From Paris to Marseille, France remains a popular destination for students. Around 2.97 million students were enrolled in French higher education in 2024, and France also hosts a large international student population. École Normale Supérieure (ENS-PSL) is one of the country’s most selective institutions; its official international-selection FAQ says the selection rate varies by year between 5% and 10%. Before applying to highly selective pathways such as ENS, many students complete undergraduate study elsewhere. While some French public university programs are non-selective, others are selective and review academic records, program fit, language preparation, and other application materials. We investigated several undergraduate institutions in France that have low acceptance rates.
Universities in France with Low Rates of Acceptance
1. Université de Lorraine
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: about 10%
Located in the city of Nancy, the Université de Lorraine is one of the major public universities in France. The university was created on January 1, 2012, after higher education institutions in the Lorraine region merged into one university. Today, Université de Lorraine serves about 60,000 students, including about 10,000 international students. It offers programs from the undergraduate level to the PhD level and has 60 research laboratories across a wide range of disciplines. Admissions vary by program and applicant profile, and some programs are selective while others follow non-selective public university pathways.
2. Université de Technologie de Compiègne
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: about 10%
The Université de Technologie de Compiègne, also known in English as the University of Technology of Compiègne, is a public research university and engineering school located in Compiègne. The university was created in 1972 by the French government as France’s first experimental university of technology. It trains students in engineering, master’s, PhD, and continuing education programs. According to Times Higher Education data for the 2026 World University Rankings, UTC has about 4,377 students. Its academic and research areas include biotechnology, energy and the environment, nanotechnology, computation and information technology, and media and the arts. UTC remains a highly regarded engineering institution in France, and QS lists it in the 501-550 band for the 2026 World University Rankings by Subject.
3. Université du Havre
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: about 20%
The next university in France with selective programs is Université Le Havre Normandie, also known as Université du Havre. Located in Le Havre, Normandy, it became a fully fledged university in 1984. The university now describes itself as having more than 7,000 students and an international campus with more than 1,600 international students from 85 nationalities. Its academic offer covers areas such as arts, languages, humanities, law, economics, management, science, technology, health, and engineering. The university also has a strong international focus, with 174 partner higher education institutions worldwide.
4. Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: about 25%
With about 13,266 students, the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour is described by Times Higher Education as the third-largest university in southwestern France after Bordeaux and Toulouse. Founded in 1970, UPPA has historical roots that date back much further in the region. The university operates across five campuses: Anglet, Bayonne, Pau, Mont-de-Marsan, and Tarbes. It is organized into three colleges: Sciences and Technologies for Energy and the Environment; Social Sciences and Humanities; and European and International Cross-Border Studies. Its academic structure includes two university institutes of technology, two engineering schools, and the IAE Pau-Bayonne University School of Management. All campuses offer student services such as university libraries, sports, culture, and student associations.
5. American University of Paris
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: about 60% to 70%
Founded in 1962, the American University of Paris is a private, independent, international liberal arts university in Paris. AUP describes its community as having more than 1,000 students from more than 100 nationalities. The university offers 27 bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 minors, with fields of study ranging from psychology and international business to film studies and environmental science. Undergraduate students must complete at least 128 credits, meet the required GPA standards, and satisfy the university’s graduation requirements. While AUP is not a French public university, it is included here because it is a well-known English-language university option for international students in Paris.
Choosing a university can be difficult. Understanding estimated acceptance rates can be helpful because it gives students a general idea of how competitive admissions may be. However, students should always check the official admissions page for their chosen program because selectivity can vary widely by degree level, field, applicant background, and application route.
We hope that this article on universities in France with low acceptance rates was helpful. To learn more about studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
