Villa Albertine 
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
#7 in World Ranking of Best Small Universities
#1 in France
Source: THE 2024
The École Normale Supérieure (ENS) de Lyon is a French grande école located in the city of Lyon. It is one of the four prestigious écoles normales supérieures in France. The school is composed of two academic units — Arts and Sciences — with campuses near the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.
Ranked 7th in THE World Ranking of Best Small Universities, this highly selective, research-intensive school offers master’s and doctoral programs in STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Approximately 450 out of the school’s 2,400 students are doctoral students, and among those, 120 are international. ENS de Lyon focuses on a cross-disciplinary approach at the intersection of social sciences and STEM to effectively address major contemporary issues of governance, such as climate change, inequalities, access to health and education, as well as to
prepare for careers in higher education and research.ENS de Lyon has 12 teaching departments and 30 research units, a world-class library, and benefits from strong research partnerships at the metropolitan level, in France, Europe and beyond.
Eligible Programs for Lafayette Fellows
ENS’ academic programs include 40 Master’s degrees. Explore the university’s program fully taught in English here (mainly STEM programs).
All ENS de Lyon’s Master’s degrees except the following: Master’s FEADéP (agregation preparation), Humanités numériques, Didactique des sciences expérimentales et des mathématiques, M2 Biosciences santé, M1 Sciences de la vie, sciences de la Terre et de l’univers, and M1 Mathématiques avancées.
In the field of HSS (programs in French), ENS de Lyon is renowned for its dynamic Master’s in Economics, taught entirely in English and open to international students. Programs in Classics, Sociology (in French) — supported by one of the leading sociology research centers in France, the Max Weber Center — and History are also highly regarded. The Master’s program ASIOC benefits from the scientific expertise of the Institute of East Asian Studies, a leading CNRS research laboratory. Finally, ENS de Lyon has long been a leading French center for the study of the Arab world, and one of ENS de Lyon’s master’s programs draws on the expertise of numerous research groups in this field.
Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, and Physics
Art Studies, Economics, Literature, History, Humanities, Philosophy, and Social Sciences
Admissions Information
Applications for ENS de Lyon run from November to January (results announced in March).
Reminder: The awarding of the Lafayette Fellowship is conditional upon admission to one of the eligible partner institutions. Applicants must complete both the Lafayette Fellowship application and apply to at least one program at one of the partner institutions.
Campus Life
ENS de Lyon has earned the prestigious 3-star “Bienvenue en France” label, the highest level, in recognition of its outstanding efforts to welcome international students—an accolade renewed in 2025. The school hosts a « Discovery and Integration Week » every year in late August, offering support upon arrival, French language classes from A1 to B2, administrative guidance, campus tours, cultural activities, and opportunities to meet fellow students and staff. The ASSET association (Association for International Students) also plays a key role—helping newcomers with formalities and organizing social events throughout the year.
Click here to learn more about campus life and student support services at ENS de Lyon.
ENS de Lyon comprises two main campuses—the Monod campus (Sciences) and the Descartes campus (Humanities and Social Sciences)—both located in Lyon’s vibrant Gerland district. The Monod site, accessible via the Debourg and Stade de Gerland metro stations, hosts scientific buildings and the school’s library. The Descartes campus includes lecture halls, research facilities, administrative offices, and the iconic Forum Félix Pécaut, all surrounding a biodiverse “evolving garden” created by renowned landscape architect Gilles Clément.
Campus life is rich and dynamic, with numerous student associations spanning culture, arts, sports, and humanitarian initiatives. Facilities include a student restaurant, library, IT services, sports facilities (such as a gym, tennis court, dance and sparring rooms), and much more. Lyon itself, a UNESCO World Heritage city, combines a high quality of life with strong economic and cultural vibrancy, making it one of France’s most attractive academic and urban environments.
