Institut Lyfe

Formerly known as the Institut Paul Bocuse, Institut Lyfe is a globally recognised institution specialising in hospitality management, culinary arts, food service, and lifestyle management. Renowned for its industry connections and hands-on learning approach, it offers students the opportunity to develop practical skills alongside a strong academic foundation.

Located in Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, the campus sits in a city celebrated for its rich history, vibrant culture, and exceptional food scene. With Renaissance architecture, riverside promenades, bustling markets, and countless cafés, Lyon provides an inspiring setting for students to immerse themselves in French life.

Beyond your studies, you can sample traditional Lyonnais cuisine in the city's famous bouchons, explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, or attend the spectacular Festival of Lights each December. With the French Alps, Provence, and Paris all within easy reach, Institut Lyfe offers an unforgettable study abroad experience at the heart of one of Europe's most celebrated culinary destinations.

Essentials

AUT subjects:

_{These are general subject areas, you'll need to check if your major is offered.}

Hospitality and Tourism (Culinary Arts, International Hospitality Management, Event Management)

Location:

France

Language of instruction:

English, French

Level of study:

Undergraduate

GPA requirement:

7.0 or above

Exchange duration:

1 semester

Demand for places:

medium

Accommodation:

Offered by Institut Lyfe, Le Clipper residence is not guaranteed but preference is given to international students. They also provide advice for private off-campus options.

Website:

Please see attached resources for exchange information, and general details about studying at Institut Lyfe.

Semester dates

Fall term: August – December
Spring term: January – April

When to apply to AUT Global for exchange to Institut Lyfe

Fall term – apply by the 1 December AUT deadline
Spring term – apply by the 1 July AUT deadline

Credit equivalence

7.5 ECTS = 15 AUT points

Full semester workload = 27-30 ECTS = 60 AUT points

Institute Lyfe work on a slightly smaller credit semester, their full-time workload is 27ECTS and you will be enrolled in that automatically. As this is their full semester, AUT do accept this as equivalent to 60 AUT points.

Specific subject requirements/restrictions

This is a very unique exchange destination, with 2 distinct streams that students can choose from; Culinary Arts, or Hospitality Management. Their hospitality management also has an option to then specialise in Event Management.

The streams are set packages and inbound exchange students will be enrolled in the block of subjects running for that semester in 2^nd year.

The academic team at AUT are aware of this set up and supportive of students selecting this location.

It is recommended that you are on a single major with one minor pathway for this exchange location, and it works best if the minor is also within the School of Hospitality and Management due to not being able to select individual papers.

Institut Lyfe is set up very differently to AUT, expectations are high, professionalism is a core component of their teaching, even down to the uniform worn while on campus. When considering this location, this needs to be factored in, however this will also be a once in a lifetime opportunity for students that would like a French culinary or hospitality academic experience.

While French language and cooking experience is not required, previous AUT students who completed an exchange with Lyfe have noted that a basic grasp of French was very helpful in class, and also some prior research of French patisserie techniques for students wanting to apply for the Culinary Arts stream.

If you would like to discuss this exchange destination in more detail and/or express interest in being considered, please contact Senior Lecturer for Hospitality and Tourism, John Kelleher (john.kelleher@aut.ac.nz) who can chat with you about the opportunity. AUT Global will request approval from John and the hospitality team for any students wanting to be nominated to Institut Lyfe.