100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 4.8M citations received by 197K academic papers made by 127 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 Linguistics

#18 in Europe

#89 in the World

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

2. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Linguistics

#77 in Europe

#221 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

3. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Linguistics

#91 in Europe

#262 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

4. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Linguistics

#137 in Europe

#350 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

5. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Linguistics

#148 in Europe

#374 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

6. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#178 in Europe

#449 in the World

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

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Linguistics

#180 in Europe

#452 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Linguistics

#196 in Europe

#483 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#205 in Europe

#505 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

10. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Linguistics

#207 in Europe

#508 in the World

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

11. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Linguistics

#213 in Europe

#532 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

12. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Linguistics

#214 in Europe

#533 in the World

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

13. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#235 in Europe

#591 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

14. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Linguistics

#261 in Europe

#645 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

15. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Linguistics

#268 in Europe

#674 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Linguistics

#269 in Europe

#679 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#283 in Europe

#717 in the World

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

18. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Linguistics

#293 in Europe

#742 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

19. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#301 in Europe

#762 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

20. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Linguistics

#303 in Europe

#765 in the World

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

21. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#316 in Europe

#817 in the World

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

22. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#321 in Europe

#829 in the World

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

23. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#337 in Europe

#859 in the World

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

24. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Linguistics

#341 in Europe

#871 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

25. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Linguistics

#345 in Europe

#878 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Linguistics

#348 in Europe

#892 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

27. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#349 in Europe

#894 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

28. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#351 in Europe

#898 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

29. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Linguistics

#354 in Europe

#906 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

30. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#357 in Europe

#910 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

31. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Linguistics

#371 in Europe

#971 in the World

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

32. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Linguistics

#374 in Europe

#982 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

33. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Linguistics

#387 in Europe

#1024 in the World

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

34. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Linguistics

#405 in Europe

#1096 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

35. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Linguistics

#409 in Europe

#1114 in the World

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

36. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#410 in Europe

#1116 in the World

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

37. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Linguistics

#412 in Europe

#1127 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

38. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Linguistics

#456 in Europe

#1266 in the World

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

39. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#481 in Europe

#1338 in the World

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

40. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Linguistics

#482 in Europe

#1340 in the World

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

41. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Linguistics

#497 in Europe

#1407 in the World

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

42. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Linguistics

#499 in Europe

#1409 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

43. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Linguistics

#502 in Europe

#1419 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

44. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Linguistics

#505 in Europe

#1432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

45. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Linguistics

#507 in Europe

#1451 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

46. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Linguistics

#521 in Europe

#1499 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

47. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Linguistics

#529 in Europe

#1544 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

48. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#539 in Europe

#1587 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

49. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Linguistics

#544 in Europe

#1599 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

50. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Linguistics

#560 in Europe

#1632 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

51. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Linguistics

#580 in Europe

#1767 in the World

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

52. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Linguistics

#582 in Europe

#1782 in the World

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

53. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Linguistics

#591 in Europe

#1848 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

54. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Linguistics

#596 in Europe

#1868 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

55. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#611 in Europe

#1964 in the World

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

56. Eurecom

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

For Linguistics

#616 in Europe

#1981 in the World

Founded: 1991

57. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Linguistics

#618 in Europe

#1986 in the World

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

58. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#626 in Europe

#2015 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

59. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Linguistics

#632 in Europe

#2048 in the World

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

60. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Linguistics

#634 in Europe

#2055 in the World

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

61. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Linguistics

#645 in Europe

#2087 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

62. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Linguistics

#649 in Europe

#2104 in the World

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

63. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Linguistics

#650 in Europe

#2105 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#665 in Europe

#2169 in the World

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

65. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Linguistics

#684 in Europe

#2250 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

66. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Linguistics

#690 in Europe

#2276 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

67. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#702 in Europe

#2345 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

68. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Linguistics

#703 in Europe

#2348 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

69. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Linguistics

#708 in Europe

#2373 in the World

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

70. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Linguistics

#709 in Europe

#2374 in the World

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

71. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#713 in Europe

#2385 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#726 in Europe

#2452 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

73. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Linguistics

#729 in Europe

#2471 in the World

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

74. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Linguistics

#736 in Europe

#2512 in the World

Founded: 1907

75. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Linguistics

#739 in Europe

#2517 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

76. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#742 in Europe

#2532 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

77. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Linguistics

#743 in Europe

#2536 in the World

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

78. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#747 in Europe

#2565 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

79. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Linguistics

#749 in Europe

#2576 in the World

Founded: 1906

80. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#751 in Europe

#2582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

81. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Linguistics

#764 in Europe

#2665 in the World

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

82. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Linguistics

#766 in Europe

#2671 in the World

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

83. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#769 in Europe

#2683 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

84. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Linguistics

#770 in Europe

#2686 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

85. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#779 in Europe

#2755 in the World

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

86. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Linguistics

#786 in Europe

#2797 in the World

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

87. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Linguistics

#794 in Europe

#2841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

88. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Linguistics

#796 in Europe

#2846 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

89. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Linguistics

#800 in Europe

#2863 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

90. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#831 in Europe

#3043 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

91. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#838 in Europe

#3088 in the World

Founded: 1892

92. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Linguistics

#853 in Europe

#3164 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

93. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Linguistics

#855 in Europe

#3180 in the World

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

94. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Linguistics

#865 in Europe

#3236 in the World

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

95. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#868 in Europe

#3242 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

96. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Linguistics

#869 in Europe

#3244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

97. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Linguistics

#872 in Europe

#3256 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

98. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#874 in Europe

#3275 in the World

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

99. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#878 in Europe

#3317 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

100. National School of Statistics and Economic Administration

Ile-de-France | Malakoff

For Linguistics

#897 in Europe

#3404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1942

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in France

Broadcast Journalism5

Classics and Ancient History65

Communications and Public Relations68

Criminology and Criminal Justice23

Early Childhood Education8

Education Majors92

Forensic Science10

Gender Studies45

Human Rights Law11

Intellectual Property and Patent Law19

International Law14

International Relations and Diplomacy14

Journalism and Digital Media31

Law Enforcement10

Library and Information science80

Media Studies28

Military science11

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution22

Occupational Safety and Health15

Political Economy25

Political Science129

Public Policy / Administration31

Radio and Television broadcasting4

Special Education23

Sports / Exercise science29

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies89

Urban and Regional planning26