Universities in Lyon
Lyon has 5 universities in our index, offering 1,251 study programmes. Here's how the city scores for student life, and who teaches what.
City Life Index
Affordability8/10
Safety6/10
Student vibe9/10
English-friendly7/10
Weather7/10
Transport9/10
Lyon is a vibrant and culturally rich city with an excellent student scene, good public transport, and a relatively affordable cost of living for students, though a basic understanding of French is helpful.
Universities in Lyon
| University | Research rank (EU) | Programmes | English-taught |
|---|---|---|---|
| Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 | #74 | 249 | — |
| Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon | #311 | 73 | — |
| Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA) | #421 | 12 | — |
| Université Lumière Lyon 2 | #610 | 500 | — |
| Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 | #619 | 417 | — |
How it compares in France
| City | Life score | Universities | Programmes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon | 7.7/10 | 5 | 1,251 |
| Montpellier | 7.7/10 | 3 | 779 |
| Rennes | 7.7/10 | 2 | 658 |
| Toulouse | 7.7/10 | 5 | 1,017 |
| Bordeaux | 7.5/10 | 2 | 506 |
| Caen | 7.3/10 | 2 | 406 |
| Champs-sur-Marne | 7.3/10 | 2 | 241 |
| Palaiseau | 7.3/10 | 3 | 90 |
What you can study in Lyon
- Linguistics and Languages (372)
- Management (138)
- Law (89)
- Computer Science (42)
- Psychology (41)
- History (41)
- Geography and GIS (33)
- Education (31)
- Engineering (27)
- Sociology (24)
- Biology (18)
- Physics (18)
- Mathematics (18)
- Economics (17)
- Media and Communication (16)
- Arts and Design (16)
Frequently asked questions
- How many universities does Lyon have?
- Our index lists 5 universities in Lyon with 1,251 study programmes between them.
- Is Lyon affordable for students?
- Lyon scores 8/10 on affordability in our City Life Index. Students in France spend roughly €945 a month on living costs. Full breakdown: Cost of studying in France.
Last updated 2026-09-15.