Study Abroad on Exchange Programs

Preparing Your Application for Université Jean-Moulin - Lyon 3's Study Abroad Program

This page is intended only to provide some suggestions about how to approach the application for admission to a foreign University through Lyon 3's many exchanges. The official list of documents and information required by the Lyon 3 can be found in the application packs available at the International Relations Department. (Meanwhile, students who are not sure how to write a cover letter for their application may find it useful to consult this site at Missouri Western.)

Elements to include in your letter and to mention during the interview (which, perhaps needless to say, will be conducted in English ):
• Show your motivation and your commitment
• What value do you attribute to a stay in a foreign country?
What do you expect it to bring you? How will a stay in a foreign country complement your educational experiences up to now? (Improving your English is probably one of your goals, but keep in mind that admissions committees are interested in identifying and admitting students who will be able to take full advantage of the courses and opportunities their institution has to offer - in other words, you should emphasize cultural and academic facets of your plans, rather than letting your reader assume that your English is not very good...)
• What are your academic and university intentions and plans?
This requires knowing and being able to explain clearly
• What made you choose the academic orientation you did, especially if you have changed in the course of your education (e.g., BTS or "prépa" before coming to the University, etc.),
• What your career plans are,
• What your Faculté requires,
• What the foreign universities you are interested in have to offer.
• What will you be able to bring to a foreign university?
This might include unusual aspects of your academic experience, such as learning a rarely-taught foreign language or taking courses in a discipline far removed from your "majeure", and also extra-curricular activities such as athletics, music, drama, involvement in political or charitable organizations, work experiences, and so on: in other words, anything and everything that will help the admissions committee realize that you are someone who should be given special attention.
• In the final analysis, why should the committee select you?
There are lots of applicants for study-abroad programs; you need to make sure the committee sees what makes you stand out: your study plans are special, your background is special and you will be a credit to Lyon3 both in academics and in the extra-curricular world you want to be part of for a year.