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The Best Universities for Geography in France (2024)

Written by Vincent Hedman

Why Study Geography in France

There are many reasons why someone might want to study Geography at a university in France. Here are just a few:

  • France hosts prestigious universities and research institutions with excellent academic reputations, providing a high-quality education environment and access to state-of-the-art facilities for students pursuing a degree in Geography.
  • A Masters degree in Geography in France offers a diverse and interdisciplinary curriculum that covers subjects such as human geography, physical geography, geospatial analysis, and regional development.
  • By studying Geography in France, you can apply theory to practice within various professional settings like urban planning, environmental management, tourism industry or non-governmental organisations working on regional development projects.
  • Studying abroad allows you to experience French culture first-hand while improving your language skills. Embrace daily life through France's rich history of art, literature and philosophy along enduring architectural marvels and stunning landscapes.

The Best Universities in France for Geography

The following tables gives the 10 best French universities for Geography, according to global and local university rankings. It can show you which French universities are amongst the best in the world and help you compare institutions on an international level.

This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education, QS and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Each ranking system uses its own methodology, with different factors having more or less influence on a university's result.

For more information on using international rankings as a postgraduate, see our guide.


Top 10 French Universities for Geography (Times Higher Education)
University France Rank Global Rank
Université PSL 1 87
Sorbonne University 2 101-125
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne 3 301-400
Institut Agro 4 401-500
Université Paris Cité 5 401-500
University of Toulouse 6 401-500
Aix-Marseille University 7 501-600
University of Côte d’Azur 8 501-600
Université Grenoble Alpes 9 501-600
University of Clermont Auvergne 10 601-800
This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the Times Higher Education rankings?

The Times Higher Education rankings are strong in academic focus and diverse teaching metrics, but do not include employer-specific metrics. Additionally, the rankings may not include all specialist institutions.


Top 4 French Universities for Geography (QS)
University France Rank Global Rank
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne 1 33
Sorbonne University 2 151-200
Université Grenoble Alpes 3 151-200
Université PSL 4 151-200
This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by QS World University Rankings. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the QS rankings?

The QS World University Rankings are designed to meet the needs of prospective students, with more weight given to student-centric metrics such as staff/student ratio, international recruitment and employer opinion. The rankings are balanced between qualitative and quantitative data, but give less weight to research than some other rankings.


Top 10 French Universities for Geography (ARWU)
University France Rank Global Rank
Université Grenoble Alpes 1 76-100
Montpellier University 2 101-150
Université Paris-Saclay 3 151-200
Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III 4 151-200
Université PSL 5 151-200
Sorbonne University 6 151-200
Université Paris Cité 7 151-200
Aix-Marseille University 8 201-300
Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 9 201-300
Institut Agro 10 201-300
This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their website for more information and a comprehensive list of engineering subject rankings.

What should I know about the ARWU rankings?

The ARWU rankings reflect the presence of elite academics and the future academic success of graduates. However, they do not directly assess the quality of education at a university or take into account other aspects of university performance.

Find your perfect Masters

Search our database of Masters Geography courses in France.



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Last updated: 19 April 2024