100 Best universities for 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 History. A graph of 6.47M citations received by 279K academic papers made by 129 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 History

#25 in Europe

#91 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For History

#86 in Europe

#248 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For History

#102 in Europe

#284 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

4. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For History

#117 in Europe

#321 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

5. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#145 in Europe

#384 in the World

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

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For History

#158 in Europe

#409 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For History

#168 in Europe

#440 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

8. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For History

#169 in Europe

#445 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

9. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For History

#178 in Europe

#457 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For History

#181 in Europe

#463 in the World

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

11. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#182 in Europe

#465 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#188 in Europe

#476 in the World

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

13. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#212 in Europe

#534 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

14. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For History

#216 in Europe

#540 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

15. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For History

#217 in Europe

#541 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For History

#233 in Europe

#576 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For History

#237 in Europe

#592 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

18. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For History

#269 in Europe

#669 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

19. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#288 in Europe

#716 in the World

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

20. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For History

#291 in Europe

#727 in the World

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

21. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For History

#302 in Europe

#756 in the World

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

22. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#309 in Europe

#780 in the World

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

23. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For History

#315 in Europe

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

24. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For History

#327 in Europe

#829 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

25. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For History

#346 in Europe

#878 in the World

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

26. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For History

#349 in Europe

#885 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For History

#355 in Europe

#904 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

28. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For History

#369 in Europe

#962 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

29. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For History

#370 in Europe

#964 in the World

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

30. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For History

#385 in Europe

#1006 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

31. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For History

#395 in Europe

#1037 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#397 in Europe

#1042 in the World

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

33. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For History

#408 in Europe

#1080 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

34. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For History

#409 in Europe

#1085 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

35. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#410 in Europe

#1086 in the World

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

36. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#420 in Europe

#1112 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

37. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For History

#437 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

38. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For History

#441 in Europe

#1205 in the World

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

39. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For History

#442 in Europe

#1207 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

40. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For History

#448 in Europe

#1224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

41. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For History

#451 in Europe

#1234 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

42. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For History

#459 in Europe

#1253 in the World

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

43. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#461 in Europe

#1258 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

44. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#467 in Europe

#1269 in the World

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

45. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For History

#484 in Europe

#1340 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

46. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For History

#490 in Europe

#1370 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

47. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For History

#508 in Europe

#1432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

48. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For History

#510 in Europe

#1434 in the World

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

49. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For History

#521 in Europe

#1477 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

50. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For History

#542 in Europe

#1553 in the World

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

51. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For History

#547 in Europe

#1576 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

52. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For History

#549 in Europe

#1581 in the World

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

53. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For History

#559 in Europe

#1608 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

54. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For History

#563 in Europe

#1625 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

55. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For History

#564 in Europe

#1628 in the World

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

56. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For History

#571 in Europe

#1651 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

57. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For History

#575 in Europe

#1661 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

58. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For History

#577 in Europe

#1673 in the World

Founded: 1907

59. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For History

#594 in Europe

#1756 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

60. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For History

#607 in Europe

#1831 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

61. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For History

#614 in Europe

#1863 in the World

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

62. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For History

#615 in Europe

#1865 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

63. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For History

#619 in Europe

#1875 in the World

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

64. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For History

#631 in Europe

#1955 in the World

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

65. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#638 in Europe

#1978 in the World

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

66. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For History

#642 in Europe

#2005 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

67. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For History

#647 in Europe

#2018 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

68. Eurecom

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

For History

#665 in Europe

#2115 in the World

Founded: 1991

69. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For History

#671 in Europe

#2155 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

70. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For History

#683 in Europe

#2195 in the World

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

71. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For History

#685 in Europe

#2202 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

72. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For History

#689 in Europe

#2214 in the World

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

73. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#702 in Europe

#2285 in the World

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

74. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For History

#703 in Europe

#2304 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

75. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For History

#710 in Europe

#2359 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

76. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For History

#716 in Europe

#2380 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

77. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For History

#729 in Europe

#2441 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

78. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For History

#736 in Europe

#2471 in the World

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

79. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For History

#737 in Europe

#2478 in the World

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

80. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For History

#741 in Europe

#2498 in the World

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

81. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For History

#753 in Europe

#2564 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

82. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For History

#757 in Europe

#2602 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

83. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For History

#765 in Europe

#2674 in the World

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

84. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For History

#768 in Europe

#2743 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

85. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For History

#771 in Europe

#2749 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

86. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For History

#773 in Europe

#2752 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

87. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For History

#774 in Europe

#2759 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

88. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For History

#777 in Europe

#2770 in the World

Founded: 1906

89. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For History

#779 in Europe

#2788 in the World

Founded: 1892

90. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For History

#785 in Europe

#2814 in the World

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

91. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For History

#810 in Europe

#2920 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

92. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#821 in Europe

#2980 in the World

Founded: 1875

93. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For History

#825 in Europe

#3003 in the World

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

94. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#834 in Europe

#3046 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

95. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For History

#835 in Europe

#3057 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1819

96. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For History

#837 in Europe

#3067 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

97. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For History

#838 in Europe

#3072 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

98. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For History

#839 in Europe

#3083 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1984

99. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For History

#848 in Europe

#3132 in the World

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

100. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For History

#853 in Europe

#3142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in France

Broadcast Journalism5

Classics and Ancient History64

Communications and Public Relations68

Criminology and Criminal Justice23

Early Childhood Education8

Education Majors90

Forensic Science8

Gender Studies43

Human Rights Law11

Intellectual Property and Patent Law19

International Law14

International Relations and Diplomacy13

Journalism and Digital Media29

Law Enforcement10

Library and Information science77

Media Studies27

Military science10

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution22

Occupational Safety and Health15

Political Economy25

Political Science128

Public Policy / Administration28

Radio and Television broadcasting4

Special Education23

Sports / Exercise science25

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies89

Urban and Regional planning26