Cross-perspectives on the living-expense scholarship. On one side, two Grande École Program students who benefited from the living-expense scholarship. On the other, Bruce Roch (PGE96), board member of the Fondation emlyon and a dedicated donor for over ten years.
A Student Budget That Leaves No Room for the Unexpected
In Lyon, a student's average monthly budget (housing, food, transportation, utilities) is now close to €950. Against that, the maximum CROUS scholarship amount, reserved for level 7 (the most precarious situation), is capped at around €633 per month. That leaves a gap of roughly €300 to cover each month — an amount that, for a student without family support or a stable job, can quickly undermine the ability to pursue studies with peace of mind, all the more so when heading abroad, where relocation costs add to the usual budget.
It is precisely this gap that the Fondation emlyon's living-expense scholarship is designed to fill.
"[This scholarship] allowed me to feel more at ease"
This Grande École Program student and Fondation emlyon Talent received a living-expense scholarship that helped ease the financial weight of her bank loan :
"This scholarship helped me enormously, because I had taken out a fairly small loan to finance my studies and living expenses, but also to make sure I could pay it back. Receiving this support allowed me to feel more at ease about that loan.
More concretely, the scholarship helped me with my move and will, as originally planned, help fund my gap year."
What would you like to say to the donors who commit to supporting emlyon's students?
"I'd like to thank them for their generosity and their kindness. Their contribution has a huge impact, first on the lives of the students who benefit from it — who are the first to be grateful for this scholarship — but also on emlyon's image. I don't know whether this kind of program exists at other schools, but personally, I made sure to tell everyone around me about this support. I also hope that, later on, I'll be able to help in the same way."
C., PGE Student
"This scholarship allowed me to fully live my international experience"
Teoman Eke, a Grande École Program student and Fondation emlyon Talent, received a living-expense scholarship at a pivotal moment in his journey: his university exchange in Munich, where he had to cover his rent entirely on his own, without a stable job to supplement his budget.
"Coming from a very low-income household, this opportunity changed things for me in a deeply positive way. It was a unique chance that I was given. A huge thank you to the donors who so deeply support merit."
Teoman Eke, Grande École Program StudentThanks to this support, Teoman was able to secure several months of his exchange and fully dedicate himself to this international experience. Now passionate about finance careers in the industrial and infrastructure sector, he is confidently continuing on his path.
"Scholarship formats are designed with real care and attentiveness"
On the other side of this program are donors like Bruce Roch (PGE96), Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Adecco, who has never really left the School: guest speaker, HR Club ambassador, board member of emlyon alumni, and board member of the Fondation emlyon. A consistent commitment for someone who also spent nine years leading a foundation dedicated to equal opportunity.
"If we can help, we should! The scholarship formats awarded are designed with real care and attentiveness, taking each person's situation into account."
For Bruce, the challenge isn't just about giving once, but about committing over the long term:
"Every year, the slate is wiped clean, with new students who will have needs. It's important to commit for the long haul."
And to those who might still hesitate to become a donor, Bruce has a simple, direct invitation:
"Come meet the current and former beneficiaries, discover their journeys and their enthusiasm. The students helped by the Foundation are a great asset for emlyon business school. And if you're still hesitating, call me!"
The Programs Supported
The journeys of these two students concretely illustrate what the living-expense scholarship makes possible: covering around 50% of the annual living expenses of a CROUS scholarship student, so that essential expenses never become an obstacle to academic success or to a fully lived international experience.
This program is part of the Fondation emlyon's broader action, which operates through four complementary levers:
- The living-expense scholarship, featured in this article, for CROUS scholarship students in the most financially precarious situations.
- The emergency fund, which responds within days to a life accident (bereavement, illness, natural disaster).
- The health and disability scholarship, which covers the additional costs linked to a disability or chronic illness.
- The Tour de France des Oraux, which supports preparatory-class students through the Grandes Écoles' admission oral exams.
Four programs, one shared conviction: support received at the right moment can lastingly transform a life path — for the student who receives it, as well as for the donor who, in their own way, chooses to act.
Discover the Fondation emlyon's four programs in our previous articles: living-expense scholarships, the emergency fund, health and disability scholarships, and the Tour de France des Oraux.
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