Top 8 Best Universities for Computer Science in France in 2025

France is an exciting place to study Information Technology. From AI and cybersecurity to game development and app design, French universities offer top-notch IT degrees that combine strong theory with lots of hands-on learning. Plus, France is home to a fast-growing tech scene, so you’ll be surrounded by innovation and career opportunities.

Thinking about a Bachelor’s or Master’s in IT? Studying in France is a great choice! You’ll get a quality education, the chance to work on real-world projects, and experience life in one of Europe’s most dynamic and creative countries.

Study Computer Science: Find Bachelors & Masters

🏆 Top Universities to study IT in France

France has many English-taught programmes at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral level. They rank highly for Computer Science on the CSRankings scoreboard - a metrics-based ranking of top computer science institutions around the world.

Here’s an overview of the top 8:

Ranking in France	Institution	City
1	CRIStAL	Lille
2	Ecole Normale Superieure	Paris
3	Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon	Lyon
4	EURECOM	Biot
5	Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan	Cachan
6	Université Paris Dauphine	Paris
7	Ecole Normale Superieure de Rennes	Rennes
8	Université Jean Monnet	Saint-Étienne

It’s not just a great education you’ll get if you choose France - IT graduates are in high demand by innovative tech companies across the country and beyond.

Internships are a big part of many French IT degrees, giving you real-world experience and helping you build a strong professional network while you study. From startups in Paris to global companies in cities like Lyon and Toulouse, there are plenty of opportunities to kick off your tech career. Plus, France offers generous post-study visa options, giving you time to stay and look for a job after graduation.

🏛️ Universities, Grandes Écoles & Business Schools: What’s the difference?

In France, higher education is offered by different types of institutions and it’s important to understand how they differ, especially if you’re planning to study IT.

• Public universities are the most common option. They offer a wide range of IT degrees (Bachelors and Masters), often at low tuition fees. These universities are accessible and focus on both theory and practical skills, with many programmes taught in English.
• Grandes écoles are elite institutions that often specialise in engineering, tech, or business. Admission is very competitive, but the quality of education is excellent. Many IT-related grandes écoles are engineering schools, known as écoles d’ingénieurs, and they often offer specialised training in fields like AI, data science, or cybersecurity.
• Business schools are private institutions that sometimes offer more industry-focused IT programmes, especially in areas like digital transformation, tech management, or software development. These schools tend to have strong industry links and modern campuses, but tuition fees can be significantly higher.

When choosing your future university, make sure to check the school's accreditation as it's one of the best ways to spot a trustworthy, high-quality institution. Some private schools may look impressive online but lack proper recognition. Look out for accreditations like CGE (Conférence des Grandes Écoles), which signals excellence among top schools; CTI (Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur), which officially approves engineering and tech degrees; and Hcéres, the national body that evaluates universities and research quality.

Study.eu Tip: Try to find on LinkedIn alumni or students who currently study at your desired university and ask about their personal experience.

💸 Tuition fees for IT & Engineering degrees

At public universities, tuition fees in France are set by the French government and are the same across the country. Because of this, they are very affordable - even for non-European students.

• If you are a citizen or already a permanent resident of a country within the EEA, you will be charged very low amounts for your tuition that range between 175€ and 250€.
• Meanwhile, non-EU students typically pay around 2,850€ per year for a Bachelor’s programmes in IT and 3,879€ per year for a Master in France.

In both cases, that is a great deal for a quality degree in a high-demand field! 

If you’re considering private institutions or business schools, tuition fees can be higher, often ranging between €5,000 and €15,000 per year.

📝 Admissions requirements

In addition to a high level of English, you will need to have the following ready to apply for a Computer Science programme in France:

• a cover letter,
• your CV (include relevant projects and hobbies),
• your grades from your previous education,
• references,
• in some cases, there might be entrance test or an interview.

Previous experience or knowledge of computer science is not required to enter a Bachelor’s degree programme, but make sure to do projects/internships during your studies so it’s easier to find a job after graduation or qualify for a Master’s programme.

Knowledge of French is not needed if a programme is fully taught in English however, it helps later when you apply for internships or graduate jobs.

Exact admission requirements vary between institutions, so again, always check the individual university’s application process.

⚙️ Related degrees

There are many different degrees in IT, the one you choose all comes down to what you are interested in and what career you would like to have. However, like in most degree programmes, you can start broad and choose a speciality later on:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Business Information Systems
• Computer Science
• Data Science & Big Data
• Informatics
• Software Engineering

And the list goes on!

For some help exploring the different types of engineering, have a look at our article, ‘Study Engineering: Which subject should you choose?’.

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Study IT: Find Bachelors & Masters in France

 

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