10 Best Colleges in France: France provides a range of educational opportunities, from Grand Ecoles to Research Colleges and Universities. The majority of universities are ranked among the world’s top law schools, business schools, colleges, engineering schools, medical and nursing institutions.
Be confident that studying in France is one of your finest options for a Master’s, Bachelor’s, PhD, or Associate degree if you are contemplating where to continue or begin your education. Additionally, they can help you attain the jobs of your desires.
France was regarded as the second most popular country in Europe for postgraduate study; they offer a higher quality of education and provide international and domestic students with accountability and appropriate educational resources.
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List of the Best Colleges in France
The following is a list of the Best Colleges in France:
1. Sorbonne Institution
The motto of the public, non-profit, coeducational Sorbonne University in France is “creators of the future.” Due to the merger of Paris-Sorbonne University, Pierre et Marie Curie University, and other minor institutions, this university has existed since 2018.
It is located in Paris and was given legal status in 2018. Sorbonne University is not only one of the most prestigious universities in France, but also one of the most prestigious universities in England. Robert de Sorbon founded Sorbonne College in 1257, which marked the beginning of its principal existence.
The university was established as part of the Medieval University of Paris. As of 2021, the alumni and faculty of this university have won 33 Nobel prizes, one Turing award, and six field metals, representing the institution with distinction. It is reported that the university has more than fifty-five thousand six hundred students (55,600).
Sorbonne University is regarded as one of the Best Colleges in France. In the 2018-2019 CWUR world university rankings, the university came in at number one in France and number thirty-ninth on a global scale.
2. University of Paris-Saclay
This is another Paris-based public research institution. It is the primary centre for research and various training in Paris-Saclay. This university is part of the Paris-Saclay initiative, which is being developed on the plateau de Saclay near Paris.
The initiative is a research-intensive academic campus and business cluster, allowing for the promotion and expansion of research. Paris-Saclay University is comprised of several of France’s most prestigious colleges, faculties, and research centres, all of which are among the world’s top research institutions in their respective disciplines.
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The university offers programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. University Paris-Saclay is renowned for producing twelve medal-winning mathematicians of distinction.
Paris-Saclay University was ranked thirteenth by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), and first for mathematics, ninth for physics, and twenty-fifth for medicine and agriculture in the world rankings by subject.It is one of the Best Colleges in France.
3. Université de Paris
In France, the University of Paris is one of the public research universities. In 1970, the university of Paris split, and two universities, Paris Descartes (Paris v) and Paris Diderot, merged to create the university of Paris as it was then known.
This merger took place on March 20, 2019, owing to a degree. Other institutions, such as institute de physique and globe de Paris, joined the institution’s component. On Boulevard Saint-Germain in the 6th arrondissement, in the center of Paris, is the university’s headquarters.
According to Times Higher Education, in 2021, university of Paris rated 14th young university among the best colleges in France and worldwide and according to the Shanghai ranking, it ranked 65th. The University of Paris employs over 3,000 administrative personnel, over 4,500 academic personnel, and over 64,100 students.It is also regarded as one of the Best Colleges in France.
4. Aix-Marseille University (AMU)
AMU is a French public research university located in Provence in southern France. The university was initially known as the University of Provence after Louis II of Anjou, count of Provence, petitioned the Pisan Antipope Alexander V to establish it.
The University of Aix-Marseille was formed by the merger of three universities: the university of Provence, the university of Paul Cezanne, and the university of the Mediterranean. The merger did not take effect until 2012, creating the largest university in the French-speaking world with approximately 80,000 pupils.
At approximately £750 million, the University of Aix-Marseille has the largest budget of any academic institution in the French-speaking globe. There are approximately 4,273 academic staff, over 4,107 administrative staff, and 2,448 doctoral students at the university.
The university has five primary campuses in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, as well as its headquarters in Pharo, Marseille. Additionally, AMU owns and operates additional facilities in locations including Arles, Aubagne, Avignon, Digne-les-Bains, Gap, La Ciotat, Lambesc, and Salon-de-Provence.
The university collaborates closely with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in teaching, research, and close collaborations.It is also among the Best Colleges in France.
5. College of Montpellier
This public research university, regarded as one of the Best Colleges in France, is located in Montpellier, south-east France. It is one of the world’s earliest universities, having been founded in 1220 (802 years ago). The university has over 41,000 undergraduates, 1,900 faculty members, and 1,700 doctoral candidates.
1970 saw the division of the University of Montpellier into three institutions: University of Montpellier 1, University of Montpellier 2, and Paul Valery University of Montpellier 3. In 2015, the University of Montpellier 1 and the University of Montpellier 2 remerged to establish the University of Montpellier, whereas the third university (Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3) remained independent.
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6. The Strasbourg University
The location of the University of Strasbourg is Strasbourg, Alsace, France.it is among the best public research colleges in France with over 52,000 students, 2,265 doctoral students and 3,300 researchers.
The university of Strasbourg was founded on January 1, 2009, following the merger of three other universities: Louis Pasteur University, Marc Bloch University, and Robert Schuman University. With two field medalists and 19 Nobel laureates, Strasbourg University is regarded as one of the Best Colleges in France.
7. Château de Bordeaux
France’s University of Bordeaux was founded in June 1441 as a public institution. It was newly established in January, 2014 following the merger of three universities.
The university was one of the first universities in France that obtained the confirmation of the “initiative of excellence” label in 2016 awarded by the government in recognition of the university’s innovative academic transformation. The university goes by the motto: sit lumine illustrant millennii and constitutes the community of universities and higher education institutions of Aquitaine.
It is one of the two universities with Bordeaux Montaigne University. The university enrolls over 54,000 students and employs 4,000 faculty members. The university is ranked among the Best Colleges in France due to its high quality of academic courses and research.
8. Paris Sciences et Lettres University
PSL Research University is a public research university in central Paris established in 2010 but formally made a university in 2019. This university is a collegiate university having 11 constituent schools with its main sites at the Jourdan campus, Pourte Dauphine, Carre Richelieu and in the Latin Quarter.
PSL offers awards on Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD diplomas for its constituent’s institutes. The university enrolls over 17,000 students and employs 2,900 faculty members.
In 2021, PSL university ranked 38th globally by the rankings of the academic ranking of world university, 44th by QS world university rankings and 46th by the times higher education world university rankings. The university majors in Science, Engineering, Fine art, Performing arts, Humanities and Social sciences.It is one of the Best Colleges in France.
9. University of Lille (U Lille)
U Lille is a pluri-disciplinary public university situated in Lille, Hauts-de-France. The University of Lille originated from the University of Douai in 1559.
In 2018, three universities namely Lille 1 University of Science and Technology, Lille 2 University of health and law, and Charles de Gaulle university-Lille 3; merged and that resulted in the formation of the University of Lille.
The University of Lille is one of the largest French-speaking colleges in France and worldwide with over 74,000 students. The university has 3,300 academic staff, 6,700 administrative staff, and over 1,800 doctoral students.
The university is one of the major constituents of the Community of Universities and Institutions (COMUE) Lille Nord de France. The university has 66 research labs that are well equipped to perform any research analysis.
Also, the university supports about 350 PhD per year and 3,000 scientific publications. The French government labeled as an initiative for science innovation territories economy the college in 2017.It is one of the Best Colleges in France.
10. Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon/ENSL)
This university is a Grand Ecole located in the City of Lyon. It is one of the four prestigious Ecoles Normales Superieures colleges in France established in 1880 but became recognized properly in 2010.
The school is made up of arts and science academic units with its campus located in Lyon. The college goes by the motto: education through research, for research. Students from this university are privileged to enjoy a special civil servant status in the wake of any highly competitive examinations, only if they pursue careers in public service.
In 2016, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked ENSL as the 5th best small university in the world.It is one of the Best Colleges in France.
FAQs On Best Colleges in France
What is the number one college in France?
The best university in France is Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris, a collegiate university formed of 25 research and higher education institutions in the Paris area and three national research institutions.
Is college tuition free in France?
French public universities don't typically charge tuition fees, and Sorbonne University is no exception. This is standard across domestic and international students. However, the university does charge registration fees: 170 euros (bachelor's degree), 243 euros (master's degree) and 380 euros (doctorate degree).
Which course is best in France?
Some of the top courses to study in Paris are Fashion studies, Hospitality, Dessert making, MBA, Data Analytics, Marketing and Arts.
Is France affordable to study?
International students with a tight budget and on the lookout for great academics, France proves to be the affordable choice. These cheap France universities for international students are all QS-ranked, offer popular courses, and are ranked high with employment reputation.
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