100 Best universities for Oceanography 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 Oceanography. A graph of 4.85M citations received by 147K academic papers made by 117 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 Oceanography

#12 in Europe

#46 in the World

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

2. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Oceanography

#64 in Europe

#214 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

3. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Oceanography

#74 in Europe

#236 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

4. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Oceanography

#78 in Europe

#246 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Oceanography

#86 in Europe

#262 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

6. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Oceanography

#90 in Europe

#267 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

7. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Oceanography

#100 in Europe

#289 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

8. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Oceanography

#117 in Europe

#336 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

9. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Oceanography

#152 in Europe

#417 in the World

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

10. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Oceanography

#155 in Europe

#424 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

11. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Oceanography

#160 in Europe

#432 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#190 in Europe

#520 in the World

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

13. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Oceanography

#191 in Europe

#521 in the World

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

14. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Oceanography

#197 in Europe

#534 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

15. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Oceanography

#236 in Europe

#649 in the World

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

16. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Oceanography

#254 in Europe

#686 in the World

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

17. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Oceanography

#257 in Europe

#694 in the World

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

18. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Oceanography

#275 in Europe

#764 in the World

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

19. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Oceanography

#279 in Europe

#775 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

20. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Oceanography

#286 in Europe

#797 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

21. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Oceanography

#291 in Europe

#813 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

22. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Oceanography

#296 in Europe

#825 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

23. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Oceanography

#298 in Europe

#830 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#301 in Europe

#836 in the World

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

25. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Oceanography

#302 in Europe

#839 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

26. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Oceanography

#304 in Europe

#847 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

27. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Oceanography

#310 in Europe

#869 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

28. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Oceanography

#320 in Europe

#900 in the World

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

29. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#322 in Europe

#908 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Oceanography

#323 in Europe

#909 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

31. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Oceanography

#324 in Europe

#913 in the World

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

32. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Oceanography

#333 in Europe

#949 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

33. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Oceanography

#342 in Europe

#983 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

34. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Oceanography

#364 in Europe

#1059 in the World

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

35. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Oceanography

#402 in Europe

#1161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

36. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Oceanography

#409 in Europe

#1179 in the World

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

37. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Oceanography

#419 in Europe

#1222 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

38. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Oceanography

#423 in Europe

#1234 in the World

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

39. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Oceanography

#426 in Europe

#1241 in the World

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

40. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Oceanography

#433 in Europe

#1258 in the World

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

41. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#436 in Europe

#1263 in the World

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

42. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Oceanography

#439 in Europe

#1301 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

43. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Oceanography

#444 in Europe

#1314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

44. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Oceanography

#448 in Europe

#1332 in the World

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

45. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Oceanography

#460 in Europe

#1369 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

46. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#467 in Europe

#1388 in the World

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

47. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Oceanography

#469 in Europe

#1391 in the World

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

48. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#473 in Europe

#1417 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

49. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Oceanography

#479 in Europe

#1449 in the World

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

50. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Oceanography

#481 in Europe

#1460 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

51. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#492 in Europe

#1490 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

52. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Oceanography

#497 in Europe

#1510 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

53. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Oceanography

#500 in Europe

#1514 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#502 in Europe

#1530 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

55. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Oceanography

#508 in Europe

#1561 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

56. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Oceanography

#511 in Europe

#1572 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

57. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Oceanography

#514 in Europe

#1584 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

58. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Oceanography

#516 in Europe

#1587 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

59. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Oceanography

#518 in Europe

#1591 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

60. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#520 in Europe

#1609 in the World

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

61. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Oceanography

#525 in Europe

#1636 in the World

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

62. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Oceanography

#554 in Europe

#1783 in the World

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

63. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Oceanography

#555 in Europe

#1793 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

64. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Oceanography

#557 in Europe

#1797 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

65. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Oceanography

#572 in Europe

#1875 in the World

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

66. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Oceanography

#574 in Europe

#1887 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

67. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#577 in Europe

#1896 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

68. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Oceanography

#578 in Europe

#1899 in the World

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

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Oceanography

#587 in Europe

#1952 in the World

Founded: 1994

70. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Oceanography

#595 in Europe

#2005 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

71. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Oceanography

#596 in Europe

#2012 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

72. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Oceanography

#597 in Europe

#2013 in the World

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

73. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Oceanography

#607 in Europe

#2052 in the World

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

74. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Oceanography

#622 in Europe

#2159 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

75. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#637 in Europe

#2219 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

76. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#641 in Europe

#2236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

77. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Oceanography

#642 in Europe

#2240 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

78. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Oceanography

#648 in Europe

#2264 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

79. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Oceanography

#652 in Europe

#2292 in the World

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

80. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Oceanography

#654 in Europe

#2296 in the World

Founded: 2017

81. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Oceanography

#657 in Europe

#2311 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

82. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Oceanography

#666 in Europe

#2351 in the World

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

83. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Oceanography

#673 in Europe

#2403 in the World

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

84. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Oceanography

#686 in Europe

#2460 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

85. Catholic University of the West

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Oceanography

#687 in Europe

#2462 in the World

Enrollment: 11,400
Founded: 1875

86. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Oceanography

#699 in Europe

#2549 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

87. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#705 in Europe

#2577 in the World

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

88. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Oceanography

#709 in Europe

#2604 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

89. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Oceanography

#715 in Europe

#2617 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

90. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#753 in Europe

#2809 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

91. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Oceanography

#763 in Europe

#2863 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

92. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Oceanography

#765 in Europe

#2885 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

93. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Oceanography

#773 in Europe

#2922 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

94. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Oceanography

#778 in Europe

#2944 in the World

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

95. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Oceanography

#788 in Europe

#2982 in the World

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

96. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Oceanography

#814 in Europe

#3139 in the World

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

97. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Oceanography

#838 in Europe

#3234 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

98. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Oceanography

#843 in Europe

#3250 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

99. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Oceanography

#844 in Europe

#3253 in the World

Founded: 1906

100. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Oceanography

#848 in Europe

#3278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 2,009
Founded: 2003

The best cities to study Oceanography in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Toulouse, Saint Martin d'Heres, and Montpellier.

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

Paleontology128

Petrology and Geochemistry92

Urban and Regional planning26

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation80