Grandes Écoles (Elite Schools): These are highly selective institutions focusing on specific fields, often requiring a competitive entrance exam after a preparatory class ("prépa").
* Sciences Po (Sciences Po Paris): Specializes in political science and social sciences.
* HEC Paris: Top business school.
* ESSEC Business School: Another leading business school.
* ESCP Business School: A pan-European business school with campuses in several countries.
* École Polytechnique: Focuses on engineering and science.
* École Normale Supérieure (ENS): Several campuses, renowned for teacher training and advanced research in various disciplines.
* Mines ParisTech: Specializes in mining engineering and related fields.
* Télécom Paris: Focuses on telecommunications and digital technology.
Public Universities (Universités): These are more traditional universities offering a wider range of subjects and generally have a less selective admissions process. Note that even within public universities, some programs might be more competitive than others. There are many public universities, so I'll only list a few prominent ones:
* Sorbonne University (Université Sorbonne Paris Nord): A large public university with a strong reputation. Note: The historical Sorbonne is now split into several universities.
* University of Paris-Saclay: A large, research-intensive university in the Paris-Saclay area.
* University of Lyon: A major university in Lyon with various campuses and faculties.
* University of Bordeaux: A large university in Bordeaux.
* University of Montpellier: Located in Montpellier.
* Aix-Marseille University: Located in the Aix-Marseille area.
Private Universities: While less numerous than public universities, several private institutions offer higher education in France. These often have a specific focus or a religious affiliation.
This list isn't exhaustive, but it provides a good overview of the diverse landscape of higher education in France. To find more universities, you can search online using keywords like "universities in France," "French universities," or specify a region (e.g., "universities in Lyon").