Global E3: INSA Lyon, France

Overview: 

Spend a semester studying engineering in Lyon, France!

Located within the Science and Technological Park of la Doua in Villeurbanne, the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées, Lyon (INSA Lyon) is ranked among the top universities of science and technology in Europe.

This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. INSA Lyon and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).  For more information about the university, see the Global E3 INSA Lyon specific page and the INSA Lyon exchange specific website   

Accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year.

Language of instruction is French. Some courses are offered in English.

In FALL semester ONLY, there is also the  Information Science & Technology Semester (IST) offered; courses are taught entirely in English. 

Fact sheet: 
PDF icon Click here to download. (5.38 MB)
Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop: 

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment. 
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path. 
  • a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in France.

 

Partner Information: 

In-coming Exchange Student Staff: Registrar’s Office
Contact: Magdalena CORNECI – welcome@insa-lyon.fr / welcome1@insa-lyon.fr
Mailing Address
Service de la Scolarité
bâtiment Camille Claudel
8 allée du Rhône
69621 Villeurbanne CEDEX
France

Location Description: 

Located at the confluence of the Saône and the Rhône, Lyon has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Situated in the heart of Europe, Lyon is steeped in history and culture. The former capital of the Gauls, Lyon has witnessed  2000 years of continuous history. Its remarkable heritage is enriched with signature buildings by contemporary architects such as Renzo Piano, Jean Nouvel, and Santiago Calatrava.
The second-largest city in France, Lyon is home to over 1.2 million people, including over 120,000 students. It boasts a rich industrial network of many large companies, making it a powerful center of international communication.

Housing Description: 

INSA Lyon offers housing. Each student receives an application pack containing an accommodation reservation form which must be returned to INSA Lyon before the date shown on the document. More information can be found on the resident management office website.  Please refer to the Global E3 INSA-Lyon website for information.

 

Academic Description: 

Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.  We suggest you review courses available with your academic advisor prior to applying to the program. 

 

Academic Departments: 

Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings and check the GE3 website for general course information. The following disciplines are available: 

  • Biochemistry and Biotechnologies
  • Bioinformatics and Modelling
  • Civil Engineering and Urbanism
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Energetics and Environmental Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Information Technology & Computer Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering and Plasturgy Processes
  • Mechanical Engineering Design
  • Mechanical Engineering Development

In FALL semester ONLY, (Septmber through December) there is also the  Information Science & Technology Semester (IST) offered; courses are taught entirely in English. 

 
Minimum Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students 
  • Sophomore standing or higher 
  • Global E3 page might have some additional requirements, please review

 

Of note: 

  • All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office. 
  • Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.   
  • Courses taken at INSA Lyon will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university. 
  • Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency

 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Engineering
University Course Catalog: 
recent course catalog
Grading: 

In order to gain Pitt credit, you must receive a C or higher for each course you will transfer back to Pitt for credit. 
Information about the grading scale abroad can be found on the Global E3 page. 
Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. 
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
 

Experiential Learning Description: 

N/A

Program Fees: 

Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.

Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad.

 

Items Billed by Pitt

 

 Tuition: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs:https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 

 Program Fee: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 
 
Study Abroad Fee $400 
 
Total Billed by Pitt: Estimate your Pitt expenses based on current tuition and fees.
 
 
How Much To Budget: 

For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

  • the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
  • PittFund$Me  for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
  • PittFund$Me  for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!

 

 

 

 

Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at INSA-LYON for either spring or a full academic year (two full semesters). INSA-LYON’s calendar may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, INSA-LYON’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. Typically, INSA-LYON’s Autumn Semester is September to January & Spring Semester is February to June. The IST semester with courses taught entirely in English runs for 12 weeks from mid-September to December. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Application Instructions: 

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to INSA-Lyon through the Global E3 exchange. You must first be accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering International Initiatives Office, then you will be directed to apply to Global E3. (Typically SSoE application deadlines are late September for Spring and early February for Fall.) A formal nomination from SSoE Engineering International Initiatives  is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at INSA-Lyon. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to INSA-Lyon's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Engineering International Initiatives does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  

Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been October 1st for spring semester programs and March 1st for fall semester programs.) 
 

Each university might have an additional application.  Please refer to the Global E3 INSA-Lyon specific website for details.  
Please contact Dr. Kristine Lalley for more information on Fall 2020 and Full Year 2020 openings for this program.
Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students 
  • Sophomore standing or higher 

 

Additional Information: 

Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website. 

 

Insurance Requirements: 

The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

For those without the host country’s nationality, students may need to obtain a student visa to study on this exchange. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.  
 

In general visa application requirements may include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)

 

You're seeing student-submitted photos from France. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!