Top 5 Most International Universities in France
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Posted on 29 Jun '23

Top 5 Most International Universities in France

France is a popular study abroad destination with nearly 250,000 international students calling it home. But which universities are the most global in their approach?

We’ve taken a look at the five most international universities in France as per the Times Higher Education Rankings 2023. These universities have a high international outlook score which considers factors such as international students, staff and research collaborations.

#5 Université Paris-Saclay

40% of all postgraduate students at Université Paris-Saclay are international. The university along with four other European universities in Germany, Hungary, Portugal and Sweden form the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH) which offers students specialising in Global Health access to campuses across Europe. If you’re studying a different subject, the university has partnerships with more than 400 other international universities that you can benefit from.

#4 Université Paris Cité

Université Paris Cité places emphasis on partnership and mobility by offering joint degrees with universities across UK and Europe, including Humboldt University in Germany and King’s College London in the UK. Universite Paris Cite welcomes exchange students from any of the 500 partner universities worldwide.

#3 PSL Research University Paris

s the top-ranking university in France (according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings), PSL Research University Paris is home to more than 17,000 students. Almost 20% of these students come from abroad. Students can benefit from many international partnerships with institutions such as University College London (UK) and UC Berkeley (USA). You can also find more subject-focused partnerships, for example with Shanghai Jiao Tong University for Robotics and Big Data or Australian National University for Physics and Mathematics.

#2 Sorbonne University

On the back of partnerships and alliances with universities from around the world, Sorbonne University has established itself as a truly international institution. Sorbonne University and six other European institutions are part of the 4EU+ Alliance, which works towards research and academic collaboration. The Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi campus, established in 2006, is also one of the many ways the university ensures it remains accessible to people from different parts of the world.

#1 Institut Polytechnique de Paris

The Institut Polytechnique de Paris brings together five Engineering Grandes Ècoles and has a bustling community of international students. 35% of all students at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris are from another country. The university is set to be a member of the Erasmus programme until 2027, opening its door to many European students. They also have partnerships with universities from around the world, including Imperial College London (UK), University of California Berkeley (USA) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland).

Here’s how the international ranking for each of the universities above compares with their international outlook score:

Most international universities in France
University Most International Rank 2023 World University Rank 2023
Institut Polytechnique de Paris 34 =95
Sorbonne University 72 90
PSL Research University Paris 73 47
Universite Paris Cite 84 =114
Universite Paris Saclay =98 93
Universite Grenoble Alpes 109 401-500
Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon 121 301-350

Decided that France is your desired study abroad destination?

Find a programme from the listings on our website and know more about applications, visas and the student experience in our comprehensive Study In France guides.




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Last Updated: 17 November 2023