Admission and apply
How do I apply to Institut LYFE?
Students who have obtained or are preparing for the French baccalaureate and wish to join one of our Bachelor’s programmes in the first year at the start of the academic year in September must submit their application via the Parcoursup platform in accordance with the government timetable set each year. This is a requirement, as the qualifications awarded by the Institut Lyfe are accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research
In all other cases (students holding a foreign baccalaureate, parallel admission into the second or third year, Master’s degree/MSc, fourth-year Bachelor’s specialisation, etc.), registration is done directly via the ‘Apply’ form on our website.
Are there any specific subjects I should focus on in high school to support my application to Institut LYFE after the baccalaureate (or international equivalent)?
The Institut Lyfe Bachelor programmes are open to all holders of a baccalaureate (or international equivalent) qualification, irrespective of the specialisations taken at high school (in the final 2 years).
I am taking a mainstream baccalaureate (or international equivalent) and have never worked in the sector, is this a handicap?
No, to apply for a Bachelor’s degree, you must have either a mainstream baccalaureate, a technological baccalaureate or a vocational baccalaureate qualification (or their international equivalent).
For overseas applicants, you must have a qualification that is officially recognised as equivalent to the French baccalaureate.
The fact that you don’t have any previous experience in the hospitality or culinary arts professions will not penalise your application. Any experiences that demonstrate your interpersonal skills, your creativity and your people skills will be seen as positive (involvement in clubs and societies, sports activities, responsibilities at high school, etc.).
Do you have to have a background in hospitality, food service, culinary arts or pastry cooking to apply?
Come as you are, we are open to all types of school-leaving qualifications. Although more than 70% of our students come from a general educational background, technical and professional profiles always figure prominently in our recruitments and do well at Institut Lyfe.
Do the bachelor’s degree programmes at the Institut Lyfe offer work-study schemes?
No, our programmes are available as full-time courses only. Throughout your course, you will take part in practical work placements that allow you to gain hands-on experience. You will also undertake work placements every year, usually abroad.
How are the admission tests organised?
The admission procedures are indicated on each individual programme page, which you can find on our website. Details of the procedures, as well as the financial and registration conditions, will be sent to you when you request a brochure on the website.
How are the written tests at Institut Lyfe conducted?
The written tests take place on campus for all candidates living in mainland France. If a candidate can provide a valid reason or demonstrate force majeure circumstances, they will be excused and allowed to take the tests remotely. The aim is to give students who have listed Institut Lyfe among their Parcoursup choices the opportunity to discover our campus and facilities.
Applicants from abroad and the French Overseas Territories will take the written tests remotely. They are, of course, welcome to visit us if they wish to make the trip!
What are the selection criteria used during the admissions interview?
The selection is based on the applicant’s academic ability and motivation to pursue higher education, as well as whether their personality will enable them to be fulfilled during their studies at Institut Lyfe and in the hospitality, food service or culinary arts sectors. The selection panel’s role is to discover who you are and to pinpoint your qualities. Above all, it is a question of assessing the match between your personality, your projects and the School’s educational programme.
How are motivation interviews conducted, whether through Parcoursup or outside Parcoursup?
All Parcoursup and non-Parcoursup interviews are conducted remotely. A dedicated platform has been set up. Interviews last between 20 and 30 minutes, during which we discuss your motivations, your plans and your background.
Written tests take place on our campus, giving you the opportunity to (re)discover your future school.
Are placements, summer jobs or language stays taken into account when considering my application?
Anything you may have done in terms of professional experience, even for a short period of time, such as language courses, for example, is of interest to the selection panel.
What should I highlight in my motivation letter and my CV on Parcoursup?
The motivation letter allows you to explain your choice to pursue a specialised programme: why you believe you are suited to this field, why you have chosen to study at Institut Lyfe, the qualities that will enable you to succeed in the programme, and how your background aligns with your academic and career goals.
If you are applying via Parcoursup, you will be required to write your motivation letter. Preparation sessions are organised, and we also offer one-to-one appointments.
Themed virtual Q&A sessions are regularly held to support and guide you throughout the process.
What is prioritised when assessing my application to join a Bachelor’s programme at Institut Lyfe?
When reviewing your application, all your high school reports are taken into account: grades, teachers’ comments, attendance, and overall consistency. However, all candidates who have confirmed a choice on Parcoursup will be invited to an interview.
The evaluation criteria and their level of importance, depending on the programme, are detailed on Parcoursup.
Is it necessary to have had some professional work experience in the professions taught at Institut Lyfe?
We would recommend you do, but it’s not a formal requirement. It does help confirm your career direction, and we can even put you in touch with our network to do a work placement during the school holidays.
When are admission results announced?
Parcoursup institutions must comply with the platform’s official timeline. The main admission phase begins on May 30, when results are released. Applicants will find out whether they have been admitted, placed on a waiting list, or rejected.
If admitted, they will then receive an email from us inviting them to begin the enrolment process for the September intake.
What is the age limit for applying?
26 years old, beyond that our continuing education department is there to help you.
When your course is also available in English, is it the same programme?
The programme is strictly the same because the same qualification is awarded at the end. It is recommended to choose the English course when you have a good command of the language, as the workload does not allow you to improve if your level is too low. For these courses, the admission interviews are in English.
By choosing a school such as yours, don’t I run the risk of being locked into a sector without being able to get out?
Quite the opposite, the skills and knowledge acquired not only guarantee you employability in a sector offering huge opportunities, but can also be directly used in other professions. Our students are customer-focused, culturally aware, persuasive, creative, able to work under pressure, presentable, team players, emotionally controlled, resilient and always curious to learn.
Other institutions offer courses similar to yours, how do I choose?
Only courses delivering qualifications approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research are accessible via Parcoursup. This is a guarantee of quality and excellence. We are aware of the commercial pressure that you may be under from other courses that are not subject to the official academic calendar and we invite you to check them out as well to make up your own mind. Please note that these students often have to take a refresher course when they succeed in getting into our school. Similarly, we are the only school to offer both a large number and quality of work experience opportunities, immersive teaching methods and truly personalised support.
Our campus
Is it possible to visit the Institut Lyfe campus?
Yes, you can register for one of our Open Days to visit the campus, meet our academic teams and students, attend culinary demonstrations, and learn more about our programmes and financing options.
If you live abroad and are visiting France, our admissions team would be happy to arrange a private tour.
You can also explore our campus and facilities through our virtual tours.
Is it possible to take part in an immersion day at Institut Lyfe to experience a student’s daily life?
Yes, we organise immersion days, called “Vis ma Vie”, within our institution so that you can fully experience how the school operates by attending classes and interacting with our students.
To take part, you can contact our dedicated team to request an immersion day.
We also encourage you to attend one of our Open Days to discover our campus.
Why did Institut Paul Bocuse become Institut Lyfe?
To continue its path of excellence and shape the future in response to global challenges in the tourism and hospitality industries—and to meet the evolving expectations of new generations of students—Institut Paul Bocuse changed its name to Institut Lyfe in 2023. This new name is short, inclusive, and international.
Lyfe is an acronym for Lyon For:
- Excellence : The transmission of know-how, cultural heritage and the art of French hospitality at their highest levels of excellence through hard work, overcoming limitations, perseverance, respect and humility. Institut Lyfe for the future of tradition
- Education: A school that, over and above teaching, supports intellectual and moral development to allow each student to achieve autonomy and empowerment, to think for themselves and define their own path with a keen awareness of social and environmental issues. Institut Lyfe trains global citizens
- Exploration: A school that encourages each one of its students to explore the diversity of our professions, exceed their limits and dare to discover their creative abilities, revealing their talent and developing their entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. Institut Lyfe is a talent incubator
- Experience: More than a school, Institut Lyfe is a fully-fledged life experience, within an international community that shares common values and pride in belonging, a true school of life. Institut Lyfe embodies a global community at the service of the French art of living.
Internships and Career Opportunities
Does the school support students in finding internships?
Yes, our Corporate Relations Department, dedicated to your employability, along with our Talent Managers, support you in securing high-quality internships to build your professional future. In particular, this is made possible through our “Career Match” days—career events where dozens of leading companies recruit directly on campus.
Institut Lyfe also provides a dedicated platform offering quick access to internship and job opportunities from our 800 partner companies. More than 2,000 opportunities are carefully selected each year to meet our standards. However, students are expected to take an active role in their applications, as we encourage them to be fully engaged in shaping their own career paths.
Are there Professional Immersion periods (MESP) at Institut Lyfe?
Yes, this is one of our key pedagogical strengths, based on the principle of “learning by doing.”
At Institut Lyfe, the professional dimension of our programmes goes far beyond internships—it is fully integrated into your daily experience. Throughout your studies, you will regularly take part in real-life professional situations with actual guests, within our unique training facilities, such as the 5-star training hotel Le Royal in Place Bellecour in Lyon, our Michelin-starred training restaurant Saisons, the brasserie La Table, the experimental restaurant Expérience, and from 2026, the Pavyllon restaurant in partnership with Chef Yannick Alléno, as well as premium venues such as the Rose Garden bar.
Thanks to these immersive environments, you will develop both technical and managerial skills in real conditions, guided by top-level professionals. The integration of these immersion experiences throughout the programmes ensures progressive skill development. This provides you with valuable, hands-on experience alongside your internships, completed each year in France or abroad in prestigious establishments selected for their excellence and their ability to help you grow.
Will I easily find a job after graduating from Institut Lyfe?
Yes-often very quickly.
At Institut Lyfe, we train talents who are ready to enter the job market, take on responsibilities immediately if they wish, or launch their own entrepreneurial ventures.
Here are some key figures regarding our graduates’ employability:
- 98% of graduates find a job within 6 months
- 73% are hired on permanent contracts (CDI)
- 18% are pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions within 5 years
Throughout your journey, our Talent Managers provide personalised support to help you define a coherent career plan and successfully enter the professional world: coaching, internship search, interview preparation, development of soft skills sought by recruiters, and network building.
We also give students access to our extensive global alumni network, as well as contacts within our partner companies that regularly recruit our graduates.
What career opportunities are available after Institut Lyfe?
After Institut Lyfe, a wide range of career opportunities is open to you thanks to our unique educational approach, which combines professional expertise with managerial skills.
Our graduates thrive in prestigious establishments, launch their own businesses, or innovate in related sectors such as events and luxury. Discover the full range of careers and their responsibilities on our dedicated page.
Is there an Institut Lyfe alumni network?
Yes-and it is highly active worldwide. Institut Lyfe has a strong network of 6,000 alumni across more than 90 countries. You will have the opportunity to meet them during dedicated events such as “Instant Alumni” talks on campus, as well as career events like “Career Talks” and “Career Match.” Strong and lasting connections are built, keeping the Institut Lyfe spirit alive long after graduation.
In addition, Institut Lyfe has developed the Explore app for alumni, providing access to a directory of alumni establishments and a wide range of job and internship opportunities worldwide.
I will be under 18 in September, what about business placements?
There are two possibilities:
- If you are 18 next April, then you can do a business placement.
- If you are under 18 in April, then the placement will take place in one of our training centres.
Student Life
Are there orientation days at Institut Lyfe?
Yes, for first-year Bachelor students, we organise a full integration week filled with key highlights: uniform fittings, team challenges, visits to alumni establishments, a grand banquet, and an integration evening. More than just a welcome, it is the beginning of an experience that will shape your journey and your story. Discover the integration week in video.
Are there sports and extracurricular activities available?
Yes, at Institut Lyfe, we place great importance on student life and community engagement to strengthen cohesion and promote well-being. Sports, cultural conferences, inter-school events, and themed evenings allow you to pursue your passions while maintaining a healthy balance between academic work and leisure.
Are there student associations within the school?
Student life plays a key role at Institut Lyfe, fostering values of mutual support and solidarity that are essential for personal development. Several student associations are available on campus (student sports association, student union, charity association, wine club, etc.).
We also encourage students to get involved by creating their own association or actively participating in existing ones.
What is the balance between practical and theoretical classes?
Depending on the Bachelor’s degree taken, the academic element represents between 55% and 70% of the teaching, over the 3 or 4 years of study.
International
Is it possible to study abroad during the programme?
Yes, the international dimension is a core part of Institut Lyfe’s DNA. Whether through internships or exchange programmes with our partner schools and universities, you will complete a semester abroad during your Bachelor’s degree.
Our Master’s programmes are also internationally focused:
- The MSc in International Hospitality Management takes place across three cities: Lyon, Paris, and Las Vegas, on the campus of our partner, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
- The MSc in Culinary Leadership & Innovation is delivered in Lyon and Helsinki, Finland, on the campus of Haaga-Helia University.
- The MSc in Sustainable International Wine Tourism includes a mandatory 6-month international internship.
What are the application procedures for international students?
For students holding or preparing a non-French high school diploma equivalent to the baccalauréat, applications are submitted directly via our website.
Is there a specific integration programme for international students?
Yes, before the general integration week for all first-year students, two full days are dedicated to international students. This programme introduces them to the campus, the city of Lyon, and French culture.
Our Mobility / Student Affairs Office serves as the main point of contact for all questions related to student life in France.
Accommodation
How can I find accommodation?
The Institut Lyfe campus includes a student residence and has established partnerships with various housing providers to support students in finding accommodation. Please consult our different housing solutions.
How can I book a room in the Institut Lyfe student residence?
Once admitted, candidates are invited to begin the enrolment process. After completing the process and paying the registration fees, they will receive an enrolment certificate along with login details to book a room at Le Clipper, our student residence, if they wish.
Priority is given to first-year students coming from afar and to international students.
Tuition Fees and Financing
What is the cost of studying at Institut Lyfe?
Tuition fees vary depending on the programme: Bachelor’s or Master’s, as well as the duration (three or four years).
By downloading our brochure, you will receive full details. A student financing guide can also be provided.
Are there partnerships with banks for student loans?
Yes, thanks to its recognition by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, Institut Lyfe offers students access to preferential conditions with its banking partners, including competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms.
Making education accessible is one of our core priorities. Our Foundation also offers one of the most ambitious scholarship programmes in higher education.