Short programs designed for international students
Faire défiler la pageImmerse yourself in the heart of France — the world’s cradle of gastronomy and art de vivre — with our short programs (Alliance Summer Program) designed for international students. Enjoy a unique experience that combines hands-on culinary practice, academic learning, and cultural immersion. Guided by our world-renowned chefs and experts, you will discover French excellence in an exceptional environment on the Institut Lyfe campus, just outside Lyon.
Experience the excellence of French Gastronomy and Hospitality
Designed for international students with 2 to 4 years of undergraduate studies in Culinary Arts or Hospitality, our short programs (from 3 to 10 weeks) offer total immersion in the very best of French culinary and hospitality excellence. You will have the opportunity to learn in small, multicultural groups, develop your technical skills, and enjoy a unique cultural experience in Lyon, France.
Two programs are available:
Summer Program: a professional immersion in excellence
A close-knit international community
At Institut Lyfe, you will join students from all over the world from our Alliance international network and share in the school’s unique spirit. You will thrive within a multicultural, supportive community where diversity and collaboration fuel creativity.
A prestigious campus designed for experience
Our 17,000 m² campus set within two historic châteaux is a true learning and creative playground. You will discover:
- our application restaurants, where every dish is an opportunity to practise and innovate,
- our state-of-the-art culinary and pastry labs to experiment and refine your techniques,
- our hotel and wine service spaces to learn the management and service standards of excellence.
Here, you will live and breathe excellence, gastronomy, and hospitality every day, in real professional conditions.
Short Program in Culinary Arts
Duration: 10 weeks, i.e. 300 hours (22 ECTS credits)
Dates: 10 May to 18 July 2026
Language of instruction: English
Required qualification: at least two years of undergraduate studies in Culinary Arts; B1 level in English
Applications: Apply online
Fee for external students: €10,500 (accommodation and half-board included)
Fee for Alliance network member students: €7,000 (accommodation and half-board included)
A full immersion in the professional world
This program brings you to the source of gastronomy and offers a total immersion in French culinary excellence in small groups and in direct contact with renowned professional chefs.
Courses for the Culinary Arts Summer Program are taught by Institut Lyfe chefs in our labs, kitchens, and application restaurants.
Curriculum includes:
- 4 modules in advanced French culinary techniques
- 1 module in French Pastry
- 1 module of French Bakery (taught by 2024 World Bakery Champion Xavier Sacriste)
- 1 module of culinary event challenge
- 1 module of restaurant immersion
Apply for the Culinary Arts Summer Program
Or contact our team for more information: summer-alliance@institutlyfe.com
Culinary event challenges
As a student of the Summer Program in Culinary Arts, you will be immersed in gastronomic culture through field visits and will take part in hands-on projects to organise and oversee an event, putting your skills into practice.
World Cuisine Buffet: celebrating international culinary diversity
As part of the short program in Culinary Arts, students will design and prepare a buffet for 50 guests, reinventing signature dishes from their home countries with a modern, sustainable, and creative approach. This project showcases cultural exchange and culinary diversity, while highlighting the techniques, products, and flavours unique to each culinary identity. A wonderful opportunity to celebrate world cuisine through innovation and collaboration.
“The Summer Program at the Institut was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. It changed the way I see cuisine and gastronomy.
We learned so much in the kitchen, but my best memories are the moments spent discovering and cooking the specialities of the other students in the program.” Tim Mohon (Chef John Folse Culinary Institute)
Lyon Street Food Festival
You will have the exceptional opportunity to take part in the Lyon Street Food Festival, Europe’s unmissable street-food event that brings together more than 120 French and international chefs. You will contribute to recipe preparation, kitchen production, service, and stand set-up. This truly immersive experience reveals the behind-the-scenes of a major culinary festival and helps you build skills in real-world conditions.
Discover student testimonials from the Culinary Arts Summer Program
Short Program in Hospitality Management
Duration: 3 weeks, i.e. 80 hours (5 ECTS credits)
Dates: 29 June to 18 July 2026
Language of instruction: English
Required qualification: at least two years of undergraduate studies in Hospitality; B1 level in English
Applications: apply online
Fee for external students: €4,500 (accommodation and half-board included)
Fee for Alliance network member students: €3,500 (accommodation and half-board included)
Our Hospitality Summer Program
Over an intensive 3-week program, experience an exceptional immersion at the heart of French hospitality and discover how tradition and innovation work together to create outstanding guest experiences.
Delivered entirely in English, the program combines academic courses, experiential workshops, and field trips to emblematic establishments: luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, wine estates…
Curriculum includes:
- Luxury Hospitality & CSR
- Luxury Onboard hospitality
- History and culture of beverages — with and without alcohol
- Tasting Protocols
Apply for the Hospitality Management Summer Program
Or contact our team for more information: summer-alliance@institutlyfe.com
Why choose Institut Lyfe’s international short programs?
Joining Institut Lyfe’s Summer Programs means experiencing a fully immersive journey at the heart of a world-class campus. Students benefit from high-end facilities and English-taught courses led by renowned chefs and experts. The programs combine culinary learning with the discovery of French culture through exclusive visits. Everything is included — accommodation, meals, and support — for a formative, friendly, and unforgettable experience in Lyon, the world capital of gastronomy.
Contact our team for more information
Apply for the Culinary Arts Summer Program
Apply for the Hospitality Management Summer Program