France is a strong destination for studying data science because it has well-established higher education institutions and a growing range of English-taught data, artificial intelligence, and analytics programs. Higher education in France can vary widely in cost depending on the institution, program, and student nationality, so international students should check the official tuition page for each program. Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students usually need a student long-stay visa for study programs in France that last more than three months.
As technology, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making continue to expand, many French institutions now offer data science-related programs. These programs often combine mathematics, computer science, artificial intelligence, business analytics, and internships or applied projects to help students prepare for data-focused careers.
Top Schools Offering Data Science and Related Study in France
1. École Polytechnique
Founded in 1794, École Polytechnique, also known as L’X, is a leading French institution in science and technology. Its alumni include three French presidents, three Nobel Prize winners, one Fields Medalist, and many prominent scientists and business leaders. École Polytechnique is a founding member of Institut Polytechnique de Paris, which was ranked 41st worldwide and 2nd in France in the QS World University Rankings 2026. École Polytechnique currently lists around 3,700 students, 40% international students, and 40% international academic and research staff.
The bachelor’s degree program lasts three years. In their second and third years, students choose one of three double majors: Mathematics and Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science, or Mathematics and Economics. Students interested in data science may find the Mathematics and Computer Science path especially relevant because it covers computation, programming, and the theory and engineering behind modern computer systems.
At the master’s level, École Polytechnique and HEC Paris jointly offer the Data Science and AI for Business X-HEC Master of Science and Technology. This two-year, 140-ECTS program is taught in English in France and is designed to train students with both data science and business expertise. École Polytechnique Foundation scholarships for admitted master’s students may provide €8,000 per year after the successful validation of the first year of the master’s program.
Students interested in research can also consider Institut Polytechnique de Paris master’s and PhD tracks in fields such as Data and Artificial Intelligence. These tracks are generally structured as five-year master’s-and-doctoral pathways for students preparing for research careers.
2. CentraleSupélec
CentraleSupélec is a leading French engineering school. It was formed in 2015 through the merger of École Centrale Paris and École Supérieure d’Électricité, two institutions founded in 1829 and 1894, respectively. The school offers data-related programs through partnerships with ESSEC Business School, including the Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence, Data and Management Sciences and the Master in Data Sciences & Business Analytics.
The Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence, Data and Management Sciences is a four-year, English-taught joint degree with ESSEC Business School. Students study on the CentraleSupélec Paris-Saclay campus and the ESSEC Cergy campus, combining engineering, data, artificial intelligence, and management subjects.
The Master in Data Sciences & Business Analytics, offered by ESSEC and CentraleSupélec, can be completed in one or two years depending on the student’s academic background. Students with a three-year bachelor’s degree or Licence 3 generally complete the two-year M1+M2 track, while students with a four-year bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree may be eligible for the one-year M2 track.
The program includes several majors. Students who choose the Data Sciences Major take this major at the CentraleSupélec Saclay Campus in France and must select at least four Data Sciences electives. The program also includes a compulsory internship or professional experience of at least four months.
3. University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in northeastern France offers data science training through its Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. Its 2026–2027 catalog lists the Computer Science master’s pathway Connaissances, science des données et intelligence artificielle, abbreviated CODIA. This pathway combines knowledge representation, data science, and artificial intelligence within a formal computing degree.
Undergraduate preparation is available through the Licence Informatique, a three-year degree comprising 180 ECTS. The Strasbourg-based Informatique pathway is taught in French and provides a broader computer science qualification. It provides preparation for specialized graduate study.
The CODIA master’s pathway lasts two years and comprises 120 ECTS. Its curriculum emphasizes machine learning, deep learning, data mining, and knowledge management. Named components include statistical foundations for data science, statistical and semantic data modeling, and distributed large-scale data storage and protection. A master’s project and a final internship connect the taught curriculum with practical work.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Strasbourg Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Data Science Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Guiqiu Liao
Double PhD in Informatics/Computer Science with the University of Verona
Research: optical-coherence-tomography image analysis
October 2019–January 2023 | At Strasbourg’s ICUBE Laboratory, he developed image-processing solutions for robotic optical-coherence tomography and an automatic control algorithm for imaging inside the colon. He reports that most research and training were conducted in English, with few laboratory language barriers. | He describes Strasbourg as a beautiful city and reports assistance with visas and housing from the host institutions. Fellow researchers provided a supportive community, while French remained useful for administrative documents and daily life. |
4. University of Technology of Compiègne
The University of Technology of Compiègne, known as UTC, offers a formal Artificial Intelligence and Data Science specialization within Computer Engineering. Teaching draws on the CID team of the Heudiasyc research laboratory. The specialization addresses data engineering, machine learning, knowledge engineering, and decision methods.
For students considering study after secondary school, the relevant qualification is UTC’s engineering diploma within Computer Engineering. Its IAD specialization covers constructing databases and data warehouses, analyzing data through machine learning, and managing knowledge. Listed methods include classification, decision trees, neural networks, and information retrieval. The specialization is also accessible through an apprenticeship arrangement.
UTC separately offers the Learning and Optimization of Complex Systems pathway within its master’s in Complex Systems Engineering. This related option focuses on learning and optimization for interacting autonomous systems, including intelligent vehicles, drones, and sensor networks. It has a different academic emphasis from the IAD engineering specialization.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Technology of Compiègne Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Data Science Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Teresa Ciavattini
PhD in Machine Learning
Research: biomedical and clinical data | Her doctoral research develops machine-learning methods for diagnosing and analysing persistent microbial infections, emphasizing interpretable models and clinical decision support. She reports that most classes are in French, while research activities often take place in English. | She identifies French as useful for handling daily life and administrative procedures more independently and for integrating into the local environment. |
5. Nantes Université
Nantes Université in western France offers an international Data Science specialization through Polytech Nantes. It belongs to the university’s master’s in Computer Science. The program combines scientific and technological preparation with case studies and an internship.
Undergraduate preparation is available through the Licence Informatique in the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques. The degree is organized over three years and provides a foundation in computing for subsequent master’s or engineering study. It is a general computer science qualification.
The full Computer Science master’s follows the two-year M1–M2 structure, but Polytech Nantes admits students to the Data Science option at the second-year level. Its international offering is therefore a one-year M2 program. Applicants are expected to hold a qualification representing at least four years of higher education in computer science. The specialization develops data scientist skills within the broader computing degree.
What Current Students / Alumni of Nantes Université Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Data Science Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Céline Thiombiano
Master’s in Econometrics and Statistics
Applied Econometrics track, IAE Nantes | She describes applied projects, real case studies, and practical simulations within training in econometrics and data-driven research. Most courses, materials, and assessments are in French, which she identifies as important for understanding lectures, tutorials, and project instructions. | She describes responsive welcome services and a central support desk covering enrollment, housing, health, and residence permits, which helped with integration on arrival. |
6. University of Caen Normandy
The University of Caen Normandy, officially Université de Caen Normandie, offers a data science pathway through its Faculty of Sciences. Its Computer Science master’s includes Intelligence artificielle, sciences des données et santé, which connects artificial intelligence and data science with healthcare applications. The qualification is a computing degree rather than a professional medical degree.
The university’s undergraduate Licence Informatique lasts three years. It develops fundamental knowledge in computer science and its applications alongside mathematics and digital technologies. This is a broader foundation for advanced computing study.
The relevant master’s pathway comprises 120 ECTS and trains specialists in artificial intelligence and data science for health. It draws on selected teaching from the Computer Science master’s Algorithms and Intelligent Systems pathway while adding healthcare context. Its focus makes it particularly relevant to applicants interested in computational approaches to health data, rather than a curriculum centered exclusively on general business analytics.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Caen Normandy Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Data Science Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Hajar Badraoui
Master 2 in Statistics, Applied Analysis, and Decision Support
2024–2025 | She studied statistics, machine learning, data analysis, and decision-support methods, completing practical projects using real datasets and statistical and programming tools. She found the program demanding; classes were mainly in French, while English was important for scientific literature and research. | She describes becoming more independent and confident through interactions with people from different backgrounds. Support with accommodation and integration helped, although housing, banking, and residence procedures required advance planning. |
Explore available data science degree programs to compare options that match your interests.
