20 Best Universities In Paris

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Paris, known as the worldwide center for art, fashion, culture, and food has a splendid choice of globally praised universities. It has some historic and modern universities that attract students from around the world.

From prestigious universities steeped in tradition to modern campuses offering cutting-edge programs, Paris offers a diverse range of educational opportunities. So, if you are interested to begin your abroad study experience in Paris then we have got you covered with the list of 20 best universities.


1. PSL Research University

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  • Founded: 2010
  • Core Courses: Business Administration, Economics, Social Science, Law, Applied Mathematics

Paris Science et Lettres University or PSL is a public research university in Paris, France. Born as a result of a combination of intellectual and scientific areas of its schools, it was established in 2010 but was officially created as a university in 2019. It has 11 schools, and the oldest was founded in 1530.

Many international students are satisfied by the university's unique scientific and cultural background, including 140 laboratories, artist workshops, advanced training for Ph. D.s and postdocs, and many others making it the best university in Paris.

2. Sorbonne University

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  • Founded: 2018
  • Core Courses: Medical studies, Midwifery studies, Paramedical studies and others.

With the merger of Pierre and Marie Curie (UPMC) and Paris-Sorbonne on 1st January 2018, Sorbonne University was established, carrying forward Arts and humanities, medicine, and Science & Engineering. Today with the mix of modern touch, it is a research-oriented, multidisciplinary, and elite academic institution.

There are more than 53,400 students with 6300 staff. It is an exceptional interdisciplinary academy and is the headquarters for the European Marine Biological Research Centre.

3. Institut Polytechnique de Paris

  • Founded: 1741
  • Core Courses: Applied mathematics, statistics, Electrical engineering, Computer Science, and others.

Translated as Polytechnic Institute of Paris, it is a public technological university based in Palaiseau, France. It is a top public university in France with popular courses including Arts and Humanities, Natural Science, Business, and Management.

The reason for being one of the best universities is due to its diverse range of upper-level education courses, useful in training students to develop better experiences in the future.

4. Paris-Saclay University

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  • Founded: 2019
  • Core Courses: Environment, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics & Management

Even though the university has been in existence for just four years, it has for these years always appeared in the top 20 of the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

It was first established in 2015 as a university community and later changed to an actual university to be known as the top research-based French university. It consists of more than 275 laboratories regarding particle physics, atomic physics, nuclear physics, and molecular physics.

5. Pantheon Sorbonne

  • Founded: 1971
  • Core Courses: Economics, Management, Mathematics, Law, History

Also known as the University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, it is a public research university based in Paris. The university was formed as a merger between two faculties of the well-known University of Paris following the 1968 protest. The three main areas of this university are Economics and Management, Human Science, and Legal and Political Science.

The university is popular among the top 20 academic institutes in Arts and Humanities and more than 40 thousand students are involved in 14 teaching and research departments.

6. The American University of Paris

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  • Founded: 1962
  • Core Courses: History, Computer Science, French Studies Modern Languages, and others.

The American University of Paris is an autonomous, private, and renowned arts university in Paris, France. It is the first American University established in France and one of the oldest to be founded in Europe. Although the official language of the university is English, students must know conversational French languages.

There are 8 academic departments in the university with students can even formulate their design, known as a Self-Designed Major.

7. L’Institut Agro Montpellier

  • Founded: 1848
  • Core Courses: Life Science, Food Science, Agriculture, Horticulture, Biodiversity

Translated as Agro Institute, it is a public university with higher education focused on Agriculture, Food, and Environment. Situated in Paris, six campuses center on agri-food systems across France, Europe, and internationally. The courses are divided into graduation, master's, and Ph.D.

It is ranked between 401 and 450 depending upon its subjects. The institution is internationally recognized in courses, including capacity improvement in engineering, design, agrifood systems, and management.

8. Pantheon Assas University Paris II

  • Founded:1971
  • Core Courses: Administrative Law, Business and corporate law, Civil law, International private law, International public law.

Pantheon Assas University Paris II is the ultimate successor of the Faculty of Law of Paris discontinued after 1968. It is a public university widely known as Assas or Paris 2 whose primary focus is Legal studies including Political Science, Economics, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public and Private Management.

Considered the second oldest department of law in the world, this university is one of the most renowned law schools in the country.

9. Arts et Metiers ParisTech

  • Founded: 1780
  • Core Courses: Design, Mechanics, Fluids, and Energy Systems.

Arts et Metiers ParisTech is another top university known as an engineering and research institute. It is another grande Ecole of the Paris Institute of Technology popular for its mechanics and industrialization-based programs. There are three institutes and eight campuses affiliated to this university.

The university offers 27 master’s programs and three years of doctoral training. The option for dual degrees is also available.

10. Ecole Polytechnique

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  • Founded: 1794
  • Core Courses: Physical Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy, Geology, Environmental, and others.

Also known as I’X, it is another leading university in Paris that focuses on combining high-class research, academics, and innovation with developing science and technology. It is the founder of the Paris Institute of Technology a popular and respected engineering university in the country.

The admission is quite tough with one to undergo oral and written tests. Popular alumni include Nobel Prize winners, three Presidents of France, and CEOs of multinational companies.

11. Science Po

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  • Founded: 1872
  • Core Courses: Economics, Law, History, Political Science, and other scientific disciplines.

Sciences Po is a competitive research-focused globally recognized university based on the term of excellence and forwardness. It is one of the selective institutions in the rank of excellent university in humanities and social sciences.

The university hosts around 14,000 students out of which half are international. It offers 29 two-year master’s degree programs, each with diverse options. To get admission one should pass the foreign equivalent or must have at least completed his bachelor's.

12. Aix-Marseille University

  • Founded: 2012
  • Core Courses: Microbiology, Oncology, Space Science, Immunology, Infectious Diseases.

Considered the youngest university in Paris, France, Aix-Marseille University is a public research university. The university is large due to the number of students, staff, and the courses provided. With over 69,951 students and 4,115 staff, it features among the top universities in the world and the best university in Paris.

Apart from all these, there are many facilities for the students. Scholarship, hostel, and accommodations are some of them. The dynamics of its research are wide with many vocational programs.

13. Nantes University

  • Founded: 1460
  • Core Courses: Engineering, Art, Pharmacy, Language, Political Science,

Located in the city of Nantes, it is a public university known as a few universities that promote interdisciplinary. Over 38,000 students are combined within the 20 faculties and schools.

Situated in the beautiful and historic environment of Nantes, the university offers a distinct and diverse range of courses through different courses including law, business, and engineering. Some of the faculties are Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology, Sociology, and many others.

14. Strasbourg University

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  • Founded: 2009
  • Core Courses: Surgery, Polymer Science, Space Science, Chemistry, and Cell Biology

Located in Strasbourg, France, it is a public research university. Originally, it was founded in 1538 and then divided into three institutions. However, Louis Pasteur University, Marc Bloch University, and Robert Schuman University were merged in 2009 to form Strasbourg University.

The university offers education in five areas, arts, literature and language, law, economics, management, political and social science, science and technology, and health. The primary language used is French but some courses follow English.

15. Paris Cite University

  • Founded: 2019
  • Core Courses: Law, Economics and Management, humanities and social sciences, health disciplines, and science and technology.

Another public research university in Paris is Paris Cite University. It was established as a merger between Paris Descartes University and Paris Diderot University. The university is well known throughout the world with many international students.

The university is globally recognized as prestigious for its supremacy in research, and broad interdisciplinary programs encourage innovation and knowledge sharing. Getting admission to this university is competitive.

16. CY Cergy Paris University

  • Founded: 2020
  • Core Courses: Civil Engineering, Management, Civil Engineering, Biotechnology & Chemistry, and Arts and Humanities.

It is a new university located in Cergy-Pontoise, France, and formed as a result of a merger among different schools of the University of Paris-Seine, Cergy-Pontoise University, and the EISTI. The schools of the University will become the schools of this university.

With 25,000 students, 1,000 researchers, and 550 PhD scholars, the university is popular and best in the academy market in Paris. The university is quite famous in Paris as well as outside the country.

17. University of Lorraine

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  • Founded: 2012
  • Core Courses: Engineering, Law, Economics, technology, health, management, humanities, and social science.

The original University of Lorraine (UL) was founded in 1572. The current UL is the result of a merger between three great universities in 2012. The motive behind this was to bring together the main colleges of the Lorraine region within a single building. The university has 51 campus sites located in different areas of Lorraine.

There are around 62,000 students and 7,000 staff with 43 teaching units divided into 9 schools. The worldwide recognition of this university is significantly low as compared to the recognition in the country.

18. Catholic University of Paris (CUP)

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  • Founded: 1875
  • Core Courses: Theology, Philosophy, Humanities, Arts, Social Science

Founded as Institut Catholique de Paris, CUP is a widely popular learning center focused on personal guidance and global recognition. The university consists of 21 organizations as a result of 6 faculties, 4 specialized institutes, 20 research centers, 1 doctoral school, and 11 graduate schools.

The university is well-known for its achievements in main academic areas such as Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law. Bibliotheque de Fels, the chief library holds 600,000 volumes including 60,000 historic volumes and 800 manuscripts.

19. University of London Institute in Paris

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  • Founded: 1894
  • Core Courses: Humanities, Law, Journalism & Media, and Social Sciences.

The University located in Paris provides the opportunity for the students to learn from two different worlds, one in Paris and another in British.

You might get the chance to learn French as well as get the experience of the British world. This is the one and only British university institution in continental Europe. The top reason to study here is since it is a small university you can learn well and progress better. Apart from that students can get ample attention from their lecturers, and learn better.

20. University of Bordeaux

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  • Founded: 2014
  • Core Courses: Science and Technology, Law, Political Science, Life and Health Science, and Social and Human Sciences.

The University of Bordeaux was initially founded in 1441 but later faced many mergers, and separations and finally became the University of Bordeaux in 2014.

With 250 master's and 150 bachelor programs, over 54,436 students study here out of which 7,608 are international students. The university has many courses to offer. With popular subjects being science and technology the university is the best and most popular in Paris.

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