The exchange semester
The exchange semester at Centrale Lyon allows international students to enroll in one of the school’s programs for several months and earn ECTS credits. This exchange opportunity allows students to discover new disciplines and enrich their original program of study. With nearly 57 nationalities represented on campus, exchange students benefit from a stimulating multicultural environment that fosters cultural exchange and personal growth.
Students take 6 courses from a selection of approximately 60 (organized, for scheduling purposes, into 6 blocks). The courses end in late April and are worth 12 ECTS credits. Students earn the remaining 18 ECTS by taking language courses and completing a full-time research project in one of our laboratories from May through mid-July. The research project may be conducted entirely in English.
Duration: January through June
Institutional degree: No
Credits: 30 ECTS
Language: French and English (one-third of the courses are offered in English)
Tuition: Waived if a partnership agreement is in place
Application process: Between September and October
The dual degree in specialized engineering is open to students who have earned at least 180 ECTS credits at their home institution. At the end of their exchange, they earn 15 ECTS credits for required specialized courses and 15 ECTS credits for other courses or research project courses.
Programs involved : Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Sensory Engineering offered by Centrale Lyon’s in-house school ENISE
Duration: September through January
Credits: 30 ECTS
Language: English
Application deadline: March
The Exchange Year
The exchange year at Centrale Lyon offers international students the opportunity to enroll in one of the school’s programs for several months, while earning ECTS credits. This international exchange program allows students to explore new disciplines and enrich their initial education, thereby fostering their academic and personal development.
Students who have successfully completed the final-year program are awarded the "DESECL" institutional diploma. Students take all courses from September through the end of March and then complete an extended internship between April and mid-September. This internship may be carried out in a laboratory at École Centrale or a research institution, or at a company.
Period: From September to mid-September of year N+1
Institutional diploma: yes
Credits: 60 ECTS
Language: French and English (a limited selection of courses taught exclusively in English)
Tuition: Waived if a partnership agreement is in place
Application process: Throughout March
The Dual Degree Program
Centrale Lyon offers a dual-degree exchange program for several of its degree programs. Through this opportunity, students earn both a degree from Centrale Lyon and one from the partner university. This dual-degree program offers an education of the highest quality, combining the pedagogical approaches of two renowned institutions. As a result, it provides significant added value, preparing students to thrive in an international environment.
The Dual Degree General Engineer program offers students the opportunity to complete part of the core curriculum, optional modules, and to gain access to related internships over the course of the two years, with the ultimate goal of earning the Central Lyon Engineering Degree. Degrees from both institutions are awarded at the end of the combined program—students must therefore successfully complete the program at both institutions to earn both degrees.
Duration: From September through the end of August of year N+2 (Double Degree 1-2) and from September through the end of September of year N+2 (Double Degree 2-3)
Credits: 120 ECTS
Language: French
Application Process : March/April
Centrale Lyon's in-house school, ENISE, offers dual engineering degree programs through its specialized programs.
Relevant programs : Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Sensory Engineering offered by the Centrale Lyon ENISE in-house school
Language: English
Application process: Mid-December through the student’s home partner institution
Students whose academic background is consistent with the master’s programs offered and who have completed the first year of a master’s program or earned at least 240 ECTS credits (or a national equivalent) at their home institution may enroll in the second year of the master’s programs. This exchange is possible if a dual-degree agreement exists between Centrale Lyon and the student’s home institution.
My years in Lyon were the best of my life. I was able to discover a new culture, sample local specialties, and appreciate French architecture. Studying at Centrale Lyon allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I specialized in environmental studies through the courses and career paths offered by Centrale. I was also able to get involved with the school, the students, the town of Écully, and other schools through the Planet&Co association and projects to raise awareness among young people about climate issues, just as I was able to entertain Lyon residents and tourists by playing with the Fanfare Piston in the streets of Lyon.
Tristan - A student at Polytechnique Montréal, participating in the 2-3 Dual Degree Program
The International Masters
Centrale Lyon offers eight master’s programs designed to welcome international students. These two-year programs (M1 and M2), taught entirely in English, aim to provide students with a high level of scientific expertise. They also provide solid practical skills, with an emphasis on teamwork and integration into the worlds of industry and research.
- Master's in Acoustics
- Master of Aerospace Engineering
- Master's in Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Science
- Master's in Nanoscale Engineering
- Master's in Biomimicry and Surface Engineering
- Master's in Water and Wind Engineering
- Master's in Sustainable Manufacturing and Advanced Technologies - SMAT
- Erasmus Mundus Master's Program - meta4.0
The Certificate in Research Training
The Certificate in Research Training (CFR) offered by Centrale Lyon is a program designed for students who wish to deepen their research skills. This certificate allows students to participate in research projects in the laboratories on campus, while developing essential methodological skills. Non-French-speaking students also have access to French as a foreign language courses to improve their communication skills. In addition, they can attend all courses in the three-year engineering program, either as auditors or to earn credits. This track promotes full integration into the academic and scientific community.
Duration: Can be taken at any time. Students typically begin in September or February
Institutional degree: yes
Credits: 30 ECTS (1 semester) 60 ECTS (2 semesters)
Language : French and English
Tuition: Waived if a partnership agreement is in place
Application process: Applications are due in March for students starting in September (semester 1). Between September and October for students starting in February (semester 2). For more information: contact the Office of International Relations.
Options for students enrolling for 2 semesters:
- Two different research projects, one for each semester.
- First semester in one of the laboratories and second semester as a paid internship with an industry partner. In this case, the student must complete 100 hours of coursework during the first semester alongside the research project in order to be considered an intern under French labor law.
Coming as a Ph.D. student
Research-based education is thus a major objective of Centrale Lyon. The school also welcomes students pursuing a Ph.D.. Centrale Lyon pursues an internationally recognized, world-class research policy that attracts many doctoral students from around the world.
Research Project and Final Lab Project
The institution’s research laboratories have established long-term bilateral collaborations or partnerships with international universities under agreements signed by Centrale Lyon.
They can accept international students wishing to undertake a research project or a thesis for a period of 3 to 6 months in their areas of expertise.
