When deciding where to pursue higher education, students should compare academic programs, university resources, location, and student life. France is a major destination for international students: Campus France reported that 443,500 foreign students were enrolled in French higher education institutions in the 2024–2025 academic year. Students exploring higher education in France can choose from a broad range of institutions and programs.
France offers a wide range of programs across its higher education institutions. For prospective biology students comparing French universities, the institution matters because program structure, research environment, language of instruction, and available specializations can vary.
This article introduces several top universities in France that offer biology-related study and research opportunities.
Top Schools Offering Biology in France
1. Sorbonne University
Situated in Paris, Sorbonne University is a multidisciplinary research university created on January 1, 2018, through the merger of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre and Marie Curie University. Its Faculty of Science and Engineering combines disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, including work related to data and artificial intelligence, the environment, climate change, and healthcare.
Within Sorbonne University, the Institute of Biology Paris-Seine (IBPS) brings together biological research on the Pierre and Marie Curie campus. Established in 2014, the institute addresses major challenges in environmental science, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and behavioral disorders while advancing fundamental knowledge. It also develops quantitative approaches at the intersections of biology and computer science, mathematics, and physics.
2. Paris Cité University
- Study Program
- Degrees Offered: Licence (Bachelor’s-level), Master’s, Doctorate (Ph.D.)
Paris Cité University is a multidisciplinary university created in 2019 through the merger of Paris Descartes University and Paris Diderot University and the integration of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. It adopted its current name in 2022.
Biology-related programs are offered through components including the UFR Sciences du Vivant and the UFR Sciences Fondamentales et Biomédicales. The UFR Sciences du Vivant offers multidisciplinary bachelor’s- and master’s-level programs across areas such as cellular and molecular biology, physiology, genetics, neuroscience, immunology, microbiology, and ecology. The UFR Sciences Fondamentales et Biomédicales also offers biomedical science programs with multidisciplinary training.
3. Paris-Saclay University
Paris-Saclay University covers science and engineering, life sciences and health, and humanities and social sciences. Its science policy closely links research and innovation, including both basic and applied science.
For biology-related study, the university’s Graduate School Life Sciences and Health brings together training and research in biology, bioinformatics, and medicine. Its graduate programs connect master’s and doctoral programs with research teams and use an integrative approach that ranges from molecular mechanisms to cells, organisms, and populations.
4. University of Montpellier
- Study Program
- Degrees Offered: Licence (Bachelor’s-level), Master’s, Doctorate (Ph.D.)
Located in southern France, the University of Montpellier is one of the oldest universities still in operation in Europe. Its official history notes that it was formally established in 1289 by a papal bull, building on an earlier tradition of medical teaching in the city.
Biology-related study includes a generalist Life Sciences bachelor’s-level degree and master’s programs such as Biology and Health and Biology-Agrosciences. The university groups relevant research units into fields including Biology, Agrosciences; Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Environmental, Earth and Water Sciences; and Biology-Health.
5. Aix-Marseille University
- Study Program
- Degrees Offered: Licence (Bachelor’s-level), Professional Licence, Master’s, Doctorate (Ph.D.)
Aix-Marseille University is a public university in Provence, southern France. Its historical roots lie in the University of Aix, founded in 1409 by Louis II of Anjou, Count of Provence. Today, Aix-Marseille University operates across five main campuses.
The university’s Biology Department brings together disciplines in the life sciences and reports about 2,000 students in general bachelor’s-level, professional bachelor’s-level, and master’s programs across four Aix-Marseille University campuses. The department aims to provide research-based and professionally oriented training, and its page also lists doctoral study through the School of Life and Health Sciences.
6. University of Lille
The University of Lille offers biology-related study at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Its Biology and Health master’s program is based on local health research units and partnerships with Lille University Medical Center, the Pasteur Institute of Lille, INSERM, and CNRS. Its Graduate School of Biology and Health supports multidisciplinary doctoral training in basic biological and biomedical research, applied clinical research, medically related technological innovation, and public health.
The international profile and research intensity of Lille’s biology programs are also reflected in the journeys of its doctoral researchers. In a Global Scholarships profile, Eden Haseeb described doctoral work on necroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, and the search for potential modulators. This kind of project illustrates how fundamental cell biology can connect with possible clinical applications.
France offers a broad range of higher education programs and an international student community. Students considering biology should compare program content, language of instruction, admissions requirements, and funding options before applying.
We hope this article on biology universities in France was insightful and helpful. You can also find more information about studying abroad by checking out the Study in France and Available Programs in Europe for International Students.
