What does the student life in Lyon look like?

Your student life in Lyon will be an international experience! From the moment you arrive, you will be immersed in French culture in one of its most dynamic cities.

Lyon’s importance dates back to antiquity, when it was founded by the Romans as the capital of the Gauls. Since then, it has always played an important role in the country. For example:

• Its tradition of silk weaving has had a strong economic impact on the country.

• It was in Lyon that the Lumière brothers invented the cinématographe and made one of the earliest films in history.

• It was also known as the resistance capital of France during the Second World War.

Walking the streets of Lyon is like being immersed in French history: from ancient times to modern France, it has left the city with an incredible heritage.

Lyon also has its own local traditions. Once you are there, be curious and you will soon notice what makes Lyon a unique city in France, such as the secret passageways called traboules in the old city.

And of course, your studies in Lyon will be an opportunity to learn French, a global language with a long history. It is used by countless writers and singers, past and present. Learning French will be a fulfilling experience, both personally and professionally.

This experience will help you develop soft skills such as open-mindedness, adaptability and critical thinking. Such skills will be valuable in your future career, especially if you want to take it to an international level!

While Lyon is an incredible city to visit, you should also take the time to explore the surrounding area.

If you want to go explore old towns and monuments with other students, you can go to:

• Perouges: The town has retained its medieval architecture and walking through its streets is like stepping back in time. There are many artisans in the streets selling their homemade products, which you can take home as gifts for your family and friends!

• If you like Gothic architecture, don’t miss the Royal Monastery of Brou, built by Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy, in honour of her late husband, Philibert II.

• The castle of Menthon: If you take the train to Annecy and you go a little east of Lake Annecy, you will find a castle nestled on a hill, in the middle of the trees. Don’t hesitate to go visit it.

If you like to spend your time outdoors, there are plenty of places to explore outside Lyon:

• Just north of the city, you can climb Mount Thou, at 611 metres. From the top, you can enjoy an impressive view of Lyon’s metropolitan area, with the Alps in the background.

• Outside Lyon, you’ll find the Mount Brouilly (484m), which offers an incredible view of the Beaujolais region and its vineyards.

• You can also walk along the shores of the nearby lakes, such as Lac Bleu in Ambérieu-en-Bugey, with its blue waters surrounded by green flora.

Lyon is a cosmopolitan city where you can try all kinds of cuisines: from spicy Indian food to Moroccan couscous, not forgetting American burgers and Italian pizzas, you can easily find all sorts of food at accessible prices. Many restaurants have special offers for students and a few weeks after you have started studying in Lyon, you will have found plenty of places to eat for a good price!

Of course, while you are in France, you will definitely want to taste French cuisine. Lyon is one of the best places to do this! After all, it is often referred to as the world capital of gastronomy. Aside from French classics, in Lyon, you can also try local dishes in the traditional restaurants called “bouchons”. If you want your studies to be truly cultural, don’t hesitate to go there and enjoy the local experience to the full.

Of course, France is also famous for its cheeses, with over 1000 different varieties. Don’t miss the chance to taste some of the best or most surprising in the world.

As a student in a new country, you’ll want to make friends and enjoy nights out and weekends together. Lyon is the perfect city for this, with a vibrant nightlife and plenty of opportunities to socialise.

When you come to Lyon, you join a community of 175,000 students. With so many of them, the city has adapted to offer them the best study conditions and to make itself attractive.

Every year, in October, Lyon and Villeurbanne organise a free event dedicated to foreign students called the “Nuit des Étudiants du Monde”, or in English: “World Students Night”. 2000 students gather for a night of music, dance and games. The student associations are also there to welcome you and invite you to take part in extracurricular activities.

In fact, there are many student associations in Lyon, and the MDE (Maison des Étudiants) offers them coworking spaces (50 of them have their headquarters there). The MDE also organises more than 400 events every year. There are associations dedicated to many things: dance, social justice, music, the environment… Some also bring together students who come from the same country.

The city is also a great place to party! With its countless bars, restaurants and clubs, you and your friends will make great memories enjoying Lyon’s nightlife!

As you can see, the student life in Lyon is dynamic. There is always something to do for everyone. Choose Lyon and you will probably spend some of the most memorable years of your life there. Do you want more information to prepare for your studies? Lyon Campus is here to answer your questions!