France · Master's
Vatel Lyon
MBA in International Hotel Management
Vatel Lyon
Course Overview
Vatel Lyon is the founding campus and headquarters of the Vatel International Business School of Hotel and Tourism Management — established 1981, the world's largest hospitality school by network (51 campuses across 35 countries) and consistently ranked among the world's top 5 hospitality business schools (Eduniversal Best Masters Rankings, TNS Sofres surveys). Vatel Lyon is the original Vatel campus and the Vatel International HQ — the school owns the Hotel Le Royal Lyon (5-star Sofitel-flagged property in central Lyon), where students undertake their operational training and live as paying boarders in their first year. The 2-year MBA combines academic coursework in hospitality strategy, finance, revenue management, luxury brand management, and hotel real estate with TWO 6-month paid industry internships at Vatel partner properties globally (Accor's luxury division, IHG, Marriott Luxury Collection, plus Vatel's hotel network).
Sri Lankan applicants from Hospitality, Business, Tourism, or related backgrounds (NSBM, BMS Edexcel pathway, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, SLIIT Business, ICBT, IIHT) target Vatel Lyon for the combination of practitioner-focused curriculum, strong Accor / IHG / Marriott pipeline, and accessible French pricing (LKR 5.52M/year — competitive with UK and Australian fees). France offers the APS visa (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) — 12 months of post-study work search for Master's-level graduates — plus the EU Talent Passport for sponsored employment at €40,000+/year. Lyon is France's second-largest hospitality hub after Paris and a major gastronomy capital.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Bachelor's (Hons) in Hospitality, Tourism, Business, Management, or related discipline — GPA 2.8+ / Second Lower minimum (Second Upper preferred for competitive admission).
- check_circle Sri Lankan local degrees from NSBM, BMS, SLIIT, ICBT, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, IIHT Colombo, Sabaragamuwa Hospitality all accepted with Second Upper or higher.
- check_circle Applicants from non-hospitality backgrounds accepted with 1+ year of hospitality / hotel / restaurant / event work experience.
- check_circle Motivation Letter (1-2 pages) on hospitality career trajectory and intended specialisation.
- check_circle Updated CV with prior work / internship history.
- check_circle Two academic / professional references.
- check_circle Vatel admissions interview (online for international candidates).
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.0 Overall (min 5.5 in each section).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 78 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English B2 First / C1 Advanced.
- check_circle Vatel Internal English Test (Vatel English Placement Test) — alternative for some applicants.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English at a recognised institution (most Sri Lankan applicants from NSBM, BMS, SLIIT, ICBT, IIHT qualify with an MOI letter).
- check_circle French language: not required for academic admission (the MBA is delivered in English); French A1-A2 strongly recommended for industry placement in France.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | €16,000 | Rs. 5,520,000 |
| Living Expenses in Lyon (per year) | €11,800 | Rs. 4,071,000 |
| Health Insurance (mandatory, per year) | €220 | Rs. 75,900 |
| Student Visa & VLS-TS Residence Card | €500 | Rs. 172,500 |
| Uniforms, Practical Materials & Travel | €2,000 | Rs. 690,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (2 years, offset by ~€8-12k paid-internship income) | €60,040 | Rs. 20,713,800 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for France's APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) — 12 months of post-study work search rights for Master's graduates, leading to the Talent Passport (€40,000+/year qualifying salary) or the regular Salaried Employee visa. Vatel Lyon MBA graduates are heavily recruited into Accor (the world's largest non-US hotel group, French HQ — Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, Fairmont, Raffles, Banyan Tree partnership), IHG, Marriott International (Voyage Programme — French and EMEA properties), Hilton France, Hyatt Paris/Nice, Four Seasons Paris / Megève, Aman Resorts Le Mélézin, Mandarin Oriental Paris, plus French luxury heritage hotels (Le Meurice Dorchester Paris, Hôtel de Crillon Rosewood, George V Four Seasons). Median French starting salary €38,000-50,000 (LKR 13.1M-17.25M/yr); senior management €70,000-110,000. Sri Lankan returnees take rapid-progression management posts at Cinnamon Hotels (Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lakeside, Cinnamon Wild Yala), Jetwing (Jetwing Lighthouse, Jetwing Beach), Aitken Spence (Heritance Kandalama, Tea Trails), John Keells Hotels (Cinnamon brand), Anantara Tangalle, Six Senses, Soneva, plus airline hospitality (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad — Sri Lanka regional offices).
Related Programs
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