Bonjour!
My name is daniel,a Chinese student studying for master in China now
I plan to finish my master  and carry on with PHD in France.  
So far now, two universities are willing to accept me, one is a lab of mechanics in INSA LYON, and it is also a CNRS lab, the other is in Department de Mecanique des structures et materiaux (DMSM)in ISAE.
 
I prefer ISAE to INSA because my major now is about aeronautique,and ISAE is the best aeronautique ecole in France,but I looked through the website of ISAE for many times, It gives little information on the staff ,lab equipement,and other introductions to DMSM,this bothers me and makes me confused,how can I choose something when I dont even know much about it ? so I have difficulties making my determination to ISAE.
 
INSA lyon is the best in 5-year-ecole,and the lab is under CNRS, so I have no doubt in its competence for scientific research, And I can find what I want to know in its website, everything is stated clear. only problem is the subject is less interesting than the one in ISAE.
 
So my friends please give me some advice on these two ecoles for phd, and if you happen to know much about these two ecoles, please tell me , I 'll be the most grateful
 
my email and msn : salutsun@yahoo.com.cn
 
best wishes  
Dan

Hello Daniel,
 
Both schools are good schools but in my opinion ISAE has a better reputation than Insa Lyon for undergrad (and i had my MSc from Insa Lyon...)
However, I know that Insa Lyon has developed since many years its scientific research and invested a lot it in it in order to develop it as much as possible. For ISAE, I don't have that much information about their scientific research facilities.
 
I guess very few people on the forum will be able to give you their opinion for a choice between two Phd programs in these two schools.  
 
I repeat, if it would have been a choice between two MSc at these schools, my advice would have been to go for ISAE as it has an overall better reputation.
 
I think you should speak to your contacts in these two schools and talk about them freely about your concerns
cheers