64 Best universities for Classics and Ancient History 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 Classics and Ancient History. A graph of 233K citations received by 19K academic papers made by 64 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 Classics and Ancient History

#44 in Europe

#124 in the World

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

2. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#63 in Europe

#166 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

3. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#79 in Europe

#204 in the World

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

4. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Classics and Ancient History

#122 in Europe

#310 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

5. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#136 in Europe

#340 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

6. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Classics and Ancient History

#148 in Europe

#369 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

7. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Classics and Ancient History

#151 in Europe

#384 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

8. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Classics and Ancient History

#159 in Europe

#403 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

9. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Classics and Ancient History

#160 in Europe

#404 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

10. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Classics and Ancient History

#180 in Europe

#456 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

11. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Classics and Ancient History

#184 in Europe

#470 in the World

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

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#193 in Europe

#491 in the World

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

13. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#218 in Europe

#559 in the World

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

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Classics and Ancient History

#241 in Europe

#642 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Classics and Ancient History

#258 in Europe

#684 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

16. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Classics and Ancient History

#260 in Europe

#689 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

17. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Classics and Ancient History

#277 in Europe

#719 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

18. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Classics and Ancient History

#283 in Europe

#736 in the World

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

19. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Classics and Ancient History

#284 in Europe

#737 in the World

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

20. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#297 in Europe

#774 in the World

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

21. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Classics and Ancient History

#314 in Europe

#812 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

22. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Classics and Ancient History

#316 in Europe

#819 in the World

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

23. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Classics and Ancient History

#334 in Europe

#868 in the World

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

24. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Classics and Ancient History

#336 in Europe

#873 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

25. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Classics and Ancient History

#344 in Europe

#903 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

26. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#355 in Europe

#926 in the World

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

27. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Classics and Ancient History

#356 in Europe

#928 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

28. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Classics and Ancient History

#362 in Europe

#946 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

29. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Classics and Ancient History

#365 in Europe

#960 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

30. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Classics and Ancient History

#371 in Europe

#974 in the World

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

31. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Classics and Ancient History

#375 in Europe

#980 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Classics and Ancient History

#382 in Europe

#1000 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

33. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Classics and Ancient History

#389 in Europe

#1024 in the World

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

34. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Classics and Ancient History

#403 in Europe

#1052 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

35. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#417 in Europe

#1110 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

36. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Classics and Ancient History

#420 in Europe

#1117 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

37. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Classics and Ancient History

#435 in Europe

#1169 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

38. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Classics and Ancient History

#443 in Europe

#1194 in the World

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

39. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Classics and Ancient History

#522 in Europe

#1558 in the World

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

40. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Classics and Ancient History

#536 in Europe

#1610 in the World

Founded: 1907

41. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Classics and Ancient History

#547 in Europe

#1649 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

42. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#560 in Europe

#1688 in the World

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

43. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Classics and Ancient History

#569 in Europe

#1721 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

44. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Classics and Ancient History

#571 in Europe

#1741 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

45. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Classics and Ancient History

#572 in Europe

#1747 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

46. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Classics and Ancient History

#573 in Europe

#1753 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

47. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Classics and Ancient History

#584 in Europe

#1794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#590 in Europe

#1825 in the World

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

49. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Classics and Ancient History

#591 in Europe

#1831 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

50. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Classics and Ancient History

#592 in Europe

#1847 in the World

Founded: 1892

51. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Classics and Ancient History

#601 in Europe

#1868 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

52. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Classics and Ancient History

#603 in Europe

#1871 in the World

Founded: 1906

53. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Classics and Ancient History

#612 in Europe

#1922 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

54. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Classics and Ancient History

#616 in Europe

#1947 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

55. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Classics and Ancient History

#619 in Europe

#1955 in the World

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

56. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Classics and Ancient History

#626 in Europe

#1982 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

57. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Classics and Ancient History

#630 in Europe

#1998 in the World

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

58. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Classics and Ancient History

#647 in Europe

#2074 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

59. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#650 in Europe

#2084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

60. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Classics and Ancient History

#682 in Europe

#2216 in the World

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

61. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Classics and Ancient History

#693 in Europe

#2289 in the World

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

62. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Classics and Ancient History

#701 in Europe

#2327 in the World

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

63. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Classics and Ancient History

#718 in Europe

#2382 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

64. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#726 in Europe

#2438 in the World

Founded: 1875

The best cities to study Classics and Ancient History in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Marseille, Lille, and Villeurbanne.