The University of Montpellier Remains Highly Ranked in the 2025 Shanghai Subject Rankings
In August 2025, the University of Montpellier solidified its place among the world’s top 200 universities in the Shanghai General Ranking. The subject-specific rankings have just been released.UM appears seven times in the top 100 (five times in 2024). Through these strong results, it once again demonstrates its ability to meet international standards of excellence in research and education centered on the key pillars it promotes alongside its partners: feeding, healing, and protecting.
Published in November by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, this international ranking analyzes and ranks the world’s top universities according to a list of academic subjects. More than 50 subject areas (within five major fields: natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences, and social sciences) are included. Based on performance criteria such as scientific publications, their impact, international reach, and the quality of their research, as well as international prizes and awards received, this ranking places the University of Montpellier among the world’s top 200 universities for theeighth consecutive year.
The University of Montpellier Ranks Among the World's Top 100 in 7 Subject Areas
This latest edition of the Shanghai thematic rankings confirms the University of Montpellier’s standing as one of the most internationally recognized institutions in numerous fields. Ecology ranks prominently, placing14th worldwide and first in France.
The university also demonstrates national leadership in the fields of robotics and water resources, both of which rank among the top 75 worldwide, while agricultural sciences rank second in France. These results illustrate the strength of the university’s areas of expertise, for which it is particularly well-known.
Montpellier also ranks among the world’s top 100 in remote sensing (4th nationally) and in statistics and oceanography (both in the top 5 nationally). Oceanography has shown significant improvement compared to 2024, when it was ranked in the top 150. Other disciplines, such as food science and technology (2nd nationally) and chemistry, remain in the global top 150, confirming the diversity and strength of the university’s centers of excellence.
“I am delighted to see that, once again this year, the University of Montpellier ranks among the world’s top institutions in several major disciplines. The trends observed in the 2025 Shanghai Subject Ranking demonstrate the strength and continuity of our scientific excellence, which is the result of our ongoing commitment to collaborating with research organizations through our I-SITE program. These results are, above all, a reflection of the talent, hard work, and remarkable dedication of our female faculty members, Professors, and researchers, whom I would like to warmly congratulate ,” said Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier.
The University of Montpellier also ranks highly in various international rankings
In addition to this ranking, theUM has strengthened its position in THE Ranking Impact, which aims to measure the commitment and performance of higher education institutions in the area of sustainable development. In its7th edition, theUM maintains its top spot among French institutions and ranks among the world’s top 101–200 institutions in the overall ranking, thanks to its longstanding commitment to sustainable development.
The University of Montpellier maintains its standing in the CWTS Leiden Ranking. This ranking, which provides important information on the scientific performance of more than 1,500 leading universities worldwide, is based on scientific publications and their citations. In the 2024 global ranking, the University of Montpellier once again confirms its scientific influence both nationally and internationally, ranking4th nationally (the top university outside Paris) and203rd globally.
Practical Information:
The 2025 Shanghai Thematic Ranking: here