France has some of the best universities in the world, and in 2025, they’re better than ever. Students from all over the world come to France because the schools are great and don’t cost too much money. You can study almost anything you want, from science to art to business.
The best universities in France for 2025 include famous schools like Sorbonne and new ones like Paris-Saclay. These schools have been teaching students for hundreds of years or using the newest technology. Over 350,000 students from other countries study in France every year.
This guide will help you learn about France’s top universities, how much they cost, and how to apply. Whether you want to become a doctor, engineer, or artist, French universities have programs that can help you reach your dreams. Let’s explore what makes these schools so special.
🎓 Top 10 Universities in France 2025-2026
Quick Guide to France’s Best Schools
| Rank | University Name | Location | World Ranking | Best For | Yearly Cost (Non-EU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sorbonne University | Paris | #59 | Medicine, Science, Arts | €170-380 |
| 2 | Université Paris-Saclay | Paris | #71 | Engineering, Research | €2,895 |
| 3 | ENS Paris | Paris | Top 100 | Teaching, Research | €250 |
| 4 | PSL University | Paris | #24 | All Subjects | €170-650 |
| 5 | École Polytechnique | Paris | #71 | Engineering, Tech | €2,613 |
| 6 | Université Grenoble Alpes | Grenoble | #75 (Sciences) | Mountain Studies, Energy | €175-618 |
| 7 | Université de Paris (Cité) | Paris | #236 | Health, Social Sciences | €2,895 |
| 8 | Aix-Marseille University | Marseille | Top 200 | Law, Mediterranean Studies | €2,895 |
| 9 | Université de Strasbourg | Strasbourg | Top 300 | European Studies, Chemistry | €2,895 |
| 10 | Université de Lyon | Lyon | #184 (ENS Lyon) | Engineering, Sciences | €250-400 |
#24 PSL
€170-650/year
€2,895/year
B2-C1 Level
📑 What You’ll Learn in This Guide
Sorbonne University: A School That’s Been Around Forever
Sorbonne University is one of the oldest schools in the world – it started way back in 1257! Today, it’s ranked number 59 in the world and has about 55,600 students. More than 10,000 of these students come from other countries to study here.
The school was made bigger in 2018 when two old universities joined together. Now Sorbonne has three main parts where you can study different things. They teach science, medicine, and arts like writing and history. The school is really good at physics – it’s number 15 in the whole world for that subject!
What Can You Study at Sorbonne?
- Medicine and Health (you need really good French)
- Physics and Science (one of the best in the world)
- Writing and History
- Math and Computers
- How People Live Together (Social Studies)
How Much Does Sorbonne Cost?
The good news is that Sorbonne doesn’t cost much! Students only pay a small fee each year: €170 for bachelor’s degrees, €243 for master’s degrees, and €380 for doctorate degrees. This is the same for students from any country if they qualify for special help.
The French government pays for most of your education, according to Campus France. You also need to pay €105 each year for student services and between €311-714 for health insurance.
💡 Cool Tip: If you don’t speak French well yet, don’t worry! Sorbonne gives free French classes to all their students from other countries.
Paris-Saclay: Where Science Comes Alive
Paris-Saclay is ranked number 71 in the world and is France’s best school for science research. Even though it only started in 2015, it quickly became one of the best. The school works with 275 science labs where students can do real experiments.
About 30,000 students study at Paris-Saclay, and 15% come from other countries. The campus is built like a small city just for science – kind of like Silicon Valley in America. Students here study cool things like robots, artificial intelligence (computer brains), and how to save the planet.
Why Paris-Saclay is Amazing
Paris-Saclay is number 17 in the world for natural sciences. The teachers and students write over 10,000 science papers every year! That means they’re always discovering new things and sharing them with the world.
Popular Things to Study at Paris-Saclay
- Computers and Artificial Intelligence (making computers think)
- Tiny Science (studying really small things)
- Living Things and Biology
- Math (all kinds of number problems)
- Climate and Earth Science (saving the planet)
- Engineering (building cool stuff)
- Money and Data Science
The best part? Paris-Saclay tries to keep costs the same for all students. The Times Higher Education says this school really wants everyone to be able to afford going there.
The Best Schools: ENS Paris & PSL
PSL University is France’s number one school – it’s ranked 24th in the whole world! This isn’t just one school, but 25 great schools working together. They have 17,000 students and people who studied there have won 28 Nobel Prizes (that’s like winning the Olympics of being smart!).
ENS Paris is one of the hardest schools to get into in France. Only 8 out of 100 students who apply get in! These schools train people to become teachers, researchers, and really smart leaders. To get in, students have to study extra hard for two years and then take really tough tests.
Getting In: To get into these special schools, French students study for two extra years after high school. Then they take big tests. Students from other countries can apply in different ways if they have really good grades.
What Makes PSL Special
PSL is great at everything! It’s number 18 in the world for science, but also teaches art, history, and languages. The school has 4,500 teachers, and many of them have won big prizes for being super smart.
| School Name | World Rank | What They Teach Best | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSL University | #24 | Everything | €170-650 |
| ENS Paris | Part of PSL | Teaching & Research | €250 |
| ENS Lyon | #184 | Science & Writing | €250 |
PSL works with other great schools around the world like Cambridge and Peking University. This means students can study in other countries too, according to PSL University’s website.
École Polytechnique: For Future Engineers
École Polytechnique is ranked 71 in the world and is France’s best engineering school. It’s actually five engineering schools that joined together. About 4,600 students study here, and they’re all really good at math and science.
The campus is huge – about 120 football fields big! Almost half the students come from other countries. Companies love to hire students from this school because they know how to build and create amazing things. Big companies like Google and Airbus work with the school.
Cool Things to Study Here
Students at Polytechnique learn about robots, computer safety, airplanes, and space. They get to work on real projects with big companies, which helps them get great jobs after school.
What You Need to Apply
Grades: You need to be in the top 5 students out of 100 in math and science
Language: B2 level French for bachelor’s, some master’s programs in English
Tests: You have to take a hard test or have really good grades from your country
Cost: €2,613 each year for engineering programs
Getting into this school is really hard – only about 10 out of 100 students from other countries who apply get in. But if you do get in, you’ll learn from the best and use amazing science equipment!
Great Schools Outside Paris
Not all great French schools are in Paris! Other cities have amazing universities too, and living there costs less money. Grenoble Alpes is number 75 in the world for science, and Lyon and Strasbourg have great schools for different subjects.
Grenoble Alpes is France’s third-biggest university. It’s perfect if you love mountains and want to study about nature, energy, or tiny science things. Living in Grenoble costs about €850-1,000 each month, which is much cheaper than Paris!
Best Schools in Other Cities
Lyon University
This is actually many schools together with 130,000 students! They’re great at engineering, science, and arts. ENS Lyon is part of this group.
Aix-Marseille University
France’s biggest school with 80,000 students! It’s near the sea and great for studying law, health, and about the Mediterranean area.
Strasbourg University
This old school has 50,000 students. It’s perfect for studying about Europe, chemistry, and international law.
Montpellier University
Started in 1289 – super old! Has 45,000 students and is famous for medicine and biology.
💡 Save Money: Schools outside Paris teach just as well as Paris schools but living there costs 30-40% less money!
How Much Does It Cost to Study?
French public schools are some of the cheapest in Europe! EU students pay only €170-650 per year. Students from other countries pay €2,895-3,879. Private schools cost more – between €5,000-30,000 each year.
The French government pays about €10,000 for each student every year. That’s why school doesn’t cost much for students. Study.eu explains that France wants everyone to be able to go to university.
All the Costs for 2025/2026
- Bachelor’s Degree: €170 (EU) / €2,895 (Others)
- Master’s Degree: €243 (EU) / €3,879 (Others)
- Doctorate: €397 (everyone pays the same)
- Student Services: €105 every year
- Health Insurance: €311-714 per year
- Living in Paris: €1,250-1,400 each month
- Living in Other Cities: €850-1,000 each month
- Student Room: €200-800 each month
Getting Help to Pay for School
The Eiffel Scholarship gives students €1,181 each month for master’s degrees and €1,700 for doctorate degrees. There are also other scholarships from Europe and the French government that can help pay for school.
Many schools like Paris-Saclay and Rennes help students from other countries pay less. They make sure everyone pays the same low price, no matter where they come from.
Remember: Always check with the school about costs because rules can change. Save an extra €90 for campus stuff and maybe more for special classes.
How to Apply to French Universities
Getting into French public universities is easier than many other countries – they don’t have entrance tests! EU students apply through a website called Parcoursup. Students from other countries use Études en France. You can apply starting October 1st until December 15th.
You need to know French pretty well – B2 level for most programs and C1 for hard ones like medicine. Some master’s programs are taught in English, and you need IELTS 6.0-6.5 or similar for those.
When to Apply for 2025/2026
| Date | What Happens | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2025 | Applications Start | Make your account online |
| December 15, 2025 | Last Day to Apply | Send all papers and pay fees |
| April 30, 2026 | Schools Answer You | Find out if you got in |
| May 31, 2026 | You Must Decide | Say yes to one school and get your visa |
Papers You Need to Apply
- Your grades from school (translated to French)
- French test results (DELF/DALF/TCF)
- A letter saying why you want to study there
- Your resume (what you’ve done so far)
- Copy of your passport
- Birth certificate (translated)
- Proof you have €615 each month
- Two letters from teachers saying you’re good
Campus France USA has a great guide that helps students understand how to apply, including special rules for different countries and how to get a visa.
Questions Students Often Ask About French Universities
PSL University is France’s best school. It’s ranked number 24 in the whole world! This school is actually 25 schools working together, with 17,000 students. People who studied there have won 28 Nobel Prizes. PSL is great at everything – science, arts, and more. They have the best teachers and the coolest labs for doing experiments.
Students from outside the EU pay €2,895 each year for bachelor’s programs and €3,879 for master’s programs at public schools. But here’s good news – many schools let you pay the same low price as EU students (only €170-650 per year)! Doctorate programs cost €397 for everyone. Private schools cost more, between €5,000-30,000 each year.
Public universities are easy to get into if you have good enough grades – they don’t have entrance tests! But special schools like ENS Paris are super hard – only 8 out of 100 students who apply get in. The main challenge is knowing French well enough (B2 or C1 level). More schools now teach in English, especially master’s programs, which makes it easier.
Most bachelor’s programs need B2 level French (that’s pretty good). If you want to study medicine or law, you need C1 (really good). You prove this by taking tests like DELF, DALF, or TCF. English programs usually need IELTS 6.0-6.5. Good news – schools like Sorbonne give free French classes to help international students learn!
Paris-Saclay, Rennes, and Angers let everyone pay the same low price through special help. Sorbonne only charges €170-380 no matter where you’re from. Schools in cities like Grenoble and Clermont cost less than €600 per year. Plus, living in these smaller cities costs 30-40% less than Paris!
Yes! Over 1,500 programs are taught in English, mostly master’s and doctorate programs. Business schools have lots of English programs for management and finance. Science and engineering programs at schools like Paris-Saclay and Polytechnique often use English. You can study computers, artificial intelligence, and biology in English at many schools.
If you’re not from the EU, use the Études en France website. You can apply from October 1st to December 15th. This one application lets you apply to many schools! EU students use Parcoursup for bachelor’s degrees. You need your grades, French test results, a letter about yourself, and proof you have €615 each month. Schools tell you if you got in by April 30th.
The Eiffel Scholarship is amazing – it gives €1,181 each month for master’s students! There’s also Erasmus+ for EU students and French government scholarships that pay for everything. Universities give their own scholarships too. The Campus Bourses website lists over 600 scholarships you can apply for. Many schools also automatically make fees cheaper for good students.
Public universities accept almost everyone who meets the basic requirements – that’s the good news! But special schools are different: ENS Paris only takes 8 out of 100 applicants, École Polytechnique takes about 10 out of 100, and Sciences Po takes 18 out of 100. Hard programs like medicine and law at any school accept fewer students too.
You need your school grades translated to French, French or English test scores (DELF B2+ or IELTS 6.0+), your passport, birth certificate, a letter about why you want to study there, your resume, two letters from teachers, and proof you have €7,380 for the year. If you get accepted and you’re not from the EU, you’ll also need visa papers and proof of where you’ll live.
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