Study in Lyon

One of the greatest advantages of Lyon is its wide range of programmes accessible to international students. Public and private schools give the opportunity to work in many sectors. First, you can join one of the 4 state universities:

• Claude Bernard University Lyon 1
• Lumière University Lyon 2
• Jean Moulin University Lyon 3
• Catholic University of Lyon (private)

These universities are dedicated to varied subjects such as science and health (Claude Bernard University), humanities, arts, law (Lumière University), literature, foreign languages (Jean Moulin University), theology (Catholic University), etc.

There are also many other schools linked to the French state such as the engineering schools INSA Lyon, École Polytechnique or École centrale de Lyon or the political science school Sciences Po Lyon.

But Lyon is also home to many private schools that open up a lot of opportunities, with for example EM Lyon, to start your career in management, or ESCE International Business School. You will also find specialized schools such as the École spéciale de mécanique et d’électricité (Special School of Mechanics and Electricity), EPITECH (computer science) or even the École Émile Cohl, specialized in multimedia (infography, animation, comics, etc.).

The schools and universities in Lyon welcome students from all over the world, mainly through English-only programmes. You can also choose to join a program taught in French to learn a new language or improve your skills. As one of the most-widely spoken languages in the world, French can be a strong asset to find a job in an international company.

More on this subject: why should you study in France?

What makes a great student city is not only the high number of universities and the variety of student accommodation. It’s also a matter of dynamism and what students can do in their free time. To enjoy a great student life, Lyon is the ideal city!

It is first renowned for its gastronomy and you will enjoy good times with other students in many types of restaurants, especially the traditional bouchons where you can discover local dishes. Do you prefer burgers, pizzas or food from all over the world? You will have many choices too !

Studying in Lyon is also discovering a city with a rich patrimony, whose ancient history dates back to Antiquity. Culture is ever present, with the Fine Arts museums and others such as Confluence Museum, Textile Arts, Miniatures & Cinéma, etc. You will also enjoy the ancient ambience of the Lyon old town when you go shopping or looking for a place to have a drink with your friends.

There are also many parks to enjoy a relaxing time, most notably the Parc de la Tête d’Or, the largest of the city (117 ha). You can walk there for hours during the beautiful days of spring and fall, and you will have a soothing time by the lake’s quiet shore.

The very dense transportation system (with 4 subway lines, 7 tramway lines and more than 120 bus lines) will let you move around easily, even if you live in the outskirts of Lyon. Moreover, if you are between 18 and 25 or if you are between 26 and 27 as a student, you can get a €25 monthly subscription.

As you will discover, the cost of living for a student in Lyon is lower than in many major European cities, such as Paris.

Finally, after your studies, you will get the opportunity to work in Lyon! This city is one of the most important economic powerhouses in France and is home to varied companies in strategic sectors such as pharmaceutical industry and biochemistry, tourism, digital industry or cleantech.

There are many little and large companies to apply to, not forgetting the numerous international structures that are present, such as Ubisoft, BNP Paribas, HSBC, Sephora, Thales Allianz, etc.

Do you want to set up your own company after your studies in Lyon?

In Lyon, you will benefit from the outstanding economic dynamism and from more advantageous prices on professional real estate than in Paris. As a proof of Lyon’s economic good health: in 2021, no less than 15,000 companies were founded. Lyon supports company projects, so don’t hesitate to start your own business here.