Why Study in Grenoble France? 5 Reasons to Choose the City

Thinking of studying in France but not sure where? There are so many vibrant student cities to choose from that it can be challenging to decide. Today, we’re going to explore a city you might not have considered: the French capital of the Alps, Grenoble. So, what makes students choose to study in Grenoble?

An estimated 70,000 students choose to study in Grenoble every year, drawn by the Alpine culture, winter sports, and a variety of educational institutions. One of these is GEM Alpine Business School, a top business school with a campus in the city centre. Whether you’re interested in a bachelor’s degree, a specialised business Master, or an MBA, GEM Alpine Business School (GEM) offers plenty of options.

Let’s look at some of the reasons students study in Grenoble and specifically at GEM.

5 Reasons to Study in Grenoble at GEM Alpine Business School

1. Meet students from around the world

In 2024, L’Etudiant named Grenoble a top 5 student city in France. The city received particularly high scores for the availability of student housing, attractiveness, and educational opportunities. Its top-five ranking means Grenoble ranks higher than other popular student destinations, including Lyon, Lille and Clermont-Ferrand.

With multiple educational institutions in the city, Grenoble has become a bustling student city, where students represent over 180 nationalities. For example, the GEM Alpine Business School campus is home to around 6,000 students from 120 nationalities, and programmes are taught in French and English to ensure broad access to education for international students who don’t speak French.

2. Find top jobs When You Graduate

If you study in Grenoble, you’ll have access to various competitive internship opportunities across industries such as electronics, chemistry, cleantech, energy and health.

The French statistics bureau, INSEE, finds that Grenoble is the number one French city for employment in research and development (R&D) roles. At the same time, the city is also the 2nd most industrial metropolis in France.

GEM Alpine Business School’s business programmes give students access to this thriving industrial city with work-study options and internship opportunities. For example, GEM’s MBA programme connects students with thriving startups in the ‘Silicon Valley of France’, as Grenoble is known. Overall, the MBA curriculum features hands-on learning, global exposure and strong career support to prepare students for success in a dynamic business world.

Meanwhile, GEM Alpine Business School also offers a wide range of business master’s programmes to students who want to gain in-depth knowledge in a particular business subject. Many of these master’s programmes connect students with top industries in the city, such as the MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the MSc in Management of Sports and Outdoor Markets.

3. Embrace the Alpine lifestyle

When you study in Grenoble, you don’t just have access to top-quality education and jobs; the city is also a hub for winter sports, so you can hit the slopes in your free time!

There are 25 ski resorts in the surrounding mountains, including renowned centres for Alpine sport such as Alpes d’Huez and Val D’Isère, with the closest centres just 20 minutes away from Grenoble.

The fun doesn’t stop in the summer, either. In the ski off-season, the mountains open up to hikers and trail runners looking to explore the rugged mountain ranges. For students who don’t fancy high-octane adventures, the city also offers plenty of culture, including museums and art galleries.

So, if you’re looking to study somewhere that offers something a little different to do in your free time, Grenoble is a great choice.

4. Live in one of the happiest cities in Europe

Being a student can be demanding – even more so if you’ve moved far away from your family to study abroad. So, although it might not be a top factor in your decision, it can help to choose a destination known for its commitment to wellbeing.

Grenoble is just the place. The city recently ranked number one for quality of life on Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index, achieving the maximum score of 100/100. But what does this score mean for students?

Oxford Economics assessed global cities across six factors that strongly correlate to overall wellbeing, satisfaction and quality of life.

• Life expectancy
• Income per person
• Income equality
• Housing expenditure
• Recreation & cultural sites
• Internet speed

While some of these factors aren’t that relevant to students, they indicate how fulfilled you’ll feel living and studying in a particular city. In fact, the only other French city to appear in the top 10 of the quality of life ranking is Nantes, which scored 92.5/100.

5. Study in a city committed to the environment

Business students increasingly look to business schools to prioritise the environment and sustainability. Even more telling, a recent GMAC survey found that one-third of graduate business students say that a school not prioritising sustainability is a dealbreaker for them.

Thankfully, students can be confident that when they study in Grenoble, they’re studying somewhere at the forefront of green research. In 2022, the city was named the European Green Capital, recognising its commitment to fighting pollution, creating green spaces and tackling global warming.

Similarly, GEM Alpine Business School is committed to sustainable education. The school was the first Grande Ecole in France to officially be designated a ‘Société à Mission’, a title given to companies pursuing a mission-driven strategy.

One of the primary missions for GEM is climate change, and the school has an ambition to become Europe’s first zero-waste school. Additionally, the school has invested in climate-focused programmes, including the MSc in Energy Business and Climate Strategy and the MSc in Management for Sustainability Transitions.

Plus, a new Executive MBA in Tech prepares students to address global challenges, including climate change, with an Alternative Energies specialist track.

Conclusion

GEM Alpine Business School is a fantastic option for students who want to study at a rigorous business school with a genuine focus on social challenges. Plus, when you live and study in Grenoble, you’ll have the chance to fill your spare time with thrilling activities and immerse yourself in the unique culture of the French Alps. What could be better?

Interested in hearing more about GEM Alpine Business School? Find out what students really say about studying at the school.