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PSL University tops our list of 25 PhD universities in France at #28 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come Sorbonne University (QS World #63) and Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (QS World #187). Across the whole list there are 34 courses to choose from.
25 universities · ranked best first
how we rankPublic University · 1 course in PhD
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4 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #28 (PSL University) to #580 (Université de Toulouse-le-Mirail (Toulouse III)); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Sorbonne University is cited most (37,965,256 citations). 4 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".
25 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, Île-de-France (2) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is PSL University, founded in 2010. Sorbonne University is the largest, with 44,000 students.
The most common subjects are Science (8), Business & Management (7), Education (4) and Arts, Design & Architecture (3). The usual length is 4–6 years and 3 years. 97% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake). SKEMA Business School offers the widest choice, with 4 of these courses.
We hold indicative fees for 2 of these universities. PSL University is the least expensive at USD 4,000 a year and Sorbonne University the most at USD 4,000; the middle of the range is about USD 4,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.
PSL University (QS World #28), Sorbonne University (QS World #63) and Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (QS World #187) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.
Of those with published fees, PSL University is the least expensive at about USD 4,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.
25 public and 0 private universities are on this list.
Most listed courses run 4–6 years, with 3 years the next most common.
Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then.
SKEMA Business School, with 4, ahead of Rennes School of Business (3).
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