EMLyon Business School
EMLyon Business School
The EMLyon Business School was founded in 1872 in Lyon by the local business community and is affiliated to the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It is widely regarded as one of France’s prestigious grandes écoles and one of the best business schools in Europe.
Academic Highlights
EMLyon’s curriculum focuses on internationalisation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. It offers executive and entrepreneurship programs, master's programs in 12 different fields and specialisations including Sports and Outdoor Management and Luxury Management and Marketing.
Location
The School’s main campus is in Écully, an exclusive country hamlet six kilometres from Lyon, the second largest metropolis in France and an area that houses a large number of tertiary institutions. It also has another domestic campus, one at St Étienne, a lively university town in eastern central France and a campus in Paris, as well as two international campuses in Shanghai and Casablanca.
Did you know?
EMLyon founded and hosts the annual Le défi de Bacchus, one of the biggest wine-testing competitions in Europe which sees students and professionals competing in a blind tasting of French wines.
Language of Instruction | English (limited in some areas), French | |||||
Program Duration | 1 semester, 2 semesters | |||||
Academic Level | Undergraduate, Postgraduate | |||||
| Minimum Result Required | 60% WAM | |||||
| Previous Round Cut-off (WAM (%) or GPA) | 69% WAM | |||||
Anticipated Places in Semester 2, 2027 | 8-9 places | |||||
Green | ||||||
Eligible Monash Campus | Monash Australia, Monash Malaysia | |||||
Agreement Scope | Business and Economics | |||||
Handbook/Catalogue
Undergraduate students choose units from the Bachelor of Business Administration; see the course list. Postgraduate students can only choose units from the Master of Science in Management; see the course list.
For more information for incoming exchange students, you can visit the EM-Lyon Incoming Students webpage.
Language considerations
Around half of the units at EMLyon are taught in English. All third and fourth year units in the Bachelor of Business Administration and about half of the Master of Science in Management are taught in English. Consult the course information on each unit's language of instruction (Anglais means English).
Full-time Credit Load Equivalents
Semester | |
|---|---|
Min. 18 Monash points | Max. 24 Monash points |
22.5 ECTS* | 30 ECTS |
Year | |
|---|---|
Min. 36 Monash points | Max. 48 Monash points |
45 ECTS | 60 ECTS |
ECTS - European Credit Transfer System
*If your study load cannot exactly equate to 22.5 ECTS, then you will need to complete a study load as close to 22.5 ECTS without going under in order to receive 18 Monash credit points.
Academic Calendar
EMLyon Fall Semester (Monash semester 2): late August - late December
EMLyon Spring Semester (Monash semester 1): early January - late April
Accounting | Artificial intelligence | Econometrics and business statistics | Economics |
Finance | Humanities | Human relations and regulations | Innovation and entrepeneurship |
Leadership | Management | Marketing | Social and behavioural sciences |
Note
- The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
- Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.
Accommodation
Emlyon provides student accommodation in a hall of residence five minutes’ walk from the Écully campus. Housing is organised on a first come, first served basis. In addition, there is an off-campus accommodation search service with available housing options that are close to the School. See the School's page on accommodation under the 'Practical information' subheading for more information.
Visas
As a general rule, all students planning to study in France for more than three months must apply for a long-stay visa before departure from Australia and apply for a residence permit after they arrive.
Refer to the official France-Visas website for the most up-to-date information on how to apply for a student visa. Any changes to the visa application process will be made public on the Consulate General of France in Sydney website.
For additional information on visas, you can refer to the Consulate-General of France in Sydney.
EMLyon also provides some advice on visas.
Health and insurance
Medical coverage is legally required in France. All students need to subscribe to the French Social Security. It is required to cover the entirety of your stay; you can register upon arrival in France. Students will require an official birth certificate with a French translation to proceed with their health insurance.
EMLyon also offers advice on health insurance and social security.
When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy. This will provide cover to and from your exchange.
Orientation and extra-curricular
Find out about EMLyon's vibrant student life, including many sporting and cultural associations.
EMLyon specifies the date by which exchange students are expected to arrive on their Academic Calendar, so that students are present for their orientation and welcome arrangements.
Lyon was recently voted one of the best city destinations in Europe in 2021. View the OnlyLyon website to learn more about the city as a place to live and study. Apart from being the Capital of Gastronomy in France, it is also well known as the City of Lights culminating in the Festival of Lights on 8 December.
Cost of living
Emlyon provides guidance on predicted additional expenses in Saint Étienne and Lyon.
Funding
Students taking French language courses may be eligible for the Walter Mangold Study Abroad Scholarship.
Nicolas Baudin Scholarship
The Nicolas Baudin scholarship is designed to encourage students to undertake study, research or professional development in France. It consists of a return flight ticket between Australia and France and social insurance for up to six months. Find out more here.
For information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.
Important notes
Please note that Australian students applying for a student visa for France will need to travel to Sydney for an in-person appointment.
To begin your application and study plan, click the button below.
Have you been to EMLyon Business School and want to share your experience?
If you'd be willing to write a testimonial, email us at monashabroad.enquiries@monash.edu.
Lucia Palumbo
Business and Accounting
Semester 1, 2026
Study Experience
One of the biggest academic highlights of studying in France was experiencing a very different approach to learning compared with Monash. The teaching style was highly interactive and practical, with a strong emphasis on in-person participation and applying concepts to real-world situations. This made the content feel more engaging and easier to retain. I also appreciated the closer relationships between students and lecturers. Class sizes were generally smaller, allowing for more discussion, regular feedback, and greater opportunities to ask questions and collaborate.
The semester structure was another unique aspect. Rather than studying all units simultaneously, we completed four units during the first half of the semester, sat exams, and then moved on to four different units in the second half before a second exam period. This intensive format allowed me to focus more deeply on each subject and develop a stronger understanding of the material before progressing to the next set of units.
Culture
Living in Lyon was one of the most rewarding parts of my exchange. The social environment was incredibly welcoming, and because most students had fewer work commitments, we spent a lot of time together outside of class. By the end of the semester, everyone had formed close friendships, creating a real sense of community.
Lyon itself offered so much to explore, from its historic old town and incredible food and riverside cafés. Its central location also made it easy to travel throughout France and Europe, so many weekends were spent discovering new cities and experiencing different cultures.
A typical week involved attending university classes during the day, followed by dinners, social events, or nights out with friends. One of the highlights was the Erasmus boat parties, held every Wednesday. They became a tradition for many exchange students and were always something we looked forward to. Overall, the combination of cultural experiences, travel, and lifelong friendships made my time in France an unforgettable experience.
Benefits of going on exchange
My exchange was one of the most valuable experiences for my personal and professional development. The biggest area of growth was becoming more independent. Living overseas meant taking responsibility for everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and managing my own schedule, which helped me become more self-sufficient and confident.
I was fortunate to share an apartment with one other Monash student, while many exchange students lived in much larger share houses. Even so, living away from home challenged me to adapt to a new environment and develop routines that balanced university, travel, and social life.
The experience also improved my confidence and adaptability. Moving to a new country and meeting people from different cultural backgrounds helped me build very important communication and interpersonal skills I won't have developed as fast otherwise. Overall, the exchange gave me greater confidence in my ability to embrace new opportunities and adapt to unfamiliar environments.
Top tips
- The application process can feel long, but it is absolutely worth it. Stick with it—I haven't met anyone who regrets going on exchange, and it's an experience I already miss.
- Start researching accommodation as early as possible. Good housing fills up quickly, and leaving it too late can mean paying significantly more or having fewer suitable options.
- Consider your location carefully. I stayed in Bellecour, which was an excellent base. However, Lyon's metro system is fantastic, with trains every few minutes until around 12:30 am on weekdays and 2:30 am on weekends, so it's easy to get around without needing Ubers.
- Budget for travel, as weekend trips are a huge part of the exchange experience, especially for students from outside Europe.
- While it's tempting to travel every weekend, leave some weekends free to explore with the friends you make. Some of my favourite memories came from spontaneous group trips around France and Europe, including an unforgettable trip with 10 other exchange students.
- Say yes to social events and activities—they're one of the best ways to make lifelong friends and get the most out of your exchange.