100 Best universities for Philosophy in France

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in France ranked based on their research performance in Philosophy. A graph of 6.07M citations received by 514K academic papers made by 130 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 Philosophy

#4 in Europe

#24 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Philosophy

#43 in Europe

#129 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#55 in Europe

#148 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

4. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Philosophy

#62 in Europe

#160 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Philosophy

#79 in Europe

#194 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

6. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#81 in Europe

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Philosophy

#83 in Europe

#204 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Philosophy

#94 in Europe

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

9. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Philosophy

#99 in Europe

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

10. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#112 in Europe

#257 in the World

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

11. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Philosophy

#119 in Europe

#280 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Philosophy

#138 in Europe

#313 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

13. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Philosophy

#151 in Europe

#342 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

14. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Philosophy

#155 in Europe

#347 in the World

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

15. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Philosophy

#164 in Europe

#366 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

16. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Philosophy

#178 in Europe

#395 in the World

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

17. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Philosophy

#194 in Europe

#431 in the World

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

18. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Philosophy

#203 in Europe

#452 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

19. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#204 in Europe

#459 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

20. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#216 in Europe

#477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,704
Founded: 2019

21. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Philosophy

#224 in Europe

#495 in the World

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

22. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#230 in Europe

#514 in the World

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

23. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Philosophy

#235 in Europe

#522 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

24. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#241 in Europe

#538 in the World

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

25. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Philosophy

#243 in Europe

#544 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

26. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Philosophy

#249 in Europe

#559 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

27. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Philosophy

#253 in Europe

#566 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 25,078
Founded: 1431

28. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Philosophy

#275 in Europe

#614 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

29. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Philosophy

#276 in Europe

#616 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Philosophy

#282 in Europe

#626 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

31. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#286 in Europe

#637 in the World

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

32. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Philosophy

#305 in Europe

#729 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

33. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Philosophy

#312 in Europe

#746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,490
Founded: 1970

34. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#317 in Europe

#753 in the World

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

35. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Philosophy

#318 in Europe

#754 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

36. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Philosophy

#320 in Europe

#757 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

37. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Philosophy

#336 in Europe

#800 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

38. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Philosophy

#340 in Europe

#823 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

39. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Philosophy

#357 in Europe

#870 in the World

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

40. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#361 in Europe

#876 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

41. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Philosophy

#363 in Europe

#883 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

42. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Philosophy

#366 in Europe

#894 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

43. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Philosophy

#367 in Europe

#897 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

44. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Philosophy

#374 in Europe

#921 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

45. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#376 in Europe

#926 in the World

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

46. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Philosophy

#381 in Europe

#936 in the World

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

47. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Philosophy

#395 in Europe

#965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

48. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Philosophy

#402 in Europe

#984 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

49. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Philosophy

#407 in Europe

#1001 in the World

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

50. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Philosophy

#409 in Europe

#1011 in the World

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

51. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Philosophy

#412 in Europe

#1017 in the World

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

52. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Philosophy

#417 in Europe

#1038 in the World

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

53. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Philosophy

#420 in Europe

#1047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,091
Founded: 1992

54. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Philosophy

#432 in Europe

#1088 in the World

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

55. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Philosophy

#453 in Europe

#1172 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#458 in Europe

#1198 in the World

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

57. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Philosophy

#460 in Europe

#1202 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

58. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Philosophy

#461 in Europe

#1205 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

59. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Philosophy

#462 in Europe

#1211 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

60. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Philosophy

#467 in Europe

#1224 in the World

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

61. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Philosophy

#500 in Europe

#1339 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

62. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#504 in Europe

#1362 in the World

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

63. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Philosophy

#514 in Europe

#1396 in the World

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

64. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Philosophy

#525 in Europe

#1435 in the World

Founded: 1907

65. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Philosophy

#532 in Europe

#1466 in the World

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

66. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Philosophy

#533 in Europe

#1467 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

67. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Philosophy

#537 in Europe

#1486 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

68. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Philosophy

#542 in Europe

#1507 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

69. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Philosophy

#545 in Europe

#1525 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

70. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Philosophy

#549 in Europe

#1549 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

71. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Philosophy

#562 in Europe

#1610 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

72. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Philosophy

#566 in Europe

#1632 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

73. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Philosophy

#571 in Europe

#1643 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

74. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Philosophy

#591 in Europe

#1723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

75. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Philosophy

#592 in Europe

#1730 in the World

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

76. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Philosophy

#593 in Europe

#1734 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#609 in Europe

#1818 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

78. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Philosophy

#612 in Europe

#1827 in the World

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

79. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Philosophy

#642 in Europe

#1963 in the World

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

80. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Philosophy

#659 in Europe

#2020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,687
Founded: 2007

81. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Philosophy

#662 in Europe

#2032 in the World

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

82. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Philosophy

#664 in Europe

#2038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

83. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#666 in Europe

#2041 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

84. National School of Statistics and Economic Administration

Ile-de-France | Malakoff

For Philosophy

#670 in Europe

#2063 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1942

85. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#684 in Europe

#2099 in the World

Founded: 1875

86. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Philosophy

#685 in Europe

#2101 in the World

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

87. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Philosophy

#689 in Europe

#2113 in the World

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

88. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#695 in Europe

#2141 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

89. Eurecom

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

For Philosophy

#697 in Europe

#2151 in the World

Founded: 1991

90. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Philosophy

#699 in Europe

#2158 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

91. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Philosophy

#700 in Europe

#2160 in the World

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

92. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Philosophy

#703 in Europe

#2183 in the World

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

93. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Philosophy

#714 in Europe

#2233 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

94. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Philosophy

#717 in Europe

#2242 in the World

Founded: 1906

95. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Philosophy

#726 in Europe

#2288 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

96. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Philosophy

#739 in Europe

#2345 in the World

Founded: 1892

97. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Philosophy

#747 in Europe

#2408 in the World

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

98. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Philosophy

#748 in Europe

#2409 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

99. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Philosophy

#756 in Europe

#2443 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

100. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Philosophy

#783 in Europe

#2604 in the World

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

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in France

Broadcast Journalism5

Classics and Ancient History58

Communications and Public Relations60

Criminology and Criminal Justice19

Early Childhood Education9

Education Majors84

Forensic Science8

Gender Studies37

Human Rights Law9

Intellectual Property and Patent Law16

International Law12

International Relations and Diplomacy11

Journalism and Digital Media22

Law Enforcement10

Library and Information science61

Media Studies16

Military science13

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution21

Occupational Safety and Health14

Political Economy20

Political Science128

Public Policy / Administration26

Radio and Television broadcasting7

Special Education25

Sports / Exercise science22

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies83

Urban and Regional planning18