CEFAM (Centre d'Études Franco-Américain du Management) is a private international business school founded in Lyon, France in 1986, built on a singular conviction: that the American way of learning — interactive, participative, discussion-based and practice-oriented — was a better model for training global business leaders than the traditional lecture-based approach of French higher education. Nearly 40 years on, that founding conviction remains the defining identity of the school.

CEFAM is located on the René Cassin Campus at 47 rue Sergent Michel Berthet, Lyon 9, easily accessible via Gorge de Loup Metro Station (Line D). All courses are delivered 100% in English, 100% in person.

Founding story

CEFAM was founded in 1986 by Roger Serre and Jean-Michel Perrenot, who continue to lead the school today as CEO and President respectively. Inspired by the Liberal Arts philosophy and the American university model, they set out to create a school unlike anything else in France at the time: one where students learned through debate, participation, critical thinking and real-world application, from the very first day. Northeastern University and Temple University became CEFAM's first American partners, sharing its commitment to experiential learning, academic excellence and global opportunity. These partnerships were more than exchange programmes; they opened life-changing pathways, allowing students to study in the United States or Canada and graduate with a North American degree alongside their French qualification. In 2025, CEFAM launched an International Relations track, extending its American-style education model into the fields of diplomacy, international cooperation and global policy.

The CEFAM model

CEFAM's learning model is defined by five principles that distinguish it from conventional French higher education institutions:

• 100% English instruction from the first day, in a fully immersive academic environment
• Active, participative pedagogy: classes are built around discussion, debate, case studies and teamwork rather than passive lecture attendance
• Small class sizes with professors who know every student individually, their goals and their ambitions
• A guaranteed pathway to study in the United States or Canada for every enrolled student, with no quotas or limits on available places, pre-enrolment in courses and on-site support from a local advisor
• A dual degree outcome: every student graduates with both a French qualification (RNCP-certified) and a North American degree from a partner university

Academic tracks

CEFAM offers two undergraduate-to-postgraduate tracks, both fully in English:

• Business Track: a programme focused on management, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship, with a strong international outlook and the dual degree pathway. It prepares graduates to succeed in global and competitive business environments, with an MBA as the terminal qualification.
• International Relations Track (launched 2025): unique in France, this track applies the same American-style education model to careers in international organisations and NGOs, government and public policy, diplomacy, international development and humanitarian aid, corporate social responsibility, intelligence, security and criminology, and postgraduate programmes in international relations, law or political science.

Both tracks run from post-baccalaureate entry through to MBA level. Additional programmes include postgraduate and MBA options, a Study Abroad programme for visiting international students, a Top-Up Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Faculty Led Programs for short-term visits.

North American university partnerships

CEFAM holds 11 partnerships with leading North American universities, all of which are AACSB-accredited. This network is the foundation of CEFAM's Dual Degree, MBA and Study Abroad programmes. All CEFAM students are guaranteed the opportunity to transfer to a partner institution once they meet the required academic and TOEFL standards, with no competitive selection process for places. Students are pre-enrolled in their courses at the partner university, receive guidance from a local advisor on site, and continue to benefit from CEFAM's academic support until they earn their North American degree. Northeastern University and Temple University were the founding partners; the network has since expanded to include many prestigious institutions across the United States and Canada.

Accreditation and recognition

• RNCP (Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles): CEFAM's French qualifications are certified by the French government under the RNCP framework, giving them official recognition within the French higher education and employment systems
• AACSB member: CEFAM is an AACSB member institution, and all of its North American partner universities hold full AACSB accreditation, ensuring that the dual degrees students earn meet the highest international business education standards
• Erasmus+: CEFAM participates in the Erasmus+ programme, expanding European mobility options for students
• EAIE member: CEFAM is a member of the European Association for International Education

Key outcomes and community

• Founded: 1986
• Location: Lyon, France (René Cassin Campus)
• Language of instruction: 100% English
• Delivery: 100% in-person
• North American university partnerships: 11
• Alumni: more than 1,500 graduates living and working in over 70 countries
• Employment rate: 92% within 6 months of graduation
• Dual degree guarantee: French (RNCP) and North American degree for every student

Campus and student life

CEFAM is based on the René Cassin Campus in Lyon's 9th arrondissement, a lively district close to the city centre. Lyon itself is one of France's most dynamic and internationally connected cities, with a world-renowned gastronomic scene, a vibrant cultural life, strong business and start-up ecosystems, and excellent transport links to the rest of Europe. On campus, students can engage with a range of clubs and associations, and are encouraged to build what CEFAM calls the CEFAMILY: a close-knit, driven, internationally minded student community that extends well beyond graduation into a global alumni network.

Career services

Career support at CEFAM is integrated into the academic experience from year one, not reserved for final-year students. Services include professional development programmes, structured internship placement, and dedicated guidance on Optional Practical Training (OPT) for students who spend time in the United States and Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) pathways for those who study in Canada. These pathways allow eligible graduates to remain in North America and gain work experience after completing their degree.

Why CEFAM

1. The only school in France combining a U.S.-style liberal arts education, 100% in English, with a guaranteed dual degree: a French RNCP qualification and a North American university degree
2. 11 AACSB-accredited North American university partners, with no quotas on transfer places and full pre-enrolment support
3. Founded in 1986 by the same leadership team that continues to run the school today, with nearly 40 years of uninterrupted Franco-American academic partnership
4. Two unique tracks — Business and International Relations — both delivered entirely in English and structured from post-baccalaureate level through to MBA
5. A 92% employment rate within 6 months of graduation and more than 1,500 alumni active in over 70 countries
6. OPT and PGWP pathways enabling graduates to work in North America after completing their degree
7. A campus in Lyon, one of France's most liveable, internationally connected and professionally rich cities