The Eiffel Tower rising above Paris rooftops at sunset.

France September 2027 intake: applications close 30 April 2027 for full scholarship consideration (Round 1: 15 January 2027 has best odds)

emlyon Business School International Merit Scholarship

emlyon Business School offers International Merit Scholarships of 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% on tuition fees for non-EU international applicants to its flagship programmes — the Master in Management (Grande École), the various MSc Specialised Master's, and the MBA. emlyon's Master in Management is consistently ranked top 30 globally (FT) and the Specialised Master's in Finance is particularly highly regarded. Total programme tuition is approximately EUR 30,000-42,000 across the 2-year Master's. With a 50% scholarship, that's a saving of EUR 15,000-21,000 (LKR 5.2M-7.2M). emlyon has campuses in Lyon (France), Paris, Saint-Étienne, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Bhubaneswar — students can study across multiple campuses. Sri Lankan applicants with strong academic and professional profiles in finance, consulting, or general management are well-positioned.

emlyon Business School

University-funded

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Value

10% / 20% / 30% / 50% Tuition

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Duration

Full Master's (1-2 yrs)

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Application

Automatic at Admission

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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emlyon Programme Admission

You must be applying to or admitted to an eligible emlyon programme. Eligible: Master in Management (Grande École), MSc Finance, MSc Management, MSc Digital Marketing & Data Science, MSc International Hospitality Management, MBA, and specialised Master's.

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Non-EU Nationality

Open primarily to non-EU/EEA international students. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible. EU students may also be eligible for some emlyon merit awards but with different value structures.

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Strong Academic Profile

Top award tier (50%) typically requires a first-class Bachelor's degree with strong GMAT/GRE (GMAT 700+) or equivalent. Mid-tier (20-30%) for solid second-upper profiles with reasonable test scores. Lower tier (10%) more accessible but rarely changes affordability significantly.

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English Proficiency

Most emlyon Master's are taught in English. Required: IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 92+. Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees may qualify for an MOI-letter waiver. French is not required for academic purposes but free French classes are provided.

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Apply to emlyon by Round 1 (15 January)

Submit your emlyon Master's application via the online portal. Round 1 (15 January) has the best scholarship odds because the scholarship budget is uncommitted. Application fee EUR 95. Required: transcripts, motivation letter, CV, GMAT/GRE (recommended), IELTS/TOEFL, two references.

Interview round

Shortlisted candidates are invited to virtual interviews with emlyon admissions or alumni interviewers. Interviews are typically 30-45 minutes covering motivation, career goals, and fit with emlyon's entrepreneurial culture.

Automatic scholarship consideration

Admitted candidates are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships. The award tier is determined by holistic profile review — academic record, GMAT/GRE, interview, essays, and overall potential. Earlier rounds (R1) typically receive higher scholarship offers.

Acceptance + French student visa

Successful applicants accept the offer and scholarship via the emlyon portal and pay the (reduced) deposit. Use the offer letter + Campus France acceptance to apply for the French student visa (Type D Long-Stay) via VFS Colombo or directly at the French Embassy.

Why emlyon?

emlyon was founded in 1872 in Lyon, France's second-largest city. It is consistently ranked among Europe's top 20 business schools (Financial Times). emlyon's distinctive 'Maker' culture emphasises entrepreneurship — the school has incubated hundreds of startups via its emlyon makers' lab and Entrepreneurship Centre. Strong international footprint with campuses in Lyon, Paris, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Bhubaneswar. Sri Lankan emlyon alumni populate consulting, finance, and digital marketing roles across France, the UK, and Asia.