65 Best universities for Classics and Ancient History 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 Classics and Ancient History. A graph of 243K citations received by 19.8K academic papers made by 65 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

#122 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

#165 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

3. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#78 in Europe

#203 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

#121 in Europe

#301 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

#135 in Europe

#339 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

6. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Classics and Ancient History

#143 in Europe

#357 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

7. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Classics and Ancient History

#152 in Europe

#385 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

#396 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

9. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Classics and Ancient History

#164 in Europe

#406 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Classics and Ancient History

#176 in Europe

#442 in the World

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

11. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Classics and Ancient History

#178 in Europe

#450 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#199 in Europe

#502 in the World

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

13. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#224 in Europe

#569 in the World

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

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Classics and Ancient History

#244 in Europe

#638 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Classics and Ancient History

#256 in Europe

#673 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

16. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Classics and Ancient History

#272 in Europe

#706 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

17. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Classics and Ancient History

#275 in Europe

#712 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

18. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Classics and Ancient History

#285 in Europe

#740 in the World

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

19. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Classics and Ancient History

#286 in Europe

#742 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

#311 in Europe

#804 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

#317 in Europe

#810 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

22. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Classics and Ancient History

#318 in Europe

#811 in the World

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

23. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Classics and Ancient History

#328 in Europe

#843 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

24. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Classics and Ancient History

#331 in Europe

#853 in the World

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

25. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Classics and Ancient History

#352 in Europe

#919 in the World

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

26. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Classics and Ancient History

#356 in Europe

#929 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

27. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Classics and Ancient History

#360 in Europe

#939 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

28. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Classics and Ancient History

#362 in Europe

#944 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

29. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Classics and Ancient History

#363 in Europe

#946 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

30. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#365 in Europe

#948 in the World

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

31. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Classics and Ancient History

#371 in Europe

#970 in the World

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

32. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Classics and Ancient History

#383 in Europe

#1002 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Classics and Ancient History

#388 in Europe

#1020 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

34. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Classics and Ancient History

#390 in Europe

#1023 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

35. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Classics and Ancient History

#423 in Europe

#1124 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

36. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Classics and Ancient History

#425 in Europe

#1135 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

37. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#426 in Europe

#1139 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

38. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Classics and Ancient History

#436 in Europe

#1167 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

#512 in Europe

#1519 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

#551 in Europe

#1642 in the World

Founded: 1907

41. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Classics and Ancient History

#556 in Europe

#1659 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

42. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Classics and Ancient History

#566 in Europe

#1695 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

43. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#567 in Europe

#1702 in the World

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

44. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Classics and Ancient History

#571 in Europe

#1718 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

#1724 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

46. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Classics and Ancient History

#576 in Europe

#1753 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#584 in Europe

#1793 in the World

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

48. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Classics and Ancient History

#595 in Europe

#1843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

49. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Classics and Ancient History

#599 in Europe

#1873 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

50. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Classics and Ancient History

#603 in Europe

#1892 in the World

Founded: 1906

51. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Classics and Ancient History

#608 in Europe

#1907 in the World

Founded: 1892

52. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Classics and Ancient History

#612 in Europe

#1919 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

53. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Classics and Ancient History

#613 in Europe

#1921 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

54. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Classics and Ancient History

#617 in Europe

#1947 in the World

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

55. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Classics and Ancient History

#621 in Europe

#1962 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

56. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Classics and Ancient History

#635 in Europe

#2011 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

57. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Classics and Ancient History

#641 in Europe

#2019 in the World

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

58. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#647 in Europe

#2055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

59. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Classics and Ancient History

#658 in Europe

#2104 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

60. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Classics and Ancient History

#667 in Europe

#2144 in the World

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

61. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Classics and Ancient History

#692 in Europe

#2255 in the World

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

62. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Classics and Ancient History

#693 in Europe

#2268 in the World

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

63. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Classics and Ancient History

#708 in Europe

#2337 in the World

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

64. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Classics and Ancient History

#732 in Europe

#2427 in the World

Founded: 1875

65. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Classics and Ancient History

#733 in Europe

#2431 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

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.