Empowering Futures: Discover the Impact of Fondation emlyon
At Fondation de France Asia, our mission is to build bridges between generous donors in Asia and meaningful projects around the world. Among these impactful initiatives is our partnership with the emlyon Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering educational equity and supporting students facing financial and personal challenges.
Founded in 1993 under the aegis of the Fondation de France, the emlyon Foundation ensures that talented students from underprivileged backgrounds can pursue their academic ambitions at one of France’s leading business schools. Through a series of targeted grants and scholarships, the Foundation works to level the playing field for students who may otherwise be unable to access higher education. With the ambition to change up to 500 destinies a year by raising €1 million annually, the Foundation works tirelessly to meet the increasing demand for student support.
The emlyon Foundation has developed five key programmes designed to address various student needs:
- Tour de France of Oral Exams
This initiative provides support for young students applying to French grandes écoles. The financial aid covers registration fees, travel, meals, and accommodation, enabling students to attend oral exams across the country. This programme empowers students to aim high and overcome geographic or financial limitations that may hinder their opportunities. - Social-Based Grants
These grants help students cover essential daily expenses such as housing, transportation, and food. By easing the burden of living costs by up to 50%, the Fondation emlyon allows students to fully focus on their studies without the constant stress of financial insecurity. - Emergency Funds
For students suddenly facing hardship, emergency grants offer timely support. These timely grants help students stay on track during personal upheavals, such as family death, illness, or accidents, covering urgent needs like rent or emergency travel. - Health and Disability Scholarships
Recognising the added challenges faced by students with disabilities or health concerns, this scholarship provides tailored assistance. It helps cover additional living expenses, mobility aids, and travel costs, ensuring all students have equitable access to academic and professional experiences. - PhD and Research Scholarships
To support the next generation of researchers and educators, the Foundation funds full tuition and arrival costs for PhD students over four years. These scholarships enable scholars to fully commit to their research in an environment of financial stability.
Fondation emlyon uses objective criteria to ensure its support reaches those who need it most. Grants are awarded based on the CROUS means-test system, a widely-used benchmark in France that evaluates family income levels across eight tiers. Currently, approximately 10% of emlyon students across core academic programmes benefit from this system, with that number rising to 17% within the prestigious Grande École Programme.
What makes this partnership especially powerful is that every donation received by Fondation emlyon is allocated directly to student aid—maximising donor impact and making a tangible difference in students’ lives.
To explore more about the work of the Fondation emlyon, including individual student stories, programme results, and funding opportunities, we invite you to visit their website: https://em-lyon.com/en/foundation.
If you’re moved by the mission of the Fondation emlyon and would like to play a part in helping students overcome financial and personal barriers, we welcome your support. Whether it’s a one-time gift or a recurring contribution, your donation can be the key that unlocks opportunity and long-term success for a deserving student.
