25 Best Universities In Paris For International Students 2025

Paris is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in France. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 44 universities and colleges in Paris, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 44 universities in Paris, Paris Cité University and École Polytechnique are the top-performing schools in Paris. This list covers both public and private institutions in Paris.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Paris. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Paris.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Paris?

Applying to the universities in Paris involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Paris to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Paris?

Tuition fees at Paris’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 0 Euros to 32,800 Euros , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 Euros to 49,500 Euros. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Paris!

As we cover the best universities in Paris for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Paris for International Students

Paris Cité University is an educational organization that is in pursuit of academic excellence. It aims to maintain its reputation of being a catalyst of change through its ambitious and comprehensive educational offerings. The university has various research sites and advanced educational tools to aid the students as they strive to become experts someday.

École Polytechnique is among the five prestigious academic institutions in Paris, France that constitute the Polytechnic Institute of Paris. École Polytechnique is well-known for its modern facilities, competitive research, and world-class education in different fields of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. The university also provides courses that enhance students’ core skills to make them well-rounded individuals that are sought after by employers around the world.

École Normale Supérieure in Paris is at the forefront of providing breakthrough innovations that will help the community to prosper in the coming years. The institution has strong relations with numerous enterprises and industry leaders, allowing it to invest significantly in research and development. It seeks to train intelligent students with a passion for science and technology.

Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University is known for being the main university in the areas of humanities and social sciences in France, not only for its wide variety of programs but also for its outstanding research performance. In fact, research is one of its main focal points, which is why it has 37 research teams and multiple institutes that specialize in areas like demography, labor, geography, and social development. The university is also known for the importance it gives to international collaborations. It has a large international student population, 150 partnerships with universities abroad, and dozens of foreign professors and researchers.

The Paris Institute of Political Studies is a public research university offering degrees in social sciences and humanities. The university strives to help students, as future leaders of society, have a deeper understanding of different social phenomena and find out ways to make society better. Students at the university are given several opportunities to learn in an international environment through internships and exchange programs. 

The École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, or commonly referred to as ESSEC Business School, is a private university in France. It was founded in 1907 and has since built campuses in Morrocco and Singapore. More than half of the student population at the university are international students.

Télécom Paris is an institution that specializes in scientific and technological education. Its main objective is to train professionals that will develop high-quality solutions that will serve the economy while being aware of their communities and the environment. Its education model focuses on being both multidisciplinary and specialized. This is done through a 1st-year core curriculum that includes a broad scope of subjects, including sciences and humanities, and a highly specialized 2nd and 3rd-year curriculum. Research is also fundamental, which is why it has multiple laboratories that carry out studies in data science, applied mathematics, networks, etc.

MINES ParisTech is a graduate school that is dedicated to training students with passion in the science and technology field. It is known for its research-intensive engineering programs that are being taught using work-based learning approaches. The institution has over 15 research centers that aid the students’ curiosity and innovative skills.

Located in Paris, Sorbonne University is a top-performing research institution in France. They have been globally recognized for their engineering and science programs as they produce excellent graduates in the field. More than that, they have a huge contribution to academic research in France and Europe.

Paris Dauphine University maintains a multidisciplinary score of action and productive faculty, allowing students to indulge in high-quality education. Its comprehensive educational curriculum paired with intensive supervision enables student researchers to develop socio-economic projects. It aims to provide an environment where students worldwide can feel a sense of belongingness and enjoy shared values with intellectual co-learners.

School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences seeks to disseminate scientific work through partnering with other international institutions. It also participates in various academic exchanges in order to expose students to diverse perspectives and industry work. Over the years, the institution has been successful in maintaining its excellent reputation and continues to attract students from all over the world.

Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis was created with the intention of offering high-quality education to a diverse student population and promoting the development of research projects that would help society. The university is divided into 11 faculties that offer over 150 degree options and have modern facilities that include 33 research units and 3 academic institutes. Paris 8 is especially known for its programs in humanities and social sciences, like the unique bachelor’s degree in political science, and for the studies done in its French Institute of Geopolitics.

The New Sorbonne University – Paris III is an institution that aims to assure each student’s success in their future careers. It specializes in the area of arts and humanities and is especially known for its vast offer of programs in language sciences and cultural studies. It has both historical and modern buildings throughout the city of Paris, which include a network of six libraries and a language research center.

The Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences, or simply AgroParisTech is one of the public universities in France. Founded in 2007, the university offers degree programs in Agronomy, Life Sciences, and Engineering. It is home to around 2,300 students, with 16% international enrollment.

HEC Paris is a grand educational institution providing postgraduate courses in business and economics. The institution offers up-to-date resources and intensely trains students by allowing them to experience industry work. HEC Paris connects with foreign and domestic industry leaders in order to widen its academic curriculum and give students the competitive edge they would need after graduating.

ESCP Business School is a trusted educational institution when it comes to courses related to finance, economics, and business. It has wide internationalization, which is why it has several campuses all over Europe. The school closely connects with various industry leaders and enterprises in order to offer more career opportunities for its graduates.

Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas University maintains a diverse learning environment and aims to cultivate a curriculum that merges instruction, research, and application. It seeks to strengthen its international reputation and hopes to train more students that are passionate about innovation. The university is known for its science and economics courses, especially its well-adept faculty and staff.

Sorbonne Paris North University is a public university dedicated to providing world-class education and research to enhance society’s cultural, professional, and scientific knowledge. It was established in 1970 as one of the 13 independent universities that succeeded the University of Paris. Several international opportunities are available for students at Sorbonne Paris North University through internships and exchange programs in one of the 450 partner institutions around the world. 

Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology is an internationally renowned institution that specializes in engineering and technology and is committed to training excellent professionals that will make important breakthroughs in the future. It has 8 campuses throughout France, 15 research laboratories, and 2 institutes that conduct studies related to the environment and virtual reality. This university focuses on giving students enough work experience in order to prepare them for the challenges of their careers. That’s why all programs have two mandatory internships, and different work fairs are regularly held with business partners. It also has an incubator where professionals support and help develop the student’s entrepreneurial projects.

SKEMA Business School is committed to providing innovative education to future business professionals. Internationalization is at the core of SKEMA’s education. Besides its three French campuses, this institution also has campuses in China, Brazil, the United States, and South Africa. This gives students the opportunity to be exposed to different points of view and learn from the challenges of other regions.

The National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) is a public university in Paris, France that specializes in teaching languages and cultures from around the world. It was founded in 1669 by French statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert. Undergraduate and graduate programs in language, civilization studies, and other related professional specializations are available at the institute.

ESPCI Paris – PSL is an elite institution that has been in the education industry since 1882. This research center is part of the PSL University (Paris Sciences et Lettres University), and together both institutions provide exemplary academic programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. The institute is an active contributor to the PSL’s curriculum, particularly in the fields of physics and chemistry. Moreover, ESPCI Paris is internationally recognized for its significant contributions to the innovation industry. It leads in scientific excellence that has attracted many renowned scientists and innovators.

EMLYON Business School is a top-notch institution when it comes to the business and economics field. It seeks to prepare students for their future careers by exposing them to actual industry work. It also partners with numerous universities and companies in order to heighten its external relations and level up the research activity of students.

KEDGE Business School is an excellent educational institution that provides training to aspiring business students. The school maintains an internationally-aligned curriculum to expand the students’ knowledge and allow them to secure employment abroad. It also supports academic exchange programs and participates in research collaborations, enabling students to learn a mix of practical and theoretical concepts.

The Catholic University of Paris is a liberal arts institution that strives for educating professionals that will have an open and global approach in their respective areas. Since this is a Catholic university, it’s known for its multiple religion-related programs but also offers degrees in the areas of humanities and social sciences across 6 faculties. It’s also famous for its research projects, especially the ones developed in the unique Religion, Culture, and Society research center.