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Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France and is positioned at the of the Rhône and Saône rivers, and is one of the oldest cities in the country.
When asked to name the best things about Lyon, one respondent to our student survey said the city has a “great diversity of students from all over the world, [and] exciting nightlife.”
Another commented, “It's a small city but a big European hub, full of great industry, great culture, great music...”
As you would expect, Lyon has a buzzing student scene, and it’s also known for offering a very high quality of life, but with significantly lower living costs than the French capital, Paris.
With relatively low tuition fees at French universities, Lyon is one of the best value destinations in the QS Best Student Cities ranking. Tuition fees will cost international students an average of around US$300 per year.
Life and culture in Lyon
The third-largest city in France, Lyon is known for its magnificent architecture. Bordered by mountains on one side and the sea on the other, the city has a charming medieval centre that is beautifully illuminated after dark.
Often referred to as the gourmet capital of France, Lyon has a wide selection of great restaurants, including several Michelin starred establishments. If fancy food isn't for you, the city also offers plenty of traditional bistros and smaller restaurants for you to enjoy.
While studying in Lyon, you should take a trip to the medieval town, Pérouges, and visit the town of Vienne, which houses a well-preserved Roman temple and a Roman pyramid.
A lesser-known fact about Lyon is that it was the birthplace of modern cinema. The first-ever motion picture was created in Lyon in 1895 by the Lumiere brothers.
Lyon is known for its prosperous start-up scene, as well as its successful banking, pharmaceutical, engineering, and manufacturing industries.
Graduates are highly in demand in Lyon. There are plenty of large companies that regularly employ graduates, including the world leader in vaccines, Sanofi-Pasteur; Renault Trucks; phone network, O2; and events company, GL Events.
Niamh is Deputy Head of Content at QS (TopMBA.com; topuniversities.com), creating and editing content for an international student audience. Having gained her journalism qualification at the Press Association, London and since written for different international publications, she's now enjoying telling the stories of students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs and organizations from across the globe.
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Study in Lyon
Niamh Ollerton
Updated Jul 15, 2025Table of contents
Table of contents
Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France and is positioned at the of the Rhône and Saône rivers, and is one of the oldest cities in the country.
Lyon is home one of the nation's top institutions, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon.
When asked to name the best things about Lyon, one respondent to our student survey said the city has a “great diversity of students from all over the world, [and] exciting nightlife.”
Another commented, “It's a small city but a big European hub, full of great industry, great culture, great music...”
Top universities in Lyon
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
Lyon's QS Best Student Cities performance
Why study in Lyon?
It’s affordable
Lyon offers low tuition fees for international students and low living costs.
Cultural attractions
The city offers a plenty of museums and festivals, art galleries and theatres for students to enjoy.
Tasty food
Lyon is considered the capitale mondiale de la gastronomie and contains over 4000 restaurants, which is a record in France!
Great transport links
With four metro lines, six tram lines and two railways, Lyon’s public transport network makes it easy to get around the city.
Find out why students love studying in Lyon.
Cost of studying in Lyon
As you would expect, Lyon has a buzzing student scene, and it’s also known for offering a very high quality of life, but with significantly lower living costs than the French capital, Paris.
With relatively low tuition fees at French universities, Lyon is one of the best value destinations in the QS Best Student Cities ranking. Tuition fees will cost international students an average of around US$300 per year.
Life and culture in Lyon
The third-largest city in France, Lyon is known for its magnificent architecture. Bordered by mountains on one side and the sea on the other, the city has a charming medieval centre that is beautifully illuminated after dark.
Often referred to as the gourmet capital of France, Lyon has a wide selection of great restaurants, including several Michelin starred establishments. If fancy food isn't for you, the city also offers plenty of traditional bistros and smaller restaurants for you to enjoy.
While studying in Lyon, you should take a trip to the medieval town, Pérouges, and visit the town of Vienne, which houses a well-preserved Roman temple and a Roman pyramid.
A lesser-known fact about Lyon is that it was the birthplace of modern cinema. The first-ever motion picture was created in Lyon in 1895 by the Lumiere brothers.
Testimonials
Careers in Lyon
Lyon is known for its prosperous start-up scene, as well as its successful banking, pharmaceutical, engineering, and manufacturing industries.
Graduates are highly in demand in Lyon. There are plenty of large companies that regularly employ graduates, including the world leader in vaccines, Sanofi-Pasteur; Renault Trucks; phone network, O2; and events company, GL Events.
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Niamh is Deputy Head of Content at QS (TopMBA.com; topuniversities.com), creating and editing content for an international student audience. Having gained her journalism qualification at the Press Association, London and since written for different international publications, she's now enjoying telling the stories of students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs and organizations from across the globe.
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