France is widely known as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with a rich culture, beautiful art, as well as many iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame cathedral, and the Palace of Versailles. Prospective students should also know that France is one of the prime destinations for international students and home to some of the most respected universities in the entire world.

This strong emphasis on education makes France home to some of the universities globally. They are known for high-quality higher education, innovation, and creativity. So if you are an aspiring engineer or intend to advance your degree, the three traits are essential for your engineering pursuit.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best engineering programs offered in France.

Top Schools Offering Engineering Programs in France

1. National Institute for Applied Sciences – Lyon

  • Study Program
  • Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.

The first university is the National Institute for Applied Sciences (INSA) which is based in Lyon, one of the largest cities in the southeast of France. INSA is one of the best engineering universities in France, with the QS World University Rankings placing this university in the top 200 universities worldwide for engineering.

Prospective students first must take a two to three-year course equivalent to a bachelor’s degree to develop their mathematics and project management skills, which are necessary for any engineer. After this, students can specialize in areas such as environmental, industrial, and materials engineering.

The university is widely respected in France, being one of the top destinations for high school students interested in studying engineering, as well as for international students (nearly 30% of the student population is from abroad).

2. Université Paris-Saclay

Next is the Université Paris-Saclay. The university is easily the most highly rated in all of France, finding itself in the top 100 universities worldwide according to QS rankings.

Prospective engineering students at this excellent engineering university have quite a few options to choose from, including electrical and mechanical engineering at a bachelor’s level. A greater number of choices are available at a master’s level.

The university is also well situated within the city of Paris, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Many millions of people visit Paris every year as the city is famous for its unique culture and many stunning monuments. Students studying at the Université Paris-Saclay should take the time to immerse themselves in the city and to visit the many famous sites such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe among others.

3. Sorbonne University

Another university in France that is recognized as one of the best in the world is Sorbonne University in Paris. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs for all non-medical subjects, with engineering being one of the most important subjects in the university. There are several subjects taught at the undergraduate level, including mechanical and electronic engineering. More options are available at a Master’s and Ph.D. level if students are interested in continuing their studies.

Founded in 1257, the university has an extensive history and a distinct campus environment. Given the university’s long history, it is no surprise that it houses some of the rarest scientific pieces in the world. This includes the Charcot Library, the Mineral Collection, as well as others that are not open to the public.

Beyond this, the campus of the university is never dull. With over 150 student organizations, the college is filled with opportunities to make lifelong friends and develop skills that will benefit your future career.

4. Université Grenoble Alpes

  • Study Program
  • Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.

The next university worth mentioning is the Université Grenoble Alpes. The third-largest university in all of the country, with over 60,000 students in attendance, hosts a large number of engineering programs. New courses in electrical, mechanical, and thermal engineering are being made available to facilitate international exchanges. At a Master’s level, more courses become available, including civil, materials, and biomedical engineering. It’s not surprising that Université Grenoble Alpes is one of the best engineering universities in France.

As mentioned previously, the university is interested in getting more international students to study with it. The majority of its master’s programs are taught in English and the university offers some language courses to help students from abroad become more familiar with French.

Another reason to consider studying with the UGA is its location; the city of Grenoble is a sight to behold, especially landmarks such as La Bastille, a vast mountain fortress, and the Grenoble Archeological Museum.

5. University de Lorraine

  • Study Program
  • Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.

The final university we will mention today is the University de Lorraine. Divided between the two cities of Nancy and Metz, the university is recognized as one of the best young universities in the world. With degrees available at bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels, the university is notable for its high-quality engineering programs. Subjects taught include biological, civil, and industrial engineering.

The university has partnered with over 500 universities in Europe alone, including some of the most prestigious in the world such as the Imperial College London, the University of Bern, and the University of Florence. Therefore, students interested in taking part in an exchange program have many excellent options to choose from if they study at the University de Lorraine.

 

With all this in mind, students who wish to study engineering in France have many options. The universities listed above are just some of the great institutions in France that offer engineering degrees, these are just some of the best.

 

We hope this article on France’s best engineering universities was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students page.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hi! I am Hyun, and I am the founder at Global Scholarships. I've received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College and a $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for my undergraduate degree and was offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. You can read more about my scholarship journey here. If you are interested, you can follow me on Linkedin where I regularly write about scholarships. I also provide consulting services, which you can subscribe here.

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