe

#652 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

13. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Ecology

#258 in Europe

#715 in the World

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

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Ecology

#260 in Europe

#719 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Ecology

#265 in Europe

#741 in the World

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

16. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Ecology

#274 in Europe

#765 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

17. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Ecology

#321 in Europe

#881 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

18. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Ecology

#330 in Europe

#907 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

19. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Ecology

#338 in Europe

#930 in the World

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

20. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Ecology

#343 in Europe

#962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

21. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Ecology

#347 in Europe

#972 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Ecology

#353 in Europe

#990 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

23. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Ecology

#358 in Europe

#1008 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

24. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Ecology

#372 in Europe

#1060 in the World

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

25. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Ecology

#381 in Europe

#1097 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

26. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Ecology

#386 in Europe

#1116 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

27. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Ecology

#389 in Europe

#1126 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

28. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Ecology

#392 in Europe

#1134 in the World

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

29. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#399 in Europe

#1153 in the World

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

30. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Ecology

#403 in Europe

#1170 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

31. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Ecology

#404 in Europe

#1171 in the World

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

32. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Ecology

#411 in Europe

#1199 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

33. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#413 in Europe

#1205 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

34. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Ecology

#414 in Europe

#1206 in the World

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

35. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Ecology

#421 in Europe

#1243 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

36. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Ecology

#423 in Europe

#1249 in the World

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

37. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Ecology

#424 in Europe

#1251 in the World

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

38. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Ecology

#430 in Europe

#1266 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

39. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Ecology

#432 in Europe

#1270 in the World

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

40. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Ecology

#437 in Europe

#1283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

41. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Ecology

#451 in Europe

#1376 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

42. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#452 in Europe

#1378 in the World

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

43. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#464 in Europe

#1431 in the World

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

44. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Ecology

#465 in Europe

#1433 in the World

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

45. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Ecology

#488 in Europe

#1524 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

46. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#508 in Europe

#1625 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

47. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Ecology

#511 in Europe

#1638 in the World

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

48. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Ecology

#517 in Europe

#1662 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

49. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#518 in Europe

#1679 in the World

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

50. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Ecology

#524 in Europe

#1705 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

51. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#531 in Europe

#1742 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

52. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Ecology

#533 in Europe

#1748 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

53. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Ecology

#538 in Europe

#1762 in the World

Founded: 1828

54. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#547 in Europe

#1826 in the World

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

55. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Ecology

#550 in Europe

#1856 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

56. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Ecology

#561 in Europe

#1899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 21,997
Founded: 1970

57. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#566 in Europe

#1910 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

58. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#571 in Europe

#1945 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

59. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Ecology

#576 in Europe

#1965 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

60. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Ecology

#581 in Europe

#1976 in the World

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

61. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Ecology

#606 in Europe

#2129 in the World

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

62. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Ecology

#610 in Europe

#2143 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

63. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Ecology

#611 in Europe

#2145 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

64. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Ecology

#615 in Europe

#2156 in the World

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

65. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Ecology

#622 in Europe

#2203 in the World

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

66. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Ecology

#626 in Europe

#2224 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

67. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Ecology

#636 in Europe

#2268 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#642 in Europe

#2292 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

69. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Ecology

#648 in Europe

#2329 in the World

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

70. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Ecology

#655 in Europe

#2349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

71. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Ecology

#656 in Europe

#2350 in the World

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

72. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Ecology

#658 in Europe

#2356 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

73. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Ecology

#665 in Europe

#2405 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

74. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Ecology

#675 in Europe

#2459 in the World

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

75. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Ecology

#676 in Europe

#2464 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

76. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Ecology

#680 in Europe

#2471 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

77. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Ecology

#683 in Europe

#2491 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

78. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Ecology

#699 in Europe

#2582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 14,800
Founded: 2013

79. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Ecology

#708 in Europe

#2621 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

80. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Ecology

#713 in Europe

#2647 in the World

Founded: 1907

81. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Ecology

#731 in Europe

#2737 in the World

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

82. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Ecology

#738 in Europe

#2774 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

83. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Ecology

#742 in Europe

#2826 in the World

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

84. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Ecology

#743 in Europe

#2827 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

85. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Ecology

#745 in Europe

#2858 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

86. Eurecom

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

For Ecology

#749 in Europe

#2879 in the World

Founded: 1991

87. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Ecology

#759 in Europe

#2922 in the World

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

88. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Ecology

#769 in Europe

#2997 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

89. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Ecology

#770 in Europe

#3000 in the World

Founded: 2017

90. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Ecology

#774 in Europe

#3010 in the World

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

91. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Ecology

#780 in Europe

#3031 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

92. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Ecology

#785 in Europe

#3085 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Ecology

#812 in Europe

#3260 in the World

Founded: 1994

94. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#814 in Europe

#3262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 19,018
Founded: 1970

95. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Ecology

#828 in Europe

#3332 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

96. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Ecology

#836 in Europe

#3380 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

97. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#837 in Europe

#3381 in the World

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

98. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Ecology

#842 in Europe

#3404 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

99. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Ecology

#851 in Europe

#3431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

100. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Ecology

#857 in Europe

#3457 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

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

Environmental Science subfields in France

Agricultural Science101

Earth science and Geophysics102

Environmental Chemistry85

Environmental Engineering70

Environmental Management110

Geography and Cartography130

Geotechnical Engineering89

Hydrology and Water resources management12

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science109

Mining Engineering18

Oceanography117

Paleontology128

Petrology and Geochemistry92

Urban and Regional planning26

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation80