Study in Paris – a world-class student city par excellence

Guides

Published in 5 June 2025

Far from being just the capital of one of the most visited countries in the world and a globally recognized historical and cultural icon, the “City of Lights” is also home to 750,000 students, 430,000 of whom are international according to Campus France 2023-24. It is ranked 7th best student city worldwide by QS Best Student Cities 2025. With its unique blend of lifestyle and professional opportunities, Paris provides the perfect setting for an enriching student life enhanced by the academic excellence to be found on emlyon’s centrally located campus.

The “bon vivant” culture, Parisian-style

When not busy with their academic obligations, students can choose from a wide range of cultural, gastronomic, and lifestyle experiences in Paris. Students under 26 years old (EU residents) benefit from free access to major museums (including the Louvre Museum, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Musée de l'Orangerie, Musée Rodin, and Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac) and can also relax in the numerous green spaces the capital has to offer, such as the Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and Canal Saint-Martin. The city is also the venue for major cultural events such as the Fête de la Musique, Nuit Blanche, We Love Green, and Rock en Seine.

France has a culinary reputation that precedes it and is known around the world over. As cosmopolitan a city as Paris has the added advantage of a great many other cuisines in addition to its national one, with a plethora of restaurants offering Italian, Chinese, Ethiopian, Korean, and Greek dishes on the menu, among many other types of gastronomy. International students will most definitely find the food worth writing home about…

Practical solutions for student living

As one would expect for a capital city, living in and getting around Paris comes at a certain cost but various schemes and infrastructures are in place to help students overcome such hurdles and enjoy life in the city to the maximum. More affordable accommodation options include CROUS student residences, shared apartments, studio apartments, and intergenerational housing. On the catering side, university dining offers full meals starting at €3.30 in over 20 CROUS university restaurants throughout Paris. To help cover some living costs, students are encouraged to visit the mesdroitssociaux.gouv.fr online government platform in order to calculate for which social benefits they may be eligible, based on their personal situation.

Like much of France, Paris “does transport very well”. The comprehensive network comprises the central métro subway, overground suburban RER trains, trams, buses and Vélib’ bike-sharing scheme, all of which are made more easily accessible to young people via the Imagine R card (€350/year) or Navigo Jeunes pass.

A hive of activity – for all

Paris is a multicultural city that attracts a wide range of students along with many activities designed for them. The Maison des Initiatives Étudiantes supports more than 270 organizations dedicated to such areas as culture, sustainability, arts, and activism, among others. For students requiring support of another kind, the AFEV Paris national NGO is on hand to provide vital mentoring services, solidarity house shares, apprenticeship openings and volunteering opportunities for disadvantaged young people, including those with disabilities, which are central to the association’s fight against educational inequality.

A city of professional opportunity, with an eye to the future

For many students settling in Paris for a part or all of their studies, the French capital could end up becoming the location of their first job post-studies, if not their more permanent home. With this in mind, the status of Paris as a major economic hub cannot be overstated, with global corporations such as LVMH, Sanofi, Schneider Electric, Danone and Publicis having their headquarters here. Career fairs and professional networking events providing students with opportunities to meet recruiters, attend workshops, and build valuable connections are held on a regular basis. Especially noteworthy are VivaTech (Europe’s leading tech & innovation event) and the CIDJ Youth Job Forum (which offers a host of workshops and is attended by 100+ recruiters).

emlyon business school Paris campus: a hub for ambition and excellence

Located in the heart of the 12th arrondissement, just a 5-minute walk from Gare de Lyon train station, emlyon’s Paris campus offers 5,500 m² of modern learning space. Fully equipped with the latest digital technologies and closely connected to the business world, it hosts various programmes, including:

In short, Paris offers students the best of various worlds – access to top-notch education (of which emlyon business school and it’s 12^th-district campus is a perfect example), ample opportunities to establish professional connections and get noticed by recruiting companies of renown, a vibrant student life, and a wealth of cultural, historical and leisure activities to ensure your downtime is enjoyed to the fullest.