The Université de Lyon is a consortium of higher education and research institutions (COMUE: Communauté d’universités et établissements) located within the two neighboring cities of Lyon and Saint-Étienne. The Université de Lyon is the main French higher education and scientific center outside the Parisian area composed of 4 public universities, 7 grandes écoles and the CNRS (the French National Center for Scientific Research), forming a group of 12 members institutions. The Université de Lyon also assembles 19 associated institutions offering specific disciplinary training programs. Altogether, the Université de Lyon regroups 137,600 students and 168 public laboratories.

The Université de Lyon implements and manages large strategic projects with the regional authorities (Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Métropole de Lyon, Saint-Étienne Métropole) as well as a large network of public and private companies.

The Université de Lyon builds its international recognition on the great quality of its faculty members, research teams and teaching departments in various disciplines and more particularly in three strategic domains:

Bio health and Society
Science and Engineering for Sustainable Society
Urbanity and Humanities

In cooperation with its network of member and associated institutions, the Université de Lyon implements joint-research centers, offers high-quality targeted internships programs and organizes scientific and academic symposiums. It also coordinates PhD programs for the 17 doctoral schools and fosters strategic international partnerships.

The Université de Lyon works as a powerful brand promoting its institutions, academic communities, institutional partners, as well as the Lyon Saint-Étienne area in the same way as renowned international university brands.