A death in the family, a sudden departure, a natural disaster back home... These life accidents can strike any student, at any point in their journey.
When a life accident threatens the continuation of studies
Illness, bereavement, family breakdown, natural disaster, or a crisis in a student's home country: some events happen without warning and can upend, overnight, a student's personal and financial balance.
Without immediate help, these situations can jeopardize the continuation of studies: falling behind, interrupted schooling or even permanent dropout, over-indebtedness, social isolation, psychological difficulties. It is precisely to prevent a personal shock from lastingly derailing an academic and professional future that the emlyon Foundation created the emergency fund, back in 2016.
Tailored support, open to all students
In addition to the human support provided by the School's Health and Wellbeing Unit, the emlyon Foundation offers one-off financial aid designed to immediately meet a student's essential needs: paying a security deposit, food expenses, urgent travel (family, medical, or administrative), or any other indispensable expense linked to the crisis situation.
This is tailored support, adapted to each individual situation. And above all, this program is open to all emlyon students, regardless of program, course of study, age, nationality, or social background — because a life accident can affect anyone.
How is a request reviewed?
Each request is reviewed by a monthly committee, made up of experts from various School departments and Foundation donors, following a multi-step process:
- a one-on-one meeting with the student to assess their situation, with the possible support of a social worker;
- an analysis of income and expenses, to get a full and fair picture of the case;
- a detailed review of the situation, distinguishing primary needs (housing, food, healthcare) from secondary needs (equipment, digital access);
- a collective decision on granting aid that is adapted, proportionate, and targeted.
Aid generally ranges between €500 and €1,000. It is one-off in nature and responds to an immediate, vital need.
As was the case for this student in the Grande École Program:
"The situation I was going through was very difficult. I found it very hard to ask for help. We all carry that pride, that shame of feeling like we're lacking.
I was encouraged to ask for this help by a friend of mine. I was supported with everyday living expenses. One-off help that really helped me at a point in the year when I was alone and, I have to admit, a little bit desperate."
What would you like to say to the donors who make this program possible?
"Thank you — I'm sending you a virtual hug — thank you so much for thinking of students who are trying to make it through. It's very difficult, and we often face obstacles along the way, but having support makes us feel less alone. It gives us courage, and it makes us want to keep being ambitious and to want to rise above our circumstances."
Requests keep rising
Since the emergency fund was created in 2016, requests have continued to increase, reflecting a real and growing need within the student community.
This trend is also explained by a broader context: the ongoing rise in the cost of living (housing, food, energy), geopolitical tensions, and economic crises affecting some international students' home countries... So many factors that further weaken households and make life accidents both more frequent and harder to absorb financially for the students affected.
- Nearly 150 grants were awarded in 2025.
- Amounts awarded generally range between €500 and €1,000 per situation.
This steady rise in requests shows just how essential this often little-known safety net has become for a growing number of students facing the unexpected.
The impact of a donation
Your donation can make a difference within just a few days. By supporting the emergency fund, you help provide a rapid response to a critical situation, you have an immediate human impact, and you help prevent a break in a student's academic path — often at the exact moment they need it most.
The Foundation's goal: to support more than 100 students facing an emergency, by raising €100,000 a year.
Help a student facing an emergency
The four emlyon Foundation programs you can support: living-expense grants, the emergency fund, fragile health & disability grants, and the Tour de France des Oraux.
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