ENSBA Lyon vs Montpellier Business School in France: Courses, Fees and Admissions

ENSBA Lyon and Montpellier Business School are not like-for-like universities: one is a specialist public art school and the other is a business school. They are useful alternatives only if you are deciding between creative practice and an international business degree. Compare curriculum and selection criteria before ranking, because one requires evidence of artistic practice while the other emphasises academic readiness and business motivation.

ENSBA Lyon offers a three-year first cycle leading to the DNA, followed by a two-year second cycle leading to the DNSEP at master’s level. The first year is shared across the art and design routes. Its areas include spatial, graphic and textile practice, with theory, workshops, individual work and collaboration. Applicants should ask about the current portfolio brief, interview, language of instruction, studio access and equipment. Culture-supervised arts institutions can have distinct tuition rules, so Campus France’s ordinary public-university fee table should not be used as the ENSBA price without confirmation.

MBS’s three-year Bachelor in International Business Administration has bilingual French/English and fully English routes. First-year subjects include marketing, accounting and management; later choices include international business, digital marketing and luxury management. Its 2026 Parcoursup listing quotes €9,990 per year. Confirm that the quoted route and fee apply to your international application, and check any CVEC and other charges separately. Business school fee schedules can include deposits and additional charges. Ask whether scholarships cover tuition only and whether renewal depends on grades.

Admissions differ fundamentally. ENSBA will expect a portfolio and a clear account of your artistic development. MBS requires academic records and English proof or an accepted assessment pathway, along with the school’s current application steps. For both, confirm deadlines by applicant nationality and qualification. If you need a visa, admission timing, proof of funds and accommodation documentation must fit together.

Student experience also differs: studio critique and production time versus lectures, teamwork, case studies and networking. Compare the actual city and campus cost, placement support and employer connections. Request written answers about internships, graduate outcomes and language support. These institutions can both be good choices when matched to the right goals, but a school’s reputation cannot replace a curriculum fit.

FAQs

Which school is cheaper? Ask both for full current fee quotes; public status does not ensure standardised fees.

Which requires a portfolio? ENSBA’s art route centres on portfolio review; check the current brief.

Can MBS guarantee an international career? No; outcomes depend on experience, language and labour-market access.

Compare support, teaching routine and progression

For ENSBA Lyon, ask how studio spaces and equipment are allocated, how critiques are organised, how students receive feedback and whether course materials create additional costs. A three-year first cycle and separate five-year DNSEP path require planning for selection between cycles. The programme’s structure is central to the experience: someone seeking a continuous academic path should understand the selection checkpoint before deciding that the school offers a fixed five-year place.

For MBS, ask how the English and bilingual routes differ in actual modules, assessment, internship eligibility and French-language support. The Parcoursup record is useful evidence for a defined listing and year, but the school should confirm the entry route for an international applicant and the fee schedule for the intended intake. A business student may value structured management subjects and career services, while an applicant expecting studio-led work may not find those features relevant.

Compare the total investment on a common basis

Request an itemised first-year estimate from both institutions. Separate tuition from CVEC, application fees, deposits, materials, housing, transport and insurance. Then calculate the entire expected programme: ENSBA’s DNA route is three years, and the optional DNSEP adds a separately selected two years; MBS BIBA is a three-year degree in the listing. Account for potential annual fee changes and the cost of renewing housing. If a scholarship is possible, keep the no-award budget as the baseline until a written decision arrives.

A fair comparison also asks what can be evidenced after graduation. Ask each school for programme-specific, cohort-based outcomes and the methodology behind them. For international plans, verify how the receiving institution evaluates the exact diploma and whether placements require French. Do not infer guaranteed employment from employer partnerships or the city’s industry presence. A transparent comparison should state what the official pages establish and what still requires a direct answer.

Which study environment fits your goals?

ENSBA Lyon suits students seeking sustained visual practice, workshops and critique through a portfolio-based route. Ask how the shared first year leads to an option and what the separate DNA-to-DNSEP selection requires before budgeting for five years.

MBS BIBA is a business degree with a more structured set of subjects, including marketing, accounting and management in the early curriculum and later international or specialist choices. Confirm which English route applies and whether any French requirement affects participation or internship options. Ask whether students choose specialisations freely or meet academic prerequisites and whether placements are required or optional. A business-school network can be useful, but the specific career outcome depends on the student’s experience and labour-market access.

Compare admission effort and evidence

For ENSBA, build a portfolio that follows the current page limit, size and reference instructions. Ask whether prior coursework can support later-year admission. For MBS, check academic record requirements, the English test or accepted alternative, interview and the route for international qualifications. Compare actual deadlines and decision timing so that the admission process fits with housing and visa preparation.

A practical cost model

For each institution, create a first-year and full-programme budget. ENSBA costs include school-specific tuition, art materials and possible workshop-related expenses, in addition to housing and transport. MBS’s published 2026 fee is tied to its BIBA listing and should be refreshed for the intended cohort; include deposits and any additional school charges. Add CVEC only if your status and course require it. Compare scholarships and refund rules in writing, and calculate a scenario with no aid as well as one with a confirmed award.

The two cities also differ in daily routine. Compare the exact campus commute, local rental offers, transport and language needs. Use dates on every quote. A decision should reflect the actual course and cost rather than a simple public-versus-private label.