- France keeps its place in the Shanghai ranking, which has just been revealed.
- Paris-Saclay University remains the first French university.
- The Ministry of Higher Education is satisfied with these results, even if the classification methodology has been debated for many years.
It is through a press release that the Ministry of Higher Education and Research reacted this weekend at the results of the Shanghai classification of universities at this weekend. Unveiled each year, the latter classifies France 11ᵉ in the world. A form of continuity since this position has not changed since 2024.
American universities always acclaimed
In its communication, the ministry underlines (new window) what “The Paris-Saclay University retains its rank as a first French university with a 13ᵉ place in the world and a 3ᵉ European place”.
Just like last year, we also note that “France has four establishments among the first 100 world universities with PSL (34ᵉ), Sorbonne University (43ᵉ) and Université Paris Cité (60ᵉ), and eight among the Top 200, with the University of Strasbourg, Aix-Marseille University, the Grenoble-Alpes University and the University of Montpellier”.
The ministry sees in these results proof “The quality of French scientific work and the international recognition of our researchers”
. It would also be a reflection of “The effectiveness and relevance of the university consolidation policy carried out for more than a decade”.
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The Shanghai ranking, created by Jiao-Tong Chinese University, is looking at more than 2,500 higher education establishments in the world each year. In 2025, we see that American establishments were the very first places (as every year). Of the first ten universities, eight are located across the Atlantic. It is again that of Harvard who records the best results, a constant since… 2003.
A criticized methodology
“Each classification presents, naturally, methodological gaps and cannot be taken for cash”
slips the Ministry of Higher Education. A way of recalling that the way in which this record has been formed has been the subject of many criticisms, for many years.
The Shanghai classification is often criticized for a bias in favor of Anglo-Saxon universities, via for example the weight of Nobel Prize prices and Fields medals in the rating criteria. Access research and publications in English are also favored. Some also point out that the classification is based on indicators such as the number of scientific articles and quotes, without always assessing their real impact or their relevance.
Last year, the president of Paris-Sorbonne University called for caution by referring to these international comparisons. The classification, explained (new window) Nathalie Drach-Temam, “is not a piloting tool for universities, which must assess their search in a more complete and relevant way taking into account a wide diversity of disciplines and languages of diffusion”.
