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Top Universities for PhD Study in France in 2022
Written by Ben Taylor
France’s unique higher education system, featuring specialised universities within larger research networks, makes it a great choice for ambitious PhD students. Despite being one of the most popular non-anglophone destinations for international students, France still offers plenty of English-language PhD programmes.
This page gives a quick introduction to some of the best universities and research institutions in France, as ranked by three of the main world university league tables.
Top ranked French universities for PhD study
The table below shows the top 20 French universities in the world, compiling rankings from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
| University | THE 2022 | QS 2022 | ARWU 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris | =40 | 44 | 38 |
| Sorbonne University | =88 | 72 | 35 |
| Institut Polytechnique de Paris | =91 | =49 | - |
| Paris-Saclay University | =117 | =86 | 13 |
| University of Paris | 155 | =261 | 73 |
| École des Ponts ParisTech | 251-300 | 245 | - |
| Aix-Marseille University | 301-350 | 501-510 | 101-150 |
| University of Bordeaux | 301-350 | 501-510 | 201-300 |
| École Normale Supérieure de Lyon | 301-350 | 130 | 301-400 |
| Montpellier University | 301-350 | 521-530 | 151-200 |
| Grenoble Alpes University | 351-400 | =314 | 99 |
| IMT Atlantique | 351-400 | - | - |
| Claud Bernard University Lyon 1 | 401-500 | 651-700 | 201-300 |
| University of Côte d’Azur | 401-500 | 701-750 | 301-400 |
| École des Mines de Saint-Étienne | 401-500 | - | - |
| L’institut Agro | 401-500 | - | - |
| Sciences Po | 401-500 | =261 | - |
| Centrale Nantes | 501-600 | - | - |
| Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées | 501-600 | - | - |
| University of Lille | 501-600 | 801-1000 | 801-1000 |
| Information in this table is based on the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their websites for more information. | |||
So, how good are universities in Italy for PhD study?
As you can see in the table, France boasts several universities that appear in the top 100 of each ranking system. Still, the uniqueness of the French higher education system, placing importance on smaller institutions within larger research hubs, means that its specialised nature isn’t always fully recognised by the metrics used by ranking systems. So, don’t be put off if you feel France has fewer ‘top’ universities compared to other large nations!
If you want a more ‘zoomed-in’ view at the rankings, it’s worth checking out the subject-level option that is offered by the THE World University Rankings.
Search for a PhD in France
Ready to start looking for your ideal study abroad opportunity? Browse PhDs in France on FindAPhD.com or read our guide to studying a PhD in France.
Last Updated: 18 November 2021