Lyon Program Overview

ESDES was founded in 1987 as part of the Université Catholique de Lyon and has quickly established itself as a leading business school in France. The university's excellent location in the city center facilitates integration into Lyon life for visiting students. Classrooms, theatres, a library, computer and photocopying facilities, and a cafeteria are all available on campus, providing numerous opportunities for interactions between visiting students and the university's several thousand other students.

Active Campus Life

ESDES strongly encourages students to actively participate in campus life. The clubs and associations of ESDES and the Université Catholique provide a perfect environment for students to express and develop themselves.

Student benefits from two newspapers, La Couette and ESDES Park, the music club l'Assoc' Music, the wine club and a wide range of activities organized by the Fédération des Étudiants de l'Université Catholique de Lyon (FEL), which has 2,500 members.  

Student Associations

To provide a structure for such activity the ESDES students association has three organizing bodies

Student's Office organizes the orientation weekend and the annual Gala, produces the yearbook, and helps to welcome foreign students.

Sports Office coordinates all the sports activities controlled by the Fédération Nationale du Sport Universitaire (FNSU). The office also organizes a ski week and a sports competition between the schools.

Clubs Office organizes cultural events and encourages student initiatives in a wide range of subjects such as film, music, art, journalism, the stock market, and the Internet.

Clubs and Activities

The selection of clubs and activities described below illustrates the richness and diversity of campus life at ESDES

Bank and Stock Market Club: The students learn about the stock market by managing the club’s portfolio and by participating in discussion forums that includes teachers and professional guests.

L’Assoc’Art: This club enables students to participate in various activities, e.g. theatre, painting, photography, cinema and also organizes evening events such as exhibitions and competitions.

ESDES Sailing Club: The school’s sailing club trains teams for major events such Croisière de l'Edhec race and the Trophée Caraïbes organized by Rouen ESC. ESDES won in 1998, and joins the race every year to demonstrate its strength amongst the other colleges and business schools.

Program Type:

This is a Marquette-exchange program, so most financial aid generally applies. To learn more about how this program will affect your specific financial aid package, please see the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Living:

The university's housing service will assist you in finding housing, usually a dormitory-style facility with international and French students, although other options are available on a limited basis.

Duration & Dates:

Fall Term: Early September to mid February (Early exams may be arranged for MU exchange students)
Spring Term: Early January to early June.

Eligibility:

Most majors are offered; minimum junior standing with strong French language skills (9 credits beyond FREN 004).

Language:

Courses taught in French (several business courses taught in English during the spring semesters)

Subjects:

Economics, Finance, Econometrics, International Finance, Marketing, International Business, Foreign Languages, Political Studies, Arts, Humanities, Communication, Philosophy, Theology

Permit/Visa:

Visa required (Need to apply two months in advance)

Grading System:

Marquette’s Grading Scale is different from the Grading Scale used at ESDES.  Students will transfer credits back to Marquette for those classes where the student received a grade of 11 or higher. Please note that the grades will not transfer, only the credits.  The Grading Scale used in France is a numerical system that goes from 1 to 20.

Application Requirements for Université Catholique de Lyon (ESDES)

• Application Requirements Checklist (PDF)
• For a program-specific application packet, please come in to DS 101

Application Deadline:

• March 1 for fall semester or year-long
• October 1 for spring semester

Required Materials for Marquette University

See the Applying for Study Abroad Page to see Marquette's requirements.

Marquette Requirements Deadline

October 1 for the spring semester and March 1 for the fall semester, summer term, or academic year.