INSA Lyon was created in 1957 by the philosopher Gaston Berger and Jean Capelle, and its campus stands at La Doua in Villeurbanne, on the edge of Lyon. The school belongs to the INSA group of French engineering schools and trains engineers who graduate in one of nine engineering specialities.
The core of the teaching is a five-year engineering programme open to students straight after the baccalauréat. Study is complemented by doctoral training, and the school’s own presentation counts about 600 doctoral students.
Research is carried out in laboratories attached to the school, and its engineering specialities link to areas such as mechanical engineering, computer science and materials science. Prospective students and researchers can find current admission routes, programme descriptions and international options on the official INSA Lyon website.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics, Transportations
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Flagship of the INSA Group. Numerous international dual degrees and research collaborations. Strong industry partnerships.
Research:
Advanced materials and nanotechnologies, Bioengineering and health, Energy for sustainable development, Digital information and society, Urban engineering and environment.
Famous Alumnis:
Bertrand Piccard (exchange student)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1800
Current students***:
6500
Foreign students***:
30%
Cumulative former students***:
60000
Pros
Leading engineering school with a wide range of specializations, strong research output, large international student body, vibrant campus life.
Cons
Highly selective, large institution, some departments are very specialized.
Best For
Top French engineering school offering a broad range of specializations and strong research programs.
École Centrale de Lyon is the closest comparison by location and covers General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Acoustics.
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 shares the Villeurbanne area and teaches Chemistry & Materials Science and Computer Science & Engineering.
Grenoble INP - Institut d'ingénierie et de management is another regional engineering group, with Nanosciences & Microelectronics and Energy & Environment.
Université de Lorraine adds Materials Science & Engineering and Computer Science & Automation.
École des Ponts ParisTech focuses on Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Science & Engineering.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen in Germany offers Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Politecnico di Torino in Italy stands out for Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and ICT.
Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden works in Nanotechnology, Materials Science and Sustainable Energy.
Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea is a technical university for Materials, Mechanical Engineering and Physics.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Who founded INSA Lyon and when?
It was created in 1957 by the philosopher Gaston Berger and Jean Capelle. It is part of the INSA group of engineering schools in France.
Where is the campus?
The school is on the La Doua campus in Villeurbanne, a town next to Lyon. Visitors and applicants should check the official website for access information.
How long is the engineering course?
The main programme lasts five years after the baccalauréat. Students then graduate in one of nine engineering specialities.
Does INSA Lyon offer doctoral study?
Yes. The school's own presentation counts about 600 doctoral students, and research is organised in laboratories attached to the school.
What type of institution is INSA Lyon?
It is a French public engineering school rather than a general university. Its curriculum is built around the five-year engineering diploma.
Where can I find admission details?
The official website describes admission routes and programmes for French and international applicants. Requirements differ according to the level of study, so applicants should read the current pages before applying.
Additive Manufacturing, Bioengineering, Digital Twin, Energy, Innovation, Materials, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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