100 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 36M citations received by 1.23M academic papers made by 138 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 Physics

#8 in Europe

#52 in the World

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

2. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Physics

#35 in Europe

#141 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

3. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Physics

#46 in Europe

#164 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

4. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#76 in Europe

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

5. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Physics

#77 in Europe

#237 in the World

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

6. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Physics

#87 in Europe

#259 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

7. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Physics

#106 in Europe

#298 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

8. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#110 in Europe

#309 in the World

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

9. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Physics

#120 in Europe

#326 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Physics

#143 in Europe

#381 in the World

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

11. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Physics

#157 in Europe

#407 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

12. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Physics

#191 in Europe

#502 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

13. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Physics

#196 in Europe

#515 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

14. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Physics

#204 in Europe

#538 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

15. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Physics

#232 in Europe

#637 in the World

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

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Physics

#235 in Europe

#646 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Physics

#236 in Europe

#647 in the World

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

18. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Physics

#240 in Europe

#661 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

19. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Physics

#244 in Europe

#668 in the World

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

20. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#261 in Europe

#716 in the World

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

21. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Physics

#272 in Europe

#741 in the World

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

22. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Physics

#273 in Europe

#743 in the World

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

23. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#287 in Europe

#787 in the World

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

24. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Physics

#313 in Europe

#866 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

25. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#317 in Europe

#871 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

26. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Physics

#322 in Europe

#881 in the World

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

27. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Physics

#331 in Europe

#908 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

28. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#337 in Europe

#921 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

29. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Physics

#344 in Europe

#936 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

30. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Physics

#349 in Europe

#950 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Physics

#366 in Europe

#1016 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#368 in Europe

#1033 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

33. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Physics

#369 in Europe

#1040 in the World

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

34. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Physics

#372 in Europe

#1047 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

35. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Physics

#373 in Europe

#1053 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

36. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Physics

#377 in Europe

#1059 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

37. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Physics

#386 in Europe

#1101 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

38. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Physics

#391 in Europe

#1121 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

39. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Physics

#393 in Europe

#1129 in the World

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

40. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Physics

#395 in Europe

#1141 in the World

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

41. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#401 in Europe

#1165 in the World

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

42. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Physics

#404 in Europe

#1178 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

43. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Physics

#405 in Europe

#1181 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

44. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Physics

#416 in Europe

#1227 in the World

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

45. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#417 in Europe

#1235 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

46. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#423 in Europe

#1247 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

47. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Physics

#436 in Europe

#1297 in the World

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

48. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Physics

#442 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

49. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Physics

#447 in Europe

#1332 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

50. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Physics

#450 in Europe

#1351 in the World

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

51. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Physics

#452 in Europe

#1360 in the World

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

52. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Physics

#462 in Europe

#1400 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

53. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#466 in Europe

#1411 in the World

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

54. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Physics

#468 in Europe

#1417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

55. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#469 in Europe

#1419 in the World

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

56. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Physics

#494 in Europe

#1541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 20,784
Founded: 1991

57. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Physics

#497 in Europe

#1558 in the World

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

58. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Physics

#507 in Europe

#1608 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

59. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Physics

#512 in Europe

#1640 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

60. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Physics

#514 in Europe

#1652 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

61. Graduate School of Chemistry, Physics and Electronics, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Physics

#515 in Europe

#1653 in the World

Founded: 1994

62. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#518 in Europe

#1675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

63. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Physics

#521 in Europe

#1683 in the World

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

64. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Physics

#533 in Europe

#1719 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

65. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Physics

#549 in Europe

#1778 in the World

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

66. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#550 in Europe

#1779 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

67. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Physics

#552 in Europe

#1791 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#559 in Europe

#1839 in the World

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

69. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#560 in Europe

#1843 in the World

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

70. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Physics

#563 in Europe

#1847 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

71. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Physics

#574 in Europe

#1871 in the World

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

72. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Physics

#577 in Europe

#1889 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

73. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#588 in Europe

#1934 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

74. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Physics

#596 in Europe

#1973 in the World

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

75. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Physics

#598 in Europe

#1976 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,500
Male:Female: 80:20
Founded: 1816

76. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Physics

#611 in Europe

#2027 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

77. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Physics

#614 in Europe

#2040 in the World

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

78. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Physics

#620 in Europe

#2062 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

79. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Physics

#631 in Europe

#2117 in the World

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

80. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Physics

#650 in Europe

#2251 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

81. Eurecom

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

For Physics

#655 in Europe

#2274 in the World

Founded: 1991

82. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#660 in Europe

#2295 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

83. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Physics

#670 in Europe

#2341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

84. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Physics

#681 in Europe

#2386 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

85. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Physics

#710 in Europe

#2570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 1,022
Founded: 1961

86. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#728 in Europe

#2635 in the World

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

87. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Physics

#729 in Europe

#2639 in the World

Founded: 2017

88. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#740 in Europe

#2680 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

89. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#747 in Europe

#2730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,700
Founded: 2007

90. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Physics

#755 in Europe

#2794 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

91. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#758 in Europe

#2815 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

92. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Physics

#776 in Europe

#2889 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

93. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

For Physics

#788 in Europe

#2949 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

94. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#810 in Europe

#3050 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

95. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Physics

#826 in Europe

#3118 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

96. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#836 in Europe

#3158 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

97. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Physics

#844 in Europe

#3218 in the World

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

98. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Physics

#848 in Europe

#3238 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

99. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Physics

#855 in Europe

#3271 in the World

Founded: 1907

100. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Physics

#861 in Europe

#3300 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

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

Physics subfields in France

Acoustical Engineering119

Applied/Engineering Physics56

Astrophysics and Astronomy122

Atomic and Molecular physics74

Condensed Matter Physics81

Materials Science134

Medical Physics30

Nanotechnology100

Nuclear Physics91

Optical Engineering125

Quantum and Particle physics132

Theoretical Physics77