France has maintained its standing as a global education leader, keeping its 11th position worldwide for the second year running in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.
The 2025 results show 27 French higher education institutions amongst the world’s best 1,000 universities, an increase of two from 2024’s total of 25 and a validation of France’s reputation for scientific excellence.
The University of Paris-Saclay remains the country’s standout institution, achieving 13th place worldwide and 3rd position across Europe. Three additional French institutions feature in the global top 100: Paris Sciences at Lettres claimed 34th place, Sorbonne University 43rd, and Paris Cité University 60th.
Meanwhile, eight French universities are now listed in the top 200, including Strasbourg, Aix-Marseille, Grenoble-Alpes, and Montpellier. Additionally, two institutions have made their debut in this year’s ranking: the University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and the University of Picardy Jules-Verne.
A growing presence over the decades
Over the past two decades, French representation in the rankings has expanded significantly, with the number of listed institutions growing by 50% from 18 to 27. This rise is mainly due to strategic institutional partnerships and consolidations.
Yet these achievements come amid escalating worldwide academic competition. Alternative international rankings, such as Times Higher Education, alongside findings from the Science and Technology Observatory, point to persistent difficulties. The Observatory’s December 2024 analysis revealed France’s slip from 6th to 13th position globally for scientific publication numbers.
Responding to these competitive dynamics, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research has launched the ‘Choose France for Science’ initiative, committing €100 million domestically and €500 million at the European level to enhance research appeal. The ministry is also pursuing comprehensive reforms to reinforce institutional strategies and engage private sector participation.
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Photo credit: Dimitri Iakymuk, Unsplash