ESDES is the business school of the Catholic University of Lyon, and it teaches in a converted prison. The Saint-Paul campus next to Perrache station was once the city's jail and reopened as a university site in 2015. Ethics and corporate social responsibility sit at the centre of the programmes, from the bachelor to the Grande École master's.
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Official website: esdes.fr
Private business school
Université Catholique de Lyon
Saint-Paul, Lyon
€9,000 – €13,000
Non-EU students, bachelor's and master's programmes
€10,500 – €13,500
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on esdes.fr before you apply.
Master in Management (Grande École)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 85
MSc International Business
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 85
MSc Sustainable Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 85
Bachelor in Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 75
Classes in a former prison turned university campus.
Ethics and sustainability built into every programme.
A central site between Perrache station and Confluence.
Graduates join banks, audit firms and retailers in Lyon and Paris.
Some move into CSR and sustainability roles in larger companies.
Non-EU master's graduates can apply for a French job-search residence permit.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Saint-Paul sits beside Perrache station, with trams and the metro at the door and the Confluence shops a short walk south.
Lyon costs less than Paris and has two rivers, the old streets of Vieux Lyon and a large student population.
Admission letter from the institution
Campus France Études en France procedure
Proof of about EUR 615 monthly funds
Proof of accommodation in France
Travel health insurance for arrival
Valid passport and VLS-TS visa form
ESDES admits in several rounds between autumn and early summer. Non-EU applicants should apply by spring to leave time for Campus France and the visa.
Programmes start in September.
A long-stay student visa (VLS-TS). For most nationalities the process starts on Campus France's Études en France platform, then moves to the consulate with proof of funds and accommodation.
The Grande École programme, the international business and sustainable finance MSc courses and the bachelor are popular. Master's entry needs a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5; the bachelor needs school results and IELTS 6.0.
ESDES offers some merit awards for international students, and the Catholic University of Lyon lists further grants. Ask admissions what applies to you.
