100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 4.27M citations received by 191K 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

#75 in Europe

#216 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

3. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Linguistics

#90 in Europe

#261 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

4. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Linguistics

#134 in Europe

#339 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

5. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Linguistics

#150 in Europe

#381 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

6. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#173 in Europe

#433 in the World

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

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Linguistics

#185 in Europe

#461 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Linguistics

#196 in Europe

#483 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

9. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Linguistics

#202 in Europe

#496 in the World

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

10. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#204 in Europe

#504 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

11. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Linguistics

#211 in Europe

#523 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

12. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Linguistics

#217 in Europe

#537 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

#585 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

14. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Linguistics

#263 in Europe

#645 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

15. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Linguistics

#266 in Europe

#662 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Linguistics

#268 in Europe

#668 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#280 in Europe

#708 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

#292 in Europe

#731 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

19. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#303 in Europe

#765 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

20. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#313 in Europe

#802 in the World

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

21. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#316 in Europe

#805 in the World

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

22. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#337 in Europe

#863 in the World

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

23. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Linguistics

#340 in Europe

#870 in the World

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

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. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#344 in Europe

#876 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Linguistics

#348 in Europe

#886 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

27. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#349 in Europe

#891 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

28. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#350 in Europe

#892 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

29. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Linguistics

#352 in Europe

#894 in the World

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

30. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Linguistics

#356 in Europe

#898 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

31. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Linguistics

#370 in Europe

#965 in the World

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

32. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Linguistics

#376 in Europe

#981 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

33. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Linguistics

#387 in Europe

#1025 in the World

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

34. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Linguistics

#399 in Europe

#1080 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

35. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#406 in Europe

#1090 in the World

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

36. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Linguistics

#411 in Europe

#1109 in the World

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

37. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Linguistics

#414 in Europe

#1131 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

38. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Linguistics

#456 in Europe

#1267 in the World

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

39. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#479 in Europe

#1335 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

#1339 in the World

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

41. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Linguistics

#496 in Europe

#1390 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

42. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Linguistics

#498 in Europe

#1402 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

43. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Linguistics

#500 in Europe

#1414 in the World

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

44. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Linguistics

#502 in Europe

#1418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

45. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Linguistics

#510 in Europe

#1454 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

46. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Linguistics

#523 in Europe

#1500 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

47. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Linguistics

#530 in Europe

#1534 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

48. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Linguistics

#541 in Europe

#1568 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

49. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#548 in Europe

#1607 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

50. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Linguistics

#550 in Europe

#1611 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

51. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Linguistics

#579 in Europe

#1754 in the World

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

52. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Linguistics

#584 in Europe

#1811 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

53. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Linguistics

#586 in Europe

#1820 in the World

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

54. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Linguistics

#589 in Europe

#1847 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

55. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Linguistics

#607 in Europe

#1945 in the World

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

56. Eurecom

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

For Linguistics

#610 in Europe

#1952 in the World

Founded: 1991

57. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#615 in Europe

#1963 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

58. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#616 in Europe

#1967 in the World

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

59. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Linguistics

#632 in Europe

#2037 in the World

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

60. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Linguistics

#634 in Europe

#2043 in the World

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

61. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Linguistics

#635 in Europe

#2046 in the World

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

62. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Linguistics

#640 in Europe

#2064 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

63. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Linguistics

#643 in Europe

#2073 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

64. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Linguistics

#669 in Europe

#2201 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#671 in Europe

#2203 in the World

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

66. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Linguistics

#687 in Europe

#2266 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

67. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Linguistics

#697 in Europe

#2326 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

68. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Linguistics

#702 in Europe

#2343 in the World

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

69. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Linguistics

#706 in Europe

#2355 in the World

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

70. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#707 in Europe

#2356 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

71. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Linguistics

#715 in Europe

#2397 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#720 in Europe

#2427 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

73. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Linguistics

#721 in Europe

#2437 in the World

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

74. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Linguistics

#728 in Europe

#2473 in the World

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

75. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Linguistics

#733 in Europe

#2481 in the World

Founded: 1907

76. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Linguistics

#738 in Europe

#2531 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

77. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#739 in Europe

#2532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

78. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#742 in Europe

#2547 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

79. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#744 in Europe

#2565 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

80. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Linguistics

#747 in Europe

#2579 in the World

Founded: 1906

81. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Linguistics

#755 in Europe

#2622 in the World

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

82. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#757 in Europe

#2631 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

83. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Linguistics

#759 in Europe

#2639 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

84. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Linguistics

#760 in Europe

#2640 in the World

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

85. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#772 in Europe

#2718 in the World

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

86. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Linguistics

#788 in Europe

#2816 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

87. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Linguistics

#792 in Europe

#2844 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

88. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Linguistics

#793 in Europe

#2845 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

89. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Linguistics

#796 in Europe

#2865 in the World

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

90. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Linguistics

#827 in Europe

#3025 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

91. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#837 in Europe

#3074 in the World

Founded: 1892

92. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Linguistics

#843 in Europe

#3131 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

93. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Linguistics

#859 in Europe

#3225 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

94. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Linguistics

#865 in Europe

#3252 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

95. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Linguistics

#868 in Europe

#3258 in the World

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

96. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Linguistics

#869 in Europe

#3264 in the World

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

97. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#878 in Europe

#3310 in the World

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

98. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Linguistics

#879 in Europe

#3328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

99. National School of Statistics and Economic Administration

Ile-de-France | Malakoff

For Linguistics

#896 in Europe

#3397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1942

100. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Linguistics

#918 in Europe

#3502 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

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 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