100 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 26.3M citations received by 1.07M 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

#42 in the World

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

2. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Physics

#21 in Europe

#111 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

3. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Physics

#39 in Europe

#144 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

4. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Physics

#62 in Europe

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

5. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#70 in Europe

#216 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

6. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Physics

#79 in Europe

#237 in the World

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

7. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Physics

#99 in Europe

#285 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Physics

#104 in Europe

#294 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

9. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Physics

#158 in Europe

#410 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Physics

#187 in Europe

#478 in the World

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

11. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Physics

#192 in Europe

#486 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

12. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#194 in Europe

#492 in the World

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

13. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Physics

#205 in Europe

#536 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

14. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Physics

#206 in Europe

#540 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

15. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Physics

#226 in Europe

#601 in the World

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

16. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Physics

#230 in Europe

#618 in the World

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

17. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Physics

#246 in Europe

#662 in the World

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

18. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Physics

#248 in Europe

#666 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

19. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Physics

#254 in Europe

#684 in the World

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

20. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Physics

#255 in Europe

#685 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

21. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#259 in Europe

#692 in the World

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

22. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#272 in Europe

#723 in the World

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

23. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#281 in Europe

#744 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

24. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Physics

#283 in Europe

#749 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

25. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Physics

#302 in Europe

#803 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

26. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#307 in Europe

#822 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

27. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Physics

#315 in Europe

#845 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

28. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Physics

#329 in Europe

#874 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

29. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Physics

#336 in Europe

#896 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#340 in Europe

#904 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

31. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Physics

#344 in Europe

#911 in the World

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

32. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Physics

#349 in Europe

#930 in the World

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

33. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Physics

#359 in Europe

#962 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

34. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#365 in Europe

#987 in the World

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

35. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Physics

#374 in Europe

#1020 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

36. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Physics

#379 in Europe

#1042 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

37. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Physics

#381 in Europe

#1047 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

38. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Physics

#384 in Europe

#1059 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

39. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Physics

#386 in Europe

#1061 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Physics

#387 in Europe

#1064 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

41. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Physics

#391 in Europe

#1075 in the World

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

42. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#401 in Europe

#1120 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

43. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Physics

#402 in Europe

#1126 in the World

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

44. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#405 in Europe

#1141 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

45. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Physics

#411 in Europe

#1172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

46. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#416 in Europe

#1216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

47. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Physics

#421 in Europe

#1226 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

48. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Physics

#428 in Europe

#1242 in the World

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

49. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Physics

#432 in Europe

#1258 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

50. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Physics

#438 in Europe

#1273 in the World

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

51. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Physics

#440 in Europe

#1277 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

52. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Physics

#455 in Europe

#1343 in the World

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

53. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Physics

#457 in Europe

#1351 in the World

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

54. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Physics

#458 in Europe

#1353 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

55. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Physics

#464 in Europe

#1392 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

56. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Physics

#469 in Europe

#1413 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

57. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#475 in Europe

#1433 in the World

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

58. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Physics

#479 in Europe

#1450 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

59. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#480 in Europe

#1451 in the World

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

60. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Physics

#484 in Europe

#1467 in the World

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

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

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Physics

#487 in Europe

#1477 in the World

Founded: 1994

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#505 in Europe

#1571 in the World

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

63. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Physics

#506 in Europe

#1574 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

64. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Physics

#509 in Europe

#1587 in the World

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

65. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Physics

#525 in Europe

#1661 in the World

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

66. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Physics

#533 in Europe

#1691 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

67. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#535 in Europe

#1695 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

68. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#536 in Europe

#1697 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

69. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Physics

#541 in Europe

#1711 in the World

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

70. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Physics

#543 in Europe

#1713 in the World

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

71. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Physics

#546 in Europe

#1729 in the World

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

72. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Physics

#548 in Europe

#1734 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

73. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Physics

#556 in Europe

#1772 in the World

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

74. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Physics

#574 in Europe

#1844 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

75. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Physics

#586 in Europe

#1904 in the World

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

76. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Physics

#601 in Europe

#1967 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

77. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Physics

#607 in Europe

#1987 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

78. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Physics

#617 in Europe

#2021 in the World

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

79. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Physics

#628 in Europe

#2084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

80. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Physics

#632 in Europe

#2104 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

81. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Physics

#636 in Europe

#2116 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

82. Eurecom

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

For Physics

#642 in Europe

#2134 in the World

Founded: 1991

83. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#645 in Europe

#2146 in the World

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

84. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#658 in Europe

#2248 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

85. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Physics

#683 in Europe

#2363 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

86. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Physics

#689 in Europe

#2421 in the World

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

87. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Physics

#692 in Europe

#2433 in the World

Founded: 2017

88. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#712 in Europe

#2559 in the World

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

89. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Physics

#728 in Europe

#2614 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

90. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

For Physics

#733 in Europe

#2627 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

91. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#741 in Europe

#2650 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

92. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#744 in Europe

#2667 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

93. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

For Physics

#751 in Europe

#2703 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

94. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Physics

#779 in Europe

#2859 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

95. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Physics

#795 in Europe

#2909 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

96. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Physics

#822 in Europe

#3072 in the World

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

97. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#839 in Europe

#3159 in the World

Founded: 1828

98. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Physics

#854 in Europe

#3234 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

99. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Physics

#856 in Europe

#3239 in the World

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

100. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Physics

#861 in Europe

#3254 in the World

Founded: 1907

The best cities to study Physics in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Orsay, Villeurbanne, and Saint Martin d'Heres.

Physics subfields in France

Acoustical Engineering118

Applied/Engineering Physics46

Astrophysics and Astronomy119

Atomic and Molecular physics72

Condensed Matter Physics81

Materials Science131

Medical Physics30

Nanotechnology99

Nuclear Physics89

Optical Engineering124

Quantum and Particle physics131

Theoretical Physics75