Aura is a fast-emerging private school in Lyon offering MBA and Executive MBA programs in Business Management and International Hospitality Management. Practitioner-taught. Internship-embedded. Schengen access. Affordable French education.
Aura's curriculum is built around a radical idea: classroom knowledge is only half the degree. The other half is gained inside real companies — through mandatory, structured, paid internships.
For African students, France offers a rare combination: world-class education, manageable costs, Schengen access, and real post-study work rights — all through one visa.
France offers significantly lower tuition and living costs compared to the UK, USA, or Australia — with accommodation in Lyon averaging €400–€600/month, often partly subsidised by the government.
€400–€600/month accommodationStudents in France can apply for a monthly rent subsidy from the CAF (Caisse d'Allocation Familiale). Eligible students can receive 35–50% of their rent back every month — a major financial advantage.
Up to 50% rent returned monthlyA French student visa opens 27 European countries. Internships, networking events, and career opportunities across the continent become accessible on a single visa.
27 countries, one visaFrance's APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) gives graduates 12 months to stay and seek employment or start a business after completing their degree — with full-time work rights.
12-month APS permitFrench law allows international students to work up to 964 hours per year (~20 hrs/week). Combined with mandatory paid internships, students can meaningfully offset their living costs.
~20 hours/week legallyFrance has one of the world's best student discount ecosystems — public transport, restaurants, museums, and events all have subsidised rates for international students with a student ID card.
Subsidised transport & foodLyon is France's second-largest economic hub, home to major industry clusters in pharma, biotech, finance, luxury, and digital technology. More accessible than Paris, with serious career infrastructure.
UNESCO-recognised for its gastronomy, Lyon is the birthplace of French cuisine culture — making it an exceptional base for Hospitality Management students to learn the craft in its real context.
Lyon offers the quality and opportunity of a major French city at significantly lower cost. Accommodation, food, transport, and daily life are all more affordable than the capital — without sacrificing access.
Lyon is centrally positioned — high-speed TGV trains to Paris (2 hours), Geneva (2 hours), and Marseille (1.5 hours). With Schengen access, you can reach most of Europe in a day.
Aura's entire model is built around the principle that theory without practice is incomplete. Every program is designed to produce professionals who arrive in the job market with actual experience, not just a certificate.
Half of every year at Aura is spent inside real companies. The program structure alternates between 6 months of academic study and 6 months of industry internship — every year, every program.
6 months/year in industryThe MBA in International Hospitality Management is located in Lyon — the world's gastronomic capital. Students study luxury hotel management and culinary arts in the city where French cuisine was born.
IHM & Culinary Arts tracksMBA graduates receive 120 ECTS credits — the European Credit Transfer System standard for Masters-level qualifications. Internationally portable and recognised across Europe and beyond.
EU credit frameworkThe 12-month Executive MBA is designed for professionals already in careers. Structured to accommodate working schedules, with the same internship component and international business focus.
12-month accelerated trackCross-cultural management, global strategy, international economics, and leadership development are central to every track. Aura prepares graduates specifically for international — not just local — careers.
IBM & IHM specialisationsLocated at 89 Rue de la Villette in Lyon's 3rd arrondissement — a central, well-connected district. The campus puts students inside the city's business ecosystem from day one.
69003 Lyon, FranceAll programs delivered in English. All include mandatory internships. Confirm exact tuition fees directly with Aura — contact [email protected] or visit aura-lyon.com.
Also available: Executive MBA in International Hospitality Management (EMBA-IHM) — 12-month accelerated program for hospitality professionals. Same structure: 6 months academic + 6 months industry internship. Contact [email protected] or visit aura-lyon.com → for full details and fees.
Tuition fees are not listed publicly. Contact Aura directly at [email protected] or download the brochure at aura-lyon.com →
Aura's alternating structure means you never spend more than 6 months away from real industry experience. Here's how a typical MBA year unfolds.
On-campus teaching in Lyon. Core business curriculum: strategy, economics, management, law, leadership. Intensive theoretical foundation.
6 months inside a real company. Minimum stipend €558/month. Aura helps place students. Practical experience counted toward your degree.
Back on campus. Advanced modules building on Year 1 theory and your internship experience. Cross-cultural management, international strategy.
Second 6-month internship. More senior role. 120 ECTS credits awarded on successful completion. Graduate with two internship stints on your CV.
Tuition fees are confirmed directly with Aura. Below is a realistic estimate of living costs in Lyon for international students — one of France's most affordable major cities.
Students in France can apply for monthly rent assistance from the CAF (Caisse d'Allocation Familiale). Eligible international students can receive 35–50% of their monthly rent reimbursed — a significant financial advantage not available in most other study destinations. Application is free. Terms and conditions apply.
* Living costs are estimates based on Lyon averages for international students. Tuition is confirmed directly with Aura at [email protected]. Internship stipend (minimum €558/month) offsets living costs during internship semesters.
GlobCred guides you through every stage — from your first eligibility check to your arrival in France.
Free check with a GlobCred advisor. We assess your academic background and which Aura program fits your goals
CV, Statement of Purpose, transcripts — GlobCred helps you build a strong application file for Aura's admissions team
Application submitted via Aura's CRM portal. Admissions team reviews your profile and may schedule an interview
Conditional or unconditional offer issued by Aura. Your formal entry point into the program
Confirm enrolment with the required deposit payment. Balance due per Aura's payment schedule
Campus France registration + VLS-TS long-stay student visa. Allow 8–12 weeks. GlobCred guides you through every document
Accommodation search, CAF application prep, arrival checklist — GlobCred's pre-departure briefing covers it all
Campus orientation, city onboarding, and the start of your MBA journey in one of France's greatest cities
After 6 months of study, Aura supports your placement into a French company. Your degree starts earning from Semester B
Central London campus at Euston Road. Face-to-face teaching, strong employability support, and a 2-year UK Graduate Visa on completion.
94% employment within 15 months. London, Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham. Practice-led MSc and MBA programs with an optional Professional Practice Year.
Aura's internship-embedded MBA gives you real experience while you study — in one of France's most dynamic cities. GlobCred gets you from application to arrival.