100 Best universities for Psychology 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 Psychology. A graph of 12.7M citations received by 410K academic papers made by 128 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 Psychology

#18 in Europe

#85 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Psychology

#76 in Europe

#238 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Psychology

#131 in Europe

#366 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

4. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Psychology

#152 in Europe

#435 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

5. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Psychology

#169 in Europe

#469 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

6. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Psychology

#174 in Europe

#485 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

7. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Psychology

#178 in Europe

#491 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

8. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#184 in Europe

#509 in the World

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

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Psychology

#186 in Europe

#515 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

10. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Psychology

#199 in Europe

#537 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

11. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Psychology

#226 in Europe

#632 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

12. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Psychology

#235 in Europe

#660 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

13. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Psychology

#237 in Europe

#664 in the World

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

14. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#251 in Europe

#703 in the World

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

15. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Psychology

#252 in Europe

#706 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Psychology

#264 in Europe

#741 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

17. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#278 in Europe

#787 in the World

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

18. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Psychology

#285 in Europe

#807 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

19. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Psychology

#301 in Europe

#851 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

20. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Psychology

#323 in Europe

#931 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

21. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Psychology

#327 in Europe

#948 in the World

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

22. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Psychology

#330 in Europe

#953 in the World

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

23. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Psychology

#342 in Europe

#1009 in the World

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

24. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Psychology

#354 in Europe

#1031 in the World

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

25. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Psychology

#362 in Europe

#1070 in the World

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

26. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Psychology

#366 in Europe

#1097 in the World

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

27. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Psychology

#386 in Europe

#1166 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

28. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Psychology

#398 in Europe

#1211 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

29. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#411 in Europe

#1243 in the World

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

30. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#424 in Europe

#1303 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

31. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Psychology

#440 in Europe

#1368 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

32. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#451 in Europe

#1403 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

33. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Psychology

#460 in Europe

#1444 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

34. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#463 in Europe

#1459 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

35. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Psychology

#469 in Europe

#1482 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

36. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Psychology

#475 in Europe

#1500 in the World

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

37. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Psychology

#486 in Europe

#1555 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

38. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#488 in Europe

#1565 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

39. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Psychology

#518 in Europe

#1716 in the World

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

40. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Psychology

#519 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

41. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Psychology

#536 in Europe

#1803 in the World

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

42. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Psychology

#541 in Europe

#1827 in the World

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

43. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Psychology

#543 in Europe

#1848 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

44. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Psychology

#544 in Europe

#1850 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

45. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Psychology

#549 in Europe

#1870 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

46. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#552 in Europe

#1897 in the World

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

47. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Psychology

#573 in Europe

#1990 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

48. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#592 in Europe

#2056 in the World

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

49. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Psychology

#608 in Europe

#2151 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

50. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Psychology

#610 in Europe

#2168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,993
Founded: 2007

51. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Psychology

#613 in Europe

#2180 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#628 in Europe

#2277 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

53. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#637 in Europe

#2322 in the World

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

54. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Psychology

#638 in Europe

#2334 in the World

Founded: 1907

55. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Psychology

#641 in Europe

#2357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

56. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Psychology

#657 in Europe

#2436 in the World

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

57. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Psychology

#663 in Europe

#2474 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

58. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Psychology

#664 in Europe

#2477 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

59. Eurecom

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

For Psychology

#676 in Europe

#2519 in the World

Founded: 1991

60. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Psychology

#679 in Europe

#2539 in the World

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

61. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Psychology

#693 in Europe

#2601 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

62. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Psychology

#697 in Europe

#2621 in the World

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

63. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Psychology

#716 in Europe

#2712 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

64. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Psychology

#720 in Europe

#2725 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#721 in Europe

#2731 in the World

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

66. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Psychology

#725 in Europe

#2752 in the World

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

67. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#726 in Europe

#2755 in the World

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

68. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Psychology

#744 in Europe

#2856 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

69. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Psychology

#752 in Europe

#2894 in the World

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

70. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Psychology

#756 in Europe

#2923 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

71. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#758 in Europe

#2926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

72. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Psychology

#760 in Europe

#2954 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

73. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Psychology

#765 in Europe

#2972 in the World

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

74. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Psychology

#766 in Europe

#2974 in the World

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

75. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Psychology

#769 in Europe

#3001 in the World

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

76. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Psychology

#773 in Europe

#3016 in the World

Founded: 1828

77. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Psychology

#788 in Europe

#3104 in the World

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

78. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Psychology

#789 in Europe

#3105 in the World

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

79. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Psychology

#796 in Europe

#3133 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

80. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Psychology

#798 in Europe

#3149 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

81. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Psychology

#810 in Europe

#3211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

82. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Psychology

#813 in Europe

#3217 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

83. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#830 in Europe

#3312 in the World

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

84. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Psychology

#833 in Europe

#3333 in the World

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

85. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Psychology

#839 in Europe

#3361 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

86. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Psychology

#844 in Europe

#3382 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

87. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Psychology

#846 in Europe

#3424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

88. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Psychology

#847 in Europe

#3430 in the World

Founded: 1892

89. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Psychology

#851 in Europe

#3454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

90. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Psychology

#864 in Europe

#3522 in the World

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

91. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Psychology

#867 in Europe

#3539 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

92. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Psychology

#870 in Europe

#3564 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

93. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Psychology

#884 in Europe

#3660 in the World

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

94. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Psychology

#888 in Europe

#3677 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

95. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Psychology

#894 in Europe

#3696 in the World

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

96. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Psychology

#897 in Europe

#3720 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

97. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Psychology

#898 in Europe

#3726 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

98. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Psychology

#916 in Europe

#3822 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

99. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Psychology

#937 in Europe

#3949 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

100. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Psychology

#946 in Europe

#3979 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

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

Psychology subfields in France

Child Psychology72

Clinical Psychology51

Cognitive Science103

Education Majors92

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution22

Neuroscience118

Occupational Therapy26

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology3

Social Psychology114

Special Education23