Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, restrictions have been implemented in metropolitan France, both for residents and incoming people. You will find general and useful information here regarding the restrictions.

Remember that entering France is way easier if you are vaccinated! The approved vaccines in France are the following: Comirnaty (Pfizer), COVID-19 vaccine Moderna, COVID-19 vaccine Janssen and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca).

To be fully vaccinated, you must have received your second dose of the vaccine at least 2 weeks prior your arrival (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca), or at least 1 week prior your arrival if you have already been affected by the virus and have received one dose of the vaccine.

Careful: these restrictions and regulations are subject to modifications over time, depending on the evolution of the situation. Please do not forget to check beforehand the conditions of travel from your home country to France. You can find information regarding the rules that apply to you depending on where you are travelling from on this website.

The schools of the IPL do not require vaccination but many, if not all, of the industrial and cultural outings will require a covid certificate (pass sanitaire). This is a document that certifies that you have either been vaccinated or have recently tested negative. For the most up-to-date information about these requirements, visit the French government website here: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/coronavirus-statements/article/applying-for-a-covid-certificate-if-you-were-vaccinated-abroad-procedure-for

You can buy a mask at the supermarkets, at chemist’ shops or online.

Passport holders requiring a visa to enter France will be assisted in every way. A letter of acceptance mentioning the name of the participant and duration of the summer program will be issued to your current establishment and for French embassy/consulate authorities. If you wish to stay in France longer to visit or do an internship before or after the duration of the summer program, make sure that your visa covers that period as well.

No scholarships are awarded in France for a short summer programme (the minimum period being 1 semester). So, please check if your home country may be able to offer you one.

Total refunds are possible only for cancellations received before May 21, 2024, for cancellations received before May 31, 2024 : 50% refund (financial refund charges at the student’s expense). After that date, no fees refundable

Each student has his/her own furnished single bedroom with shower, sink, and toilet, with a common kitchen (no cookware, crockery or cutlery available) and study areas.

Students will be met by an IPL Summer School representative and transferred safely to the Hall of Residence. We do ask you to try and arrive before 6pm.

You will be given your keys, sheets, instructions and shown to your room. If other students have arrived they will be introduced to you.

The other students will be from various countries, and the group usually reaches 30 to 40 max students. The average age is usually around 22.

There is a dedicated coordinator with the students throughout the day, administrative personnel and teaching staff in each school.

Lyon has a continental climate. Summers can be fairly hot: 30°C (86°F) and average minimum night temperatures of 17°C (63°F). Fairly light clothing for day wear and a jacket for the evenings would be appropriate. A waterproof jacket and/or windbreaker in case of summer showers and storms could come in handy. Light footwear and a pair of walking shoes would be ideal.

All residences have adequate security. An assistant will be with the students in the daytime and additional staff on all trips and excursions.
Each student should have travel insurance before leaving their home country and they will subscribe to a short term complementary student insurance (with third party coverage) upon arrival, with help from our summer school personnel.

The charger should come with an adaptor and transformer for European plugs ie. 220 volts AC. You will also have the possibility to buy an inexpensive SIM card.

Payments can be made in cash (euros) or with an international credit card equipped with an electronic chip (using a PIN code). The same card can be used at ATMs for cash withdrawal.

Strictly, no French is required to attend the programme as it is in English. However, some French is always helpful. To determine your level of French in order to place you in the proper class, there will be a written placement test at the beginning of the summer school. Students will be placed into 3 groups according to their French language proficiency: Beginners, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate.

On weekdays students are encouraged to dine at the school cafeteria (average meal price: 5 euros). However, they are free to make their own eating arrangements at all times (snacks, restaurants, fast food, self-made packed lunch, etc.)

Yes. Please state the type of diet or foods to avoid on the information form at time of registration.

Computer facilities are available at each school with a computer license. Moreover, an access badge is provided to enter the well-secured school. Should you decide to bring your own computer, there is free WLAN Internet Access in the school and a printing quota offered to all students. At the residence you will be able to have access to internet with an Ethernet cable, please don’t forget to bring one with you.

Most lessons end at 5 pm on weekdays. Some field trips and excursions may extend till 8 pm. There will be certain half days of free time in the program and of course, every Saturday and Sunday!

All transportation pertaining to organized excursions and field work as stated in the program relating to cultural and scientific modules are included in the fees. In addition, a Lyon city transport card will be provided to allow you to get from the residence to your school, or to use in the evenings and on weekends.

All outings are mandatory as they are part of your academic program for credit. You are strongly recommended to participate, unless you are physically unable to do so. In such cases, no refund is possible as fixed costs have been disbursed for such trips. If you can not attend a course or a visit, you are expected to inform the assistant and your school coordinator.

You can arrange weekend visits on your own and therefore not included in the price. Please refer to the Practical information guide for useful links

There is a youth hostel in the old town:
AJ du Vieux Lyon
41 – 45 montée du Chemin Neuf, 69005 Lyon
Tel : +33 4 78 15 05 50
Email : lyon@fuaj.org

There is a living hostel:
Slo living hostel
5 rue Bonnefoi
69003 Lyon, France
Tel.: +33 (0)4 78 59 06 90
Website

There is a brand new guesthouse:
Le Flâneur Guesthouse
56, rue Sébastien Gryphe
69007 Lyon
Tel.: +33 (0)9 81 99 16 97
Email: hello@leflaneur-guesthouse.com
Website

The residence is not air conditioned, but at least at nights, the weather in Lyon tends to cool down a bit.

You will get a list with the names of the other participants and their room numbers so that you can meet, and a welcome buffet will be organised at 6 pm.

Students should pack ahead of time so that a general inspection of their living quarters can be made just before they leave. Each participant is supposed to make his/her own arrangements to leave the Halls of Residence. If you should require any help from our staff, please inform us well ahead of time.

Lab coats and glasses are provided.

• 3 credits (ECTS) are awarded for the French portion of the program.
• 6 credits are awarded for the scientific portion.
• In most cases, 1 ECTS is the equivalent of 2 US credits.

Per se, there are no set requirements for daily homework. However, you are advised to review scientific course work regularly, to work on your final assessment and for French, to revise grammar and vocabulary thoroughly. A rough estimate would be one to two hours a day.

Yes.