A buoyant start to the new academic year despite the demographic outlook
The decline in the population has not, at this stage, led to a fall in the number of applicants: recruitment figures remain strong and are rising in certain fields of study. This momentum is driven in particular by the diversification of recruitment channels, the creation of new courses and the growing reputation of the Centrale Lyon brand, all of which enhance the school’s appeal to an increasingly diverse range of candidates.
A rigorous recruitment process, open to a diverse range of backgrounds and profiles
Centrale Lyon is continuing to pursue its ambition to recruit the very best students whilst enhancing the diversity of its intake. This year has seen the introduction of new routes into engineering programmes, notably the opening of the BCPST stream in the CentraleSupélec entrance examination and the opening of the Geipi Polytech entrance examination for specialist courses in Saint-Étienne.
The results for the preparatory programmes confirm the institution’s growing appeal: the integrated preparatory programme at Centrale Lyon ENISE received 10,000 applications for 120 places, with the rank of the last successful candidate rising by 400 places. The CapECL preparatory course, which prepares students for the general engineering programme, received 1,500 applications for 24 places, with the rank of the last successful candidate rising by 75 places.
These developments reflect the School’s commitment to combining academic excellence, social inclusivity and diversity of student profiles. The figures for this academic year bear this out: 21 per cent of students are on scholarships and 27 per cent are international students, representing 50 nationalities, whilst women account for 24 per cent of the student body.
Training programmes directly linked to changes in society
The School is continuing to develop its range of courses to meet the skills needs arising from major economic, technological and environmental transitions.
Two bachelor’s degree programmes, launched in recent years, illustrate this ambition. The Bachelor’s in Data Science for Responsible Business, a joint degree with emlyon business school, provides training in the use of data to support responsible decision-making. Launched in 2024, the Bachelor’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering, developed as part of the College of Engineering in partnership with ENTPE, INSA Lyon and Mines Saint-Étienne, prepares students for new practices in the construction and renovation of buildings and civil engineering structures.
New specialisations are also being added to the existing programmes, such as ‘Physics for Major Transitions’ ’ or ‘Bioengineering for Health’ within the general engineering programme, whilst the institutional qualifications are being strengthened to respond ever more effectively to societal challenges.
The aim is clear: to offer demanding, interdisciplinary courses that are in line with employers’ expectations and the challenges of the future.
