Details

• France
• MAMgmt-14
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

I have chosen my potential host institutions according to its reputation and my personal interests. Eventually I was assigned to my third choice and I was overall very satisfied with my exchange semester. However, there were many challenges, particularly in the field of recognition and finding accommodation. My advice to future outgoing students is to prepare these aspects very timely. I will provide more details in the corresponding sections of my report. Also, if not mastered already, I recommend acquiring elementary French language skills. This will make your everyday life more easy and enjoyable and might prove essential in the case of an emergency.

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Lyon was one of the two big challenges connected with my exchange semester at EMLYON. I recommend starting to search your accommodation as soon as possible. If you start searching 2 months in advance, you might be left with few options, high prices, remote locations etc. And all the processes to actually acquire a rent contract might well take you a week or two. Enough time, that someone else might snag it from you. Don't wait until you get information from EMLYON through their webinars or other information channels. The market is mainly dominated by platforms, which require handling fees, that can be as high as 10% of your entire accommodation cost if you only plan to stay for 4 months. Student residences are often fully booked several months in advance. If you prefer a flat share, you might be able to save some money, but might end up with a 9sqm mouse hole. Bear in mind, that in order to get a rent contract, you need a French guarantor (required by law), who has sufficient income and saving to step in, if you are not able to pay your rent. There are institutional guarantors (I chose Garantme) who will charge you a fee in order to take this role. However, they require another guarantor (can be located in your country of residence) who will ensure that you are able to pay your rent and whom they can seek recourse from. Own savings and income and ability to pay the rent for the entire stay in advance are quite irrelevant in this regard. The fees institutional guarantors will charge you might well make up 50% of a months rent, regardless if you stay for 4 months or a year. It should also be noted, that many buildings have very bad thermal standards. So double check, which fees are included in your rent and which heating system and energy efficiency class your desired accommodation has. Heating, warm water, electricity and internet might add up to significant amounts. Be aware that there are many scams and sketchy practices in Lyon's real estate market. I had my personal bad experience with Cardinal Campus, even though it was introduced as a new partner by EMLYON in a webinar about housing. Unlike many other platforms they charge handling fees to even process your application. Even though they should refund those fees if they cannot offer you accommodation, it might be a long struggle to get back your money. And the availability on their website doesn't match real availability (they explained this to me as being a lag in their systems). If you want to try it with Crous, the state owned student residence operator, send your application as soon as possible, as it might take them 4-6 months to process it. It might be one of the best low-budget options. However, don't rely on it and continue searching for other options and if you have an opportunity, seize it. I eventually had a very happy stay at the Kley student residence in Bron / Saint-Priest, east of Lyon, which just opened in August 2025. It is a bit remote, but in a very calm area next to a huge park (for running, walking, cycling etc.) and located directly near the T2 tram station which connects you to EMLYON or the city center within approximately 30 minutes (door-to-door time). Great for me, probably not yours, if you want to be at every student party that Lyon has to offer. The residence offers private studios (incl. bathroom and kitchenette) and shared appartments. There are plenty of public areas including a large kitchen, project rooms and a gym, which also serve as meeting and community points. Also there is a locked and monitored bicycle cage with some essential tools. However, I preferred to take my race bike to my studio. Another benefit was, that I could receive guests in my studio and the residence even provided me with an extra bed on request, all without any extra charge. A laundry room is available for an extra charge. The entire residence is protected by entrance badges and CCTV in relevant places. What I really liked about my studio (my window was facing to the road south of it) was the calm, which permitted me to sleep with an open window in summer (at least until the tram just around the corner started operating in the morning). However, I heard from others, that they had some noise from other reckless residents at some occasions. But they told me that the management immediately responded to their complaints. My experience was that the management of the residence was very professional and committed. The entire process from preparing the rent contract to the refund of my security deposit after my leave went smoothly and quickly. Maybe I benefitted from a lower price and was very lucky to still find a studio there in summer, as the residence just opened and works were even in progress on the streets in the area. But I would definitely recommend it, if it suits your priorities.

3. Academic life at host university

EMLYON has a modern campus with facilities like a library, a makers lab, gastronomy etc. Overall, everything one would expect from a campus. It is located very well close to a metro station approximately 5 minutes by foot, so that any other location in the city can be reached quickly. Try the croissants at the L'Atelier bakery ;) I would describe academic culture and teaching style and quality as quite different from what I was used to at WU, with an obviously different focus. There is a clear emphasis on practical application of the lectured contents in most subjects that I had. On the other hand, citation systems and methodology seem not to play a major role, which is reflected in the ways of working of resident students. English language skills of some French students were another challenge I this regard, even though B2 is formally required to study in the PGE (Master in Management) program. However, it was manageable. And the highly-diverse audience with French and other international students was a great opportunity to learn social and intercultural skills. There have also been some occasions to connect to people from the business world, maybe slightly more frequently than at WU throughout the courses that I have taken. The workload was high to very high throughout my courses. I would estimate it to be 50-80% greater than at WU, if one aims to achieve a high grade, as there are usually many individual and group tasks with tight deadlines in each course, at which you can loose (or earn) points. The French grading system with marks from 0 to 20 is not linear, with 16 and above corresponding to very good, while 16 seems to be rarely given compared to "sehr gut". This can be a challenge in the translation to Austrian grades. So if you aim for high grades, be prepared to put a lot of continuous work throughout the semester into it. This requires some grit and self-management capabilities, if you want to make the best out of your stay besides the academic life. I noticed considerable variations in the quality of teaching. My professors came from diverse origins and background. Some professors were highly-competent in their field, exceptionally well organized, clear about requirements and pedagogically skilled. Others frequently struggled with one or more of these four components relevant for good teaching (in my opinion). As I took all courses in English, I need to mention that the articulateness and understandability of professors also varied, but was generally good and at least sufficient. The top three courses I would recommend from my experience are Economic Strategy & Competitiveness, Leading Strategic Change and Non-Market Strategy. These are the courses which provided the greatest learning opportunities and were best conducted in my opinion. However, besides your thematic interests, consider which courses you can get credit for. This was not an easy task. And the courses I mentioned here were clearly not those with the least work load.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Lyon was quite convenient for all locations relevant to me. A big advantage was the availability of the high-speed train TGV for traveling between Lyon and other high-level destinations within France. Paris or Marseille in less than 2 hours. Brussels in 4 hours Btw you can save from your first journey if you acquire a Carte Avantage. I traveled with a regional train only once to return from a bike trip. It left and arrived punctually. However, familiarize yourself with the process of buying a ticket for the SNCF before you arrive at the train station and want to rush to the platform. There are many options and it might not be straightforward. Also if you want to purchase a monthly ticket for the TCL (the local transportation system in Lyon), be prepared to stand in long queues in front of the branch at the end of the month to get your ticket. I purchased a one way ticket for each ride, directly paying with my credit card (via smartphone) in the vehicle, as I would not have saved anything with a monthly ticket. Except for some sketchy traffic situations on my bike with reckless car drivers, I felt 100% safe throughout my entire stay. I need to mention, that I took some elementary precautions to not attract petty criminals from the first day, even though I never felt any threat. Maybe my precautions contributed to my perception of safety. But I heard from others that they experienced or observed some unpleasant or threatening situations. Particularly harassment seems to be a relevant issue for women. And a colleague reported, that his bicycle helmet was stolen. Furthermore, I was warned by locals not to leave my bike outside, even with a good lock. My social, leisure and sports activities in and around Lyon mainly consisted of cycling, cooking and eating out with others, sight seeing and visiting some local events. So there were plenty of options for me, even though I usually didn't participate in the many Erasmus and other student parties. The area around Lyon is great for road cycling, even though it can take some time to get out of the city, depending on where you live. There are plenty of social rides (for any level from leisure to race-simulation) organized by Lyon Social Rides, which are usually announced in their group on Strava. I also enjoyed some of the big parks that Greater Lyon has to offer, like the Parc de Parilly (for nature lovers and sportspeople) and the Parc de la Tête d'Or (regular social run venue) with a palm house, a botanical garden, a zoo, a lake and even a cycling track. Everything for free, except the cycling track, which is not open for the public. Even though swimming is not permitted in the Rhône and the Saône, they offer plenty of leisure opportunities along their banks. And the vast Grand Parc Miribel Jonage can be quickly reached by bike and includes a lake and several beaches for swimming and sunbathing. Gastronomically and culinary Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region was a truly transformative experience for me. And the best is, that one doesn't need to visit one of the many Michelin star restaurants for that purpose. A huge variety of agricultural products is available in specialized shops, at weekly markets and in well-assorted supermarkets. The Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse are mandatory for any food lover. I can also highly recommend the Café des Fédérations, my favorite Bouchon Lyonnais. Try to stay away from the tourist traps (of which I also experienced a few) and plan ahead when you want to eat, as many of the traditional establishments have very limited opening hours around noon and in the evening and often require reservation during weekends and certain holidays. And make sure to try every variety of the famous Viennoiseries for breakfast ;) If you are not afraid of crowds, make sure to save the date for the Fête des Lumières and plan your program around it accordingly. And if you want to invite visitors that weekend, secure accommodation timely. One final advice. You might want to refresh your French language skills or do your best to learn as good French as you can. Even though there is an international student community in Lyon and you might often get through with English even in day-to-day situations, it will make your everyday life much more convenient and enjoyable.

6. Testimonial

Academic achievement, intercultural exchange, language learning and old new friends at the same time. Beautiful landscapes discovered through sports activities, delicious food to nurture body and soul and unique exciting events in a beautiful city. Overall a great experience I would not like to miss, even though I stayed for extended periods in other countries.