Your first steps in France
One school, three cities
Read our International Office's handy guide to ease your first steps in France
emlyon has implemented a free platform in order to help you settle in France for your studies. Registration takes only 2minutes !
On this platform, you will be able to:
- Find housing
- Open a bank account
- And complete many other administrative procedures (visa, registration, etc)
We offer you this platform in order to get support through your installation in France. Do not hesitate to use it!
Lyon-Ecully
Lively, connected, culturally-rich Lyon has everything it takes to make a great modern metropolis.
Ever since Renaissance times, such attractive features as the banks of the Rhône and Saône rivers that cross the city, the Fourvière basilica that towers over the city center, and the "Old Lyon" district have made this a very pleasant city to live in.
Lyon is renowned for its quality of life, rich culture and celebrated gastronomy, as witnessed by the traditional "bouchons lyonnais" restaurants and the many artisan-producers.
A competitive and cosmopolitan city, Lyon draws an ever-growing number of businesses and talents each year. This fact can be attributed to its strong entrepreneurial spirit, which dates back to the early 19th century and the silk trade, of which Lyon was one of the finest representatives in France and throughout Europe.
Lyon is home to not only major French companies with global operations (Sanofi-Pasteur, Bayer, Biomérieux, Groupe SEB, Renault Trucks, among others), but also many international companies and organizations (such as Euronews, IARC and Interpol).
Set at a geographical crossroads, Lyon has very strong connections with France and Europe: it has an international airport, is 2hrs from Paris and 1hr from Marseille by TGV fast train, and is a 2hr drive from the ski resorts in the Alps and a 3hr drive from the sea.
How much does it cost to live decently in Lyon?
- Budget around €1,200 for your initial installation, including €500 for rent.
Further information:
- To find out more about living in Lyon, we suggest you visit the LyonCampus website.
Getting around / transportation in Lyon
The city of Lyon has a very good public transit network. The service is run by a state-owned company, TCL. You can find information about fares and interactive maps on the website: https://www.tcl.fr/en
The City of Lyon also offers the possibility of borrowing "green" means of transport. For example, you'll find Vélo'v, the city's self-service cycle scheme, bike-sharing and electric motorbikes (Indigowheel) and electric scooters (Dott and Tier).
Lyon also has an extensive rail network that covers the whole country and the Rhône-Alpes region. The city's two largest train stations are Lyon Part-Dieu and Lyon Perrache. From these stations, you can travel in France and to the neighboring countries by the "TGV" high-speed train.
Lyon has an international airport with connections to many European cities and the main international hubs.
Paris
Paris is a city of culture, literature, art and design, where the blend of tradition and modernity gives the city its authentic character. Living in Paris, you will not only discover the fabulous legacy of centuries past through its historic monuments, you will also be able to take in the latest art exhibitions, dance performances and music festivals.
The capital of France is home to around 19% of the national population and accounts for around 30% of France's GDP. The economy of the city of Paris is largely driven by services and commerce. The city also houses the headquarters of many international companies in media, entertainment, telecoms, transport, luxury and energy.
How much does it cost to live decently in Paris?
- The cost of living in the French capital is particularly high. Budget around €800 for a room or a studio in the city of Paris.
- To find out more about living in Paris, we suggest you visit the Official website of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Getting around / transportation in Paris
The RATP network is one of the largest mass transit systems in the world, with 14 metro lines, 2 RER (regional express) lines, 6 tram lines and over 350 bus lines. Students are eligible for a reduced-rate annual subscription pass, which you can use to explore the entire Ile-de-France region by metro, tram, regional train or bus.
An extensive network of self-service bikes (Velib) is available and is a great way to visit the sights of this amazing city. An electric scooter service( Lime) is also available for everyone. You can use the Lime application to geolocate and find scooters that have been left anywhere.
Lastly, Paris has several major train stations and airports, from which you can easily travel throughout Europe and the rest of the country.
Saint-Etienne
Saint-Etienne is the second-largest city, by size and by the number of inhabitants, in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Region. It is situated just a 45-minute train trip from Lyon.
The city is marked by a strong industrial heritage (mainly mining, arms and ribbon weaving), but has slowly but surely transformed itself into a 21st century city, where the design industry and higher education are spearheading change.
As the adoptive home of numerous migrants, a design capital and student city, Saint-Etienne still exudes a sense of welcome in a city built on a human scale. It has a unique character in the French urban landscape.
Saint-Etienne is an average-sized "green city". Just a 30-minute drive from the city center is unspoiled countryside, with the Pilat regional nature park and the Forez and Lyon mountain ranges.
How much does it cost to live decently in Saint-Etienne?
- Saint-Etienne is a very affordable city to live in.
- For a room in one of the many student residences in the city center, budget around €400 per month, including charges. For everyday living costs (food and outings), budget around €100 per week.
Getting around / transportation in Saint-Étienne
Saint-Etienne is a medium-sized town, so it is quite possible to go from one part of the town to another on foot. For example, it takes about 15 minutes to walk from the town center to the emlyon business school campus. There are also two public transportation services in Saint-Etienne:
- the STAS runs a bus and tram service https://www.reseau-stas.fr/en
- Public bike hire: Back when Saint-Etienne was a major industrial center, the bicycle was one of the flagship products manufactured in the city. Not surprisingly, now that cities and towns are increasingly limiting car travel in their centers, a bike-hire service is available throughout the town. For further information: https://www.velivert.fr/.
Traveling in France and Europe
Saint-Etienne is situated only 45 minutes away from a major city and also an international airport, so it is quite simple to travel from Saint-Etienne to locations in France and Europe.
Practical informations
Finding accommodation
It may be difficult to find accommodation, especially in the large French cities. There are, however, several solutions.
First tip: start looking as soon as possible.
Finding a guarantor
A guarantor is someone who promises to vouch for you and to stand surety for any outstanding debts. To find accommodation in France, you must have a guarantor who is French. If you do not have a French guarantor, there are a number of workaround solutions.
Our partners:
The French government offers a rental guarantor service:
Further information about accommodation and guarantors will be provided during the application and admission processes.
The following accommodation platforms are emlyon partners:
Other useful accommodation websites (non-partner):
Other useful joint occupancy websites (non-partner) :