100 Best universities for Mechanical Engineering in France

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in France ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 3.57M citations received by 169K academic papers made by 123 universities in France was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in Europe

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Mechanical Engineering

#46 in Europe

#159 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Mechanical Engineering

#55 in Europe

#188 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

4. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Mechanical Engineering

#67 in Europe

#217 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

5. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Mechanical Engineering

#110 in Europe

#325 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

6. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Mechanical Engineering

#136 in Europe

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,316
Founded: 1794

7. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Mechanical Engineering

#140 in Europe

#384 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Mechanical Engineering

#144 in Europe

#396 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

9. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Mechanical Engineering

#170 in Europe

#458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 60,404
Founded: 2012

10. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#184 in Europe

#493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1783

11. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Mechanical Engineering

#187 in Europe

#503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,067
Founded: 1957

12. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Mechanical Engineering

#191 in Europe

#511 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

13. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Mechanical Engineering

#198 in Europe

#528 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

14. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#210 in Europe

#555 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1780

15. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Mechanical Engineering

#214 in Europe

#561 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

16. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Mechanical Engineering

#234 in Europe

#601 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 7,646
Founded: 1900

17. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Mechanical Engineering

#237 in Europe

#620 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 2,920
Founded: 1857

18. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Mechanical Engineering

#261 in Europe

#688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 37,252
Founded: 1460

19. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Mechanical Engineering

#265 in Europe

#697 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 25,078
Founded: 1431

20. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Mechanical Engineering

#268 in Europe

#703 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

21. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#273 in Europe

#721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,523
Founded: 1970

22. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Mechanical Engineering

#293 in Europe

#774 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

23. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Mechanical Engineering

#296 in Europe

#778 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

24. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Mechanical Engineering

#305 in Europe

#801 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

25. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Mechanical Engineering

#310 in Europe

#816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,367
Founded: 1972

26. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Mechanical Engineering

#313 in Europe

#819 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

27. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#317 in Europe

#831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,536
Founded: 1794

28. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Mechanical Engineering

#350 in Europe

#937 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

29. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Mechanical Engineering

#361 in Europe

#962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 2,287
Founded: 1919

30. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Mechanical Engineering

#369 in Europe

#988 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

31. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Mechanical Engineering

#372 in Europe

#993 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

32. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Mechanical Engineering

#386 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,490
Founded: 1970

33. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Mechanical Engineering

#388 in Europe

#1038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 4,300
Founded: 1894

34. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Mechanical Engineering

#402 in Europe

#1095 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

35. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#407 in Europe

#1111 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

36. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#408 in Europe

#1113 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

37. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Mechanical Engineering

#410 in Europe

#1118 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

38. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Mechanical Engineering

#411 in Europe

#1121 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

39. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Mechanical Engineering

#413 in Europe

#1130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,196
Male:Female: 77:23
Founded: 1994

40. Paris-Est Creteil Val-de-Marne University

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Mechanical Engineering

#429 in Europe

#1174 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

41. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Mechanical Engineering

#432 in Europe

#1183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

42. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Mechanical Engineering

#434 in Europe

#1188 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

43. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Mechanical Engineering

#436 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

44. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Mechanical Engineering

#443 in Europe

#1206 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

45. School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry of the City of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#448 in Europe

#1217 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

46. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Mechanical Engineering

#452 in Europe

#1244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,465
Founded: 1432

47. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Mechanical Engineering

#458 in Europe

#1269 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

48. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Mechanical Engineering

#462 in Europe

#1283 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

49. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Mechanical Engineering

#470 in Europe

#1306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 3,077
Founded: 1963

50. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Mechanical Engineering

#475 in Europe

#1319 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

51. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Mechanical Engineering

#481 in Europe

#1347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,003
Founded: 1985

52. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Mechanical Engineering

#486 in Europe

#1374 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

53. National School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Mechanical Engineering

#494 in Europe

#1395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 1,022
Founded: 1961

54. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Mechanical Engineering

#500 in Europe

#1413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,629
Founded: 1970

55. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#510 in Europe

#1443 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

56. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Mechanical Engineering

#523 in Europe

#1486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 7,591
Founded: 1984

57. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#524 in Europe

#1487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

58. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Mechanical Engineering

#528 in Europe

#1506 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

59. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#538 in Europe

#1566 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,704
Founded: 2019

60. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#542 in Europe

#1586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 11,196
Founded: 1872

61. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Mechanical Engineering

#547 in Europe

#1600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,091
Founded: 1992

62. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#548 in Europe

#1605 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

63. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Mechanical Engineering

#556 in Europe

#1631 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

64. Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#574 in Europe

#1693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,300
Founded: 2007

65. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Mechanical Engineering

#577 in Europe

#1697 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

66. National Engineering Graduate School of Mechanics and Microtechnologies

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Mechanical Engineering

#583 in Europe

#1716 in the World

Enrollment: 762
Founded: 1902

67. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Mechanical Engineering

#584 in Europe

#1719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 25,687
Founded: 1971

68. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Mechanical Engineering

#586 in Europe

#1725 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

69. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Mechanical Engineering

#587 in Europe

#1747 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

70. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Mechanical Engineering

#592 in Europe

#1772 in the World

Enrollment: 9,477
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1995

71. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Mechanical Engineering

#594 in Europe

#1787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,690
Founded: 1854

72. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Mechanical Engineering

#598 in Europe

#1794 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

73. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Mechanical Engineering

#614 in Europe

#1887 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 22,023
Founded: 1968

74. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Mechanical Engineering

#618 in Europe

#1899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 8,238
Founded: 1970

75. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Mechanical Engineering

#641 in Europe

#2015 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

76. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Mechanical Engineering

#643 in Europe

#2019 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

77. Eurecom

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Biot Sophia-Antipolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#651 in Europe

#2064 in the World

Founded: 1991

78. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Mechanical Engineering

#664 in Europe

#2127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,700
Founded: 2007

79. Graduate School of Chemistry, Physics and Electronics, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Mechanical Engineering

#671 in Europe

#2140 in the World

Founded: 1994

80. National School Mines - Telecom Lille Douai

Hauts-de-France | Douai

For Mechanical Engineering

#679 in Europe

#2167 in the World

Founded: 2017

81. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Mechanical Engineering

#682 in Europe

#2194 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

82. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Mechanical Engineering

#687 in Europe

#2244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 2,009
Founded: 2003

83. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Mechanical Engineering

#688 in Europe

#2248 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

84. National Graduate School of Textile Engineering

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Mechanical Engineering

#698 in Europe

#2287 in the World

Enrollment: 419
Founded: 1889

85. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Mechanical Engineering

#705 in Europe

#2322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

86. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Mechanical Engineering

#735 in Europe

#2438 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 5,453
Founded: 1881

87. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Mechanical Engineering

#738 in Europe

#2448 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

88. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Mechanical Engineering

#756 in Europe

#2565 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

89. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Mechanical Engineering

#762 in Europe

#2613 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

90. National School of Engineering, Tarbes

Occitanie | Tarbes

For Mechanical Engineering

#766 in Europe

#2634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 1,215
Founded: 1963

91. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Mechanical Engineering

#784 in Europe

#2708 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

92. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Mechanical Engineering

#793 in Europe

#2750 in the World

Founded: 1907

93. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Mechanical Engineering

#814 in Europe

#2820 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

94. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Mechanical Engineering

#824 in Europe

#2868 in the World

Founded: 1906

95. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Mechanical Engineering

#825 in Europe

#2872 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

96. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Mechanical Engineering

#826 in Europe

#2887 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

97. ENSEA Graduate School

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Mechanical Engineering

#853 in Europe

#3014 in the World

Enrollment: 840
Founded: 1952

98. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Mechanical Engineering

#865 in Europe

#3053 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 14,800
Founded: 2013

99. National Graduate School of Chemistry of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Villeneuve-d'Ascq

For Mechanical Engineering

#871 in Europe

#3080 in the World

Enrollment: 363
Founded: 1894

100. Graduate School of Electrical Engineering

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Mechanical Engineering

#903 in Europe

#3231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,650
Founded: 1901

The best cities to study Mechanical Engineering in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Orsay, and Saint Martin d'Heres.