STUDYING IN FRANCE
France is a multicultural and open society, proud of its history and yet simultaneously looking to the future.
More than chic and sophisticated, the French are also known for their creativity, ideas and entrepreneurial spirit. Did you know that France holds the sixth position worldwide for the most international patents filed?
By studying at BSB in France, you will receive a top ranked education and experience our famous art de vivre – come see for yourself why the French lifestyle is renowned worldwide!
STEP INTO OUR THRIVING CULTURE
With one of the most prestigious cultural heritages in the world, France’s impact can be found in all areas of society including science, politics, economics, art, fashion, music and cuisine.
As a thriving hub of creative activity, you’ll experience an endless variety of festivals, concerts, museums, theatres, cinemas, street art, and more.
BOOST YOUR CAREER IN FRANCE
France is the world’s seventh largest economy and the European country with the best representation in the list of the top 100 most innovative companies.
Over 30 French companies are in the Fortune Global 500 ranking, and France is home to over 10 unicorn start-ups valued at more than USD 1 billion.
GET ACCESS TO A TOP-RANKED EDUCATION
The excellence of higher education in France is widely recognised throughout the world, with the “Grandes Ecoles” ranked at the top. These are highly selective business and engineering schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education.
BSB’s status as an elite “Grande Ecole” confirms our close links with the business community as well as the world of cutting-edge research.
LIVING ENVIRONMENT
One of the best business schools in France, BSB is a human-sized school, known for its student support and unique teaching methods.
The BSB campuses are distinctly urban. Located in the city centres of Dijon and Lyon, both are accessible by public transport or on foot, and are close to all amenities. Shops, restaurants and bars, museums, parks, sports clubs, libraries… coming to BSB is more than a simple semester abroad. It is a unique experience of life in BSB, in France, in the heart of Burgundy, in Dijon and Lyon.
Located 1:30 and 2 hours respectively by train from Paris, the cities of Dijon and Lyon are among the most dynamic metropolitan areas in France, only a few hours from the major European capitals.
GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
An ancient ducal city and the historic capital of Burgundy Franche-Comté, Dijon attracts nearly 3.5 million visitors from all over the world each year to admire its hidden treasures. Half-timbered houses, glazed tiles, 17th century hotels… Dijon benefits from a unique heritage and unequalled cultural vitality.
GASTRONOMY AND WINE
Romanée Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Montrachet, Corton, Gevrey Chambertin … the millenial vineyards and fine wines make Burgundy the most famous wine region in the world. They celebrate several centuries of culture with a passion for vines and wine.
At the gates of the historic city centre of Dijon and the beginning of the prestigious Route des Grands Crus, the International City of Gastronomy and Wine is the ideal starting place for discovering French gastronomy and the Burgundy vineyards:
- 2300m2 of permanent exhibitions dedicated to French fine dining and the importance of wine in the heritage
- 4200m2 of restaurants and commercial spaces dedicated to gastronomy, wine and tableware
ECONOMIC CONTEXT
Through a combination of a dynamic economic environment, renowned higher education and cutting-edge research, Dijon is a region where innovative projects are implemented and developed. Multinationals such as Unilever and large companies such as SEB and Urgo rub shoulders with SMEs with know-how and innovative start-ups. A leading region in the agro-food sector, Dijon Metropole has many players involved in building companies. Added to which, Dijon’s economic reach extends to a strong presence of business clusters, hubs and other incubators.
DIJON STUDENT CITY
With nearly 36,000 students and some 15 higher education institutions established in the region, Dijon is a real university city. It is classified as second city in France for the quality of student life (L’étudiant 2019) and the foremost city for its number of Erasmus students: Dijon welcomes 3,500 international students every year.
DIJON IN A FEW FIGURES
35,500
STUDENTS
INCLUDING 3,500
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
1 UNIVERSITY
& 1 UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
400
COURSES
29 RESEARCH
LABORATORIES
+ 1,500 RESEARCHERS
10 “GRANDES ÉCOLES“
1 QUALITY LIVING ENVIRONMENT
DAILY LIFE
TRANSPORTATION
Committed to environmental excellence, the city of Dijon prioritises renewable energy, pedestrian zones and green modes of transport: the presence of bike paths, a tram, a fleet of 102 hybrid buses and 5 free electrics shuttles in the historic center. So many initiatives that make Dijon a city where it’s good to live.
BUSINESSES AND SERVICES
The city centre of Dijon, which is fully pedestrianised, has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2018. A true open-air shopping centre, it is composed of nearly 1230 shops: Galeries Lafayette, FNAC, Hermes, Hugo Boss, Longchamp, la Maison Maille, la moutarderie Fallot : a true paradise for shoppers.
NIGHTLIFE
With its countless restaurants, cafes and breweries and 350 open air cafés, Dijon is a city of gastronomy. The nightlife in Dijon is also rich and varied, with numerous bars, clubs and concert halls, many in exceptional architectural settings: Monsieur Moutarde, la Peniche Cancale, the bar of the Hotel La Cloche, the Vertigo bar, la Vapeur.
CULTURE AND LEISURE
Between heritage and modernity, Dijon’s cultural heritage is very much alive. It has grown richer over time and has seen its Museum of Fine Arts, one of the most ancient and richest in France, housed in the former palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Along the streets, there are more than 120 individual hotels built between the 15th and 18th century to discover. Richly decorated facades, monumental doorways, superb inner courtyards and roofs with glazed tiles demonstrate the prosperity of their sponsors as much as the talent of their architects.
SPORTS
Skate parks, sports fields, shooting ranges, swimming pools, an ice rink and the Grand Stadium home of the DFCO, the historic football club of the city: Dijon places special importance on sporting activities.
AT BSB, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE
A DEDICATED WELCOME AND SUPPORT AREA, THE BSB HUB PROVIDES ALL STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
BSB : “BIENVENUE EN FRANCE” LABELED
In 2019 BSB was among the first 15 schools labeled Bienvenue en France (Welcome to France) by Campus France, one of the only management schools to receive this distinction.
The quality of the reception for international students is a fundamental issue in the internationalization and attractiveness of French higher education. The Bienvenue en France label is open to institutions who wish to evaluate their welcome services. It is granted for four years by Campus France and validated by an independent commission. This label is one of the axes of the higher education plan developed by France. It is granted by Campus France on the basis of a self-evaluation assessment, looking specifically at the needs of international students. The criteria assessed are the quality and accessibility of information, the reception facilities, the supply of information, housing, campus life and the quality of post-graduation follow-up.
With the Bienvenue en France scheme, international students are guaranteed services to the highest national standard.
THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE
To make your arrival as stress-free as possible, BSB staff will help you in all the stages of your application and throughout your arrival when you get here. A dedicated day of organised activities will allow you to discuss all the practical and administrative aspects of your stay in France, while getting to know other international students!
Here’s the programme that awaits you:
- Help with your administrative steps (insurance, banks, social security…)
- Guidelines to find an accommodation
- Visit the campus and explore the student clubs
- City tour and welcome ceremony by the mayor of Dijon at the Town Hall
And if you have any questions after this intense program of information, feel free to contact the team anytime : bsb.international@bsb-education.com
THE DAP DEPARTMENT
The DAP (Developpement et Accompagnements Personnels) – Department of Personal Development and Support develops educational modules designed to reinforce your soft skills and offers educational and psychological support throughout the programme.
At BSB, we coach you through projects and give you the opportunity to express your personality:
- Strengthening your student experience through participation in school projects
- Expressing civic engagement through the ‘My Mission Lead For Change’ module
- Practicing sports and artistic activities
- Investing time in an association
A SUPPORT IN ANY SITUATION
Today, well-being has become something that cannot be ignored, whether during your studies, but also to project yourself serenely into the future and later on to manage your career and your life in general.
The DAP ensures awareness of the sensitive societal issues that each manager will be confronted with, either for himself or for his teams: nutrition, life balance, addictions, diseases, etc.
Its role is also to support students who are experiencing difficulties.
Thanks to The BSB Handicap Mission, each student with a disability will find the personalised support and assistance needed to follow his or her schooling in the best possible conditions.
Also psychological support, with professional psychologists or psychotherapists, is available to each student who feels the need for it.
PATHFINDER
Professional coaching is an integral part of BSB’s student services. Coaches and professionals from the corporate world interact on a daily basis to help you identify your passions, talents and development paths.
THE ALUMNI NETWORK
Studying at BSB gives you access to a network of over16,000 alumni in France and around the world. With more than 40% of BSB graduates holding international positions, the strength of the BSB network supports your professional integration and is a guarantee of recognition in the world of work.
Dijon Campus: student club Melting Potes / Lyon Campus: student club Ly’On Board
Melting Potes and Ly’On Board‘s main mission is to welcome and support international students at BSB, creating a truly multicultural community. Every year, the students in these two associations work hard to offer a warm welcome, develop exchanges, consolidate links and encourage open-mindedness.
INDUCTION DAYS
Induction days, organized by the International Relations Department, are dedicated to welcoming and integrating all international students. These days are designed to help students adapt to their new academic and social life in France, and revolve around various workshops and presentations of the school’s services, including :
1◦ General presentation: A comprehensive introduction to the school, its operations, values and objectives, to give students an overview of their new academic environment.
◦ Presentation of the Learning Center: A guided tour and detailed explanation of the resources and services offered by the Learning Center, including libraries, study spaces and academic support services.
◦ Meeting with the school administration: A session dedicated to exchanges with the school’s administrative services, enabling students to understand academic procedures, course registration and other essential administrative aspects.
◦ Presentation of Melting Potes and Ly’On Board student associations: Introduction to the main student associations, their role in student life, the activities they organize, and how new students can get involved.
◦ Campus tour: A guided tour of the campus to familiarize students with their new surroundings.
◦ “Adapting to French Culture” workshop: An interactive workshop to help students understand and adapt to French customs and culture, offering practical advice and strategies for successful integration.
◦“Study Methodology” workshop: A workshop to provide students with tools and techniques for academic success, including time management, effective working methods, and understanding academic expectations in France.
These induction days are a valuable opportunity for international students to meet their peers, gain essential information, and feel more at ease in their new academic and social environment.