

How to study business in Lyon?
If you’re looking for the best city in the world in which to study business, Lyon is probably one of the best choices. There, you will have access to unique opportunities for both your studies and your future career. With its dynamic student life and its lower cost of living compared to many major cities, Lyon has a lot of advantages for business students!
Why should you choose to study business in Lyon?
Studying business in Lyon provides a fantastic opportunity to launch an international career. Studying abroad can greatly enhance your resume. It shows that you are willing to step outside your comfort zone and adapt to a new environment.
One of the key advantages of Lyon is that many schools offer programmes in English, allowing you to study in a language you already know. And if you want to learn French in France, Lyon is a great place to become perfectly fluent.
Lyon is an international city, with students coming from all over the world to its renowned schools and universities. With its high number of international companies and quick access to all major European cities (thanks to its airport), it’s one of the best choices to study business and prepare for an ambitious career.


Where should you study business in Lyon?
In Lyon, you can choose between many structures to study business. From short to long programmes, in a private or public school, you will have a lot of choices. Whether you want to start with a general programme or you are looking for a specific specialisation, you will find what you need to achieve your goal. Here are some of the most prestigious establishments.
- EMLyon, a top-ranked, triple-accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) Grande École, renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit and global outlook. EMLyon offers a comprehensive range of programmes, starting from a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA). If you want to continue your studies beyond a Bachelor’s level, you can choose its highly-regarded Master in Management (Programme Grande École), an international MBA and specialised MScs in areas such as finance, marketing data science, supply chain management and luxury management. This school offers a strong international exposure and a focus on responsible business.
- ESDES Lyon Business School is part of Lyon Catholic University (UCLy), a dynamic Grande École which emphasises a humanistic and responsible approach to business. The school is committed to ecological and social transition to train future professionals who can act to create a better society. ESDES offers Bachelor and Master in management programmes, alongside specialised MScs in areas such as circular economy, sustainable innovation, impact finance, fintech management and sustainable tourism and event management.
- INSEEC Business School is part of the Omnes Education group, which has a presence throughout France, including in Lyon. There, you will have access to a wide array of programmes, from a Bachelor to a Master of Science or an MBA. Subjects covered by specialisations include finance, marketing, communication, luxury, sports business, real estate, digital and data, etc.
- IAE Lyon School of Management (part of Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University) is part of the public university system, which is world-renowned for the quality of its programmes in all fields. If you want to study business in Lyon, choosing this school will give you access to a wide range of Bachelor and Master programmes. You may also choose to go as far as pursuing a PHD in management science, as the IAE Lyon is the 1st regional centre for such a high-level programme.
- ISG, which has its headquarters in Paris, but also has a campus in Lyon. This school focuses on international business education. It offers a Bachelor to start your studies and specialised programmes in luxury management, sport business and human resources. The school also offers MBAs and Masters of Science in various areas such as business development, supply chain management or sustainability management.
- Burgundy School of Business is a Dijon-based establishment that operates a large campus in Lyon. It is a Grande École recognised for its strong academic quality. On the Lyon campus, you can choose various programmes such as a Bachelor in Management, a Master Grande École (with many specialisations such as management and business analytics, strategy consulting, etc.), Master programmes and MScs.
- IDRAC Business School is a school with many campuses in France, including in Lyon. It offers a wide range of programmes in business, such as a Programme Grande École, Bachelor degrees, and specialised MBAs (marketing, international purchase management, supply chain, etc.). With its focus on practical business skills and professional integration, it is a good choice to prepare your career through apprenticeship and work-study experiences.
- ESSCA School of Management, a triple-accredited school with its headquarters in Angers. Its Lyon campus offers a Bachelor in International Management and a Master in Management (Grande École Programme). The school is known for its strong international focus, emphasis on responsible management and experiential learning. Its Lyon campus prepares students for a global career through specialised programmes in management of artificial intelligence, global business management or international luxury management.
Explore their website and find out more to find the perfect programme to achieve your professional goal.


How is student life in Lyon?
Studying business in Lyon lets you access one of the best cities to study in Europe.
The city is not only rich with world-class universities and professional opportunities. It is also renowned for its dynamic cultural life, with festivals dedicated to music, arts, literature, etc. Lyon’s nightlife is also one of its advantages, with bars, restaurants and clubs where you can enjoy a night out with friends.
If you’re more of an outdoor person, you’ll be delighted to find out that Lyon boasts a large urban park: the Parc de la Tête d’Or, that is so large it even includes a lake. Outside the city, you will discover that the region is rich in diverse landscapes just waiting to be explored. These range from small, picturesque towns to the wilderness of national parks such as the Parc naturel régional du Pilat.


Prepare for your studies in Lyon!
Studying business in Lyon is an excellent way to prepare for a career in international business. With its world-class universities and private schools, not to mention its thriving economy which attracts international companies, Lyon offers the perfect environment to succeed and access unique opportunities. Do you want help settling in Lyon for your studies? ONLYLYON is there to help. Fill in the form below and we’ll be back to you as soon as possible.
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