The Lyon metropolitan area offers educational and research facilities of the highest standard, boosted by the relocation of renowned advanced education establishments, together with international projects like Minerve and Eurforia. The last ten years have seen a rise of close on 25% in student numbers at the city's four universities. Lyon's vitality in the academic world derives from its strength in research, backed up by the presence of such bodies as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Mérieux Foundation's BSL4 Laboratory. The Rhône-Alpes Region is Europe's number 3 source of international patents, surpassed only by London and Paris.

With over 110,000 students – 11% of them from abroad – and 6500 postgraduate degrees per year, Lyon is a leading light in French higher education.
Lyon is, after Paris, the second largest university town in France: 4 universities (Lyon 1, Lyon 2, Lyon 3, Catholic University) and the prestigious elite academies: Ecoles Normales Supérieures (ENS Lyon and ENS Arts and Social Sciences), Ecole Centrale School of Engineering (ECL), National Institute of Applied Science (INSA), School of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Physics and Electronics (ESCPE), Textile and Chemicals Institute (ITECH), EM Lyon (Management), National School of Veterinary Science, National School of Advanced Studies in Information Science and Librarianship (ENSSIB), and others.

Inventiveness and research have always been a part of Lyon's industrial landscape, examples including Jacquard, the inventor of the silk loom; the
Lumière brothers, inventors of the cinema; physicist André-Marie Ampère; and physiologist Claude Bernard. Currently 10,000 top-level researchers are
working in and around Lyon, 10% of their number being from abroad.
The range of fields studied by research laboratories and teams covers all the main areas of human and social sciences, economics and law, materials
sciences and technology, as well as life and health sciences.
Lyon's research potential notably includes teacher-researchers in the universities and grandes écoles, researchers at CNRS (National Centre for
Scientific Research, 2300 persons in all), at INSERM (National Institute for Medical Research), INRA (National Institute for Agronomic Research), IARC, the BSL4 Laboratory, along with private industrial laboratories.


Researcher's Guide
Lyon: An International Economic And Scientific Hub (PDF 292 Ko)
1 The Economy: Lyon Specialities
2 Higher Education And Research
2-1 H Igher Education
2-2 Research
3 International Events And Conventions: A Tradition Of Welcome

Entering And Living In France: The Formalities (PDF 464 Ko)
1 Obtaining A Visa
1-1 The Host Organisation Form
1-2 Applying To The Consulate For A Visa
1-3 Necessary Documents
2 Obtaining A French Residence Permit
2-1 The Residence Permit
2-2 For Your Family
2-3 Applying For A Residence Permit
2-4 Medical Examination
2-5 Temporary Residence Permit
3 Useful Websites And Contacts

Medical Insurance And Health Care (PDF 376 Ko)
1 Health Coverage
1-1 Health Coverage For Wage Earners
1-2 Universal Medical Coverage (Cmu)
1-3 Other Types Of Health Coverage
1-4 Private Health Insurance
1-5 Civil Liability
1-6 Additional Health Coverage Provisions
2 Obtaining Health Care
2-1 Doctors
2-2 Hospitals
2-3 Reimbursement Of Health Costs
2-4 Duty Pharmacists
3 Prevention
3-1 Counselling Centres
3-2 Family Planning And Counselling Centres (Cpef)
3-3 Community Associations

Accommodation In Lyon (PDF 528 Ko)
1 Choosing Accommodation
1-1. The Standard Rental Market
1-2. Residential Accommodation
1-3. Hotels
1-4. Other Possibilities
2 Before You Move In
2-1. The Lease Or Contract
2-2. The Inventory
2-3. Guarantee And Deposit
2-4. Housing Allowances And Benefits

Banking And Money (PDF 216 Ko)
1 Opening A Bank Account
2 The Banking System
3 Taxes
4 Retirement

Coming With Your Family (PDF 152 Ko)
1 Administrative Procedures
1-1 Visa And Residence Permit
1-2 Family Allowance
1-3 Family Insurance
2 Children
2-1 Child Care Facilities
2-2 Schools
2-3 International Schools
2-4 Out Of School Activities
3 A Job For Your Spouse
3-1 Signing On As A Jobseeker
3-2 Useful Addresses

Everyday Life In Lyon (PDF 332 Ko)
1 Eating, Drinking, Shopping For Food
1-1 University Restaurants
1-2 Cafeterias
1-3 Shopping For Food
2 Getting About
2-1 Bus, Metro, Tram
2-2 Train
2-3 Car
2-4 Plane
2-5 An Automobile Alternative
3 Telecommunications
3-1 Getting The Phone Connected
3-2 The Postal Service

Cultural Life In Lyon (PDF 944 Ko)
1 Lyon, World Heritage City
1-1 Architecture
1-2 Museums And Sightseeing
1-3 Art And Theatre
2 Lifestyle
2-1 Lyon: A Great Place To Eat
2-2 Lyon, City Of Markets
2-3 Parks And Gardens
2-4 Between Rhône And Saône
2-5 Lyon: Heart Of The Rhône-Alpes Region

Fitting In, Getting Involved (PDF 352 Ko)
1 Campus Associations And Clubs
1-1 Arrival On Campus
1-2 Handicap Units
2 Improving Your French
3 Sport
4 Lectures And Discussion Venues
5 Helping Hand Organisations
6 Community Associations And
Cultural Institutes
7 Hosting And Other Assistance