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.
Three programs are available:
- a 3-week short program in Hospitality Management
- a 10-week short program in Culinary Arts
- a 2-week short program in French & Italian Gastronomy
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 Hospitality Management
Duration: 3 weeks, i.e. 80 hours (5 ECTS credits)
Dates: 26 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: €4,400 (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
Short Program in Culinary Arts
Duration: 10 weeks, i.e. 300 hours (22 ECTS credits)
Dates: session ended for this year
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
CAST Summer Program “The Arts in French & Italian Gastronomy”
Duration: 2 weeks (approx. 60 teaching hours)
Dates: 19 July – 1 August 2026
Language of instruction: English
Required qualification: Students in culinary and hospitality programs, English level B1 minimum
Applications: Apply online
Fee for external students:€2,240
Alliance member fee : €2,100
Immerse yourself in two of the world’s greatest gastronomic cultures with the Summer School co-organised by Institut Lyfe and CAST – Italian Institute of Culinary Arts & Hospitality.
Designed as a unique international experience, this two-week programme invites you to take part in a cross-cultural educational journey in France and Italy—two cultural birthplaces of culinary arts and hospitality. Combining hands-on culinary training, cultural immersion, and international exposure, you will develop a global outlook on the culinary arts.
Two countries, two gastronomic cultures
Over two weeks, you will evolve in professional conditions alongside expert chefs, alternating practical workshops, tastings, and cultural exploration.
The first part of the programme takes place in Lyon, France. At Institut Lyfe’s campus, you will take part in practical workshops guided by expert chefs and discover iconic French products, including cheese and wine tastings. The experience also includes a one-day field trip to Lyon to explore local markets, culinary boutiques, and a traditional restaurant.
The programme then continues in Brescia, Italy, at CAST. Through hands-on lessons in professional laboratories, you will explore regional Italian cuisine and discover iconic Italian products such as fresh pasta and traditional preparation methods. The curriculum evolves from fundamental skills to more refined techniques, allowing you to develop both technical expertise and a deeper understanding of culinary culture.
A formative experience
Delivered in English, this programme is designed for students in culinary arts or hospitality seeking an immersive experience in Europe.
Upon completion, a Certificate of Participation will be awarded, recognising your involvement and the skills developed throughout the programme.
Would you like to discover French and Italian gastronomic cultures through an immersive experience in two renowned institutions?
Would you like to learn more about the programme, application process, or receive the brochure? Please contact our dedicated team at: sbellon@institutlyfe.com
For Non-EU applicants: the visa application process may require approximately 30–45 days. Candidates are advised to plan accordingly and initiate documentation at the earliest to avoid delays.
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