Why Italian students choose emlyon: real stories from Lyon and Paris
Pietro Maglione, Carola Rosso et Paolo Birolini
Considering studying abroad in France? We sat down with three of our Italian students: Pietro Maglione, Carola Rosso, and Paolo Birolini, to hear firsthand why they chose emlyon business school and what surprised them most about their experience. Their candid insights about practical learning, campus life, and cultural adaptation offer a valuable perspective for anyone exploring master's programs in France.
From theory to practice
The shift from Italy's theoretical approach to our hands-on learning model was transformative for our students. Pietro, a Master of Science student at emlyon, sought "a more practical and realistic way to understand the economy," while Carola wanted "a system that places more emphasis on applied learning." The emlyon curriculum delivers exactly that: real-life case studies, continuous assessments, learning by doing and direct career preparation through our Career Center's workshops, coaching, and company partnerships.
“This school has a really good quality of learning, and its focus is on how to apply this knowledge in the job market,” explains Pietro.
Two campuses, two distinct experiences
emlyon business school’s is present in two major cities in France, with campuses in both Lyon and Paris, the choice of the campus depending on the program followed. Pietro found Lyon's 30,000-square-meter campus "alive" with events connecting students to the professional ecosystem. Carola loves that it's "a big city with all the commodities and cultural life, but with the perks of a smaller city."
Meanwhile, Paolo thrives in Paris, calling it "a melting pot of cultures" where our 5,500-square-meter campus near Gare de Lyon makes it easy to "connect with people and build a community."
They also enjoyed the strong student culture, explaining that in France, Carola explains that “students can spend many hours in their [student] association village working on side projects.”
Building your international network
From day one, emlyon support international students through our dedicated office, student associations, and events like the International Welcome Day. "I felt privileged and happy to be part of the emlyon family," Pietro recalls.
Paolo's advice to hesitant students? "Just go! Don't let fear or hesitation hold you back."
emlyon business school's Master's & MSc programs welcome French & international students, offering top expertise in finance, strategy, data science, entrepreneurship, marketing and more.
Discover their complete journey, practical tips, and what really surprised them about studying in France: read the full feature article on MASTERGRADSCHOOLS and connect with our student ambassadors.