France has many leading business organizations.
The country has 22 top universities with prestigious accreditation.
Developing business skills has been an important aim of the business school in France.
Experiential learning and field trips are essential to the French MBA curriculum.
French is the 3rd most spoken language in the global business sector. Learning the language will give you an advantage.
The performance and prestige of the French business enterprises worldwide are complemented by the success of the management schools and their graduates. Cultivating business skills has been the primary aim of business schools in France since the country started the first European MBA program in 1957. Today MBA in France provides opportunities for a wide range of career goals. It enhances the career prospects of the students. When you decide to study abroad, France would be a smart choice.
With 11 business schools with triple accreditation, France matches the UK in providing quality education. The Financial Times European Business School ranking has concluded that there are 22 top business schools in France. If you are looking to study MBA abroad, you should opt to study in France.
The top 10 universities for MBA studies in France are given below:
Top 10 Universities for MBA Studies in France | |
Name of the College/University | QS Global Ranking: Europe |
INSEAD | 2 |
HEC Paris | 4 |
ESSEC Business School | 16 |
Grenoble Graduate School of Business | 25 |
EDHEC Business School | 27 |
Sorbonne Graduate Business School | 29 |
EMLYON Business School | 41 |
Audencia Nantes School of Management | 45 |
IAE Aix Graduate School of Management | 46 |
IÉSEG School of Management, Paris | – |
Detailed information for the universities offering MBA degrees in France is given below.
INSEAD is a business school founded in 1957. INSEAD stands for European Institute of Business Administration. The university began its first executive study program in 1968. The university started its first participant exchange program in 2013. It is now known as the Student Exchange Program.
The MBA program at INSEAD helps in developing successful and thoughtful entrepreneurs who contribute significantly to their organizations and communities. The MBA study programs help you build a strong foundation of essential management practices.
The students are offered more than 75 electives in various disciplines. The updated content of the MBA curriculum facilitates you to be aware of the ever-changing practices in the business world. It prepares you for a thriving career as a business leader.
Eligibility Requirements
Here are the requirements for an MBA at INSEAD:
Requirements for MBA at INSEAD | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized college or university |
|
In exceptional circumstances, INSEAD may waive this requirement for outstanding candidates with substantial professional experience |
|
TOEFL | Marks – 105/120 |
GMAT |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicants are recommended to aim for a score at or above of 70-75th percentile for both quantitative and verbal section |
|
PTE | Marks – 72/90 |
IELTS | Marks – 7.5/9 |
GRE |
No specific cut off mentioned |
The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry established HEC Paris in 1881. The institute has a legacy of more than a century. It has attracted entrepreneurial, ambitious, talented, innovative, and open-minded candidates. It is among the leading business schools in the world and leads in education and research in management sciences.
This program is for 16 months and has been designed to provide the students the required time to learn a new skill and gain invaluable work experience in a new field.
The business school conducts two intakes, and the batch is merged into one class in the second half of the program. It creates a sense of teamwork in the community.
Students follow a curriculum that is divided into two phases, that is, fundamental and customized.
In the Fundamental Phase, a precise combination of academic training and experiential learning of the core business skills go together.
The Customized Phase offers the students a customized MBA program to match their personal and professional aspirations.
Eligibility Requirements
The requirements for MBA at HEC Paris are given below:
Requirements for MBA at HEC Paris | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
94% |
Applicant must have completed an undergraduate program at an accredited university | |
3 year degree accepted | No |
TOEFL | Marks – 100/120 |
GMAT |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Candidates with GMAT balanced scores above 60% in quantitative and verbal sections are encouraged | |
PTE | Marks – 72/90 |
IELTS | Marks – 7/9 |
GRE | No specific cut off mentioned |
Work Experience | Minimum: 24 Months |
ESSEC Business School was established in 1907. It is among the most competitive business schools in France. It is one of the 76 French business schools in the world that have received accreditation from AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS. It was the first school in Europe to do so.
The Global MBA is a full–time MBA focusing on international markets. Students learn fundamental business concepts through strong academic and innovative approaches to learning.
Students will also benefit from experiencing real-world projects and business scenarios through field trips and company visits, which will provide skills needed to succeed in landing the dream job. Students will study courses such as Decision Making and Negotiations, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Control, Operations Management, Strategy Management, Managerial Communication, Statistical Analysis for Management, Macro-Economics, etc.
Eligibility Requirements
Here are the requirements for MBA at ESSEC Business School:
Requirements for MBA at ESSEC Business School | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation | No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicants must have a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University | |
TOEFL | Marks – 100/120 |
GMAT | No specific cut off mentioned |
IELTS | Marks – 7/9 |
GRE | No specific cut off mentioned |
Age | Minimum: 25 years |
Work Experience | Minimum: 36 Months |
At least 3 years of post-university professional experience (excluding internships) | |
International work experience (abroad or in an international environment) |
Grenoble Ecole de Management, or Grenoble Graduate School of Business, is a graduate business school in France reputed for its teaching in management and innovation. The institution was established in 1984 in Grenoble by the CCI or Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Grenoble.
The school is featured in the top 10 business schools of France.
It is one such institution in the 1 percent of business schools globally, which has the “Triple Crown” of international business school accreditations by the EQUIS, the AACSB, and the AMBA.
Eligibility Requirements
Here are the requirements for an MBA at Grenoble Graduate School of Business:
Requirements for MBA at Grenoble Graduate School of Business | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicant must have a Bachelor-level, undergraduate degree in any subject | |
TOEFL | Marks – 94/120 |
PTE | Marks – 63/90 |
IELTS | Marks – 6.5/9 |
Work Experience | Minimum: 36 Months |
EDHEC Business School is one of the top business schools in France and worldwide for its Global MBA study program. It has ranked 38 as per the QS global ranking 2024.
The Economist has ranked the business school in the 7th position in Europe
Students can opt for one of these specialization tracks to enhance their MBA skills in one of these areas:
Eligibility Requirements
Here are the requirements for MBA at EDHEC Business School:
Requirements for MBA at EDHEC Business School | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicant must have Bachelor’s degree or equivalent |
|
TOEFL | Marks – 95/120 |
GMAT | No specific cut off mentioned |
IELTS | Marks – 6.5/9 |
GRE | No specific cut off mentioned |
Work Experience | Minimum: 36 Months |
The IAE Paris or Sorbonne Graduate Business School is a public business school. It is a member of the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne in Paris, France. It is a component of the network of IAEs to bring together 33 business schools in France. The school is known to be among the prestigious business schools in France.
Sorbonne Business School is an institution specializing in Business and Management sciences since 1956. Training and research are the core activities offered in degree-granting programs to young Professionals and Executives.
The aim of the school is to deliver degrees recognized internationally, share its altruistic values, and equal opportunities, and success is accessible to all.
Eligibility Requirements
The requirements for MBA at Sorbonne Business School are given below:
Requirements for MBA at Sorbonne Business School | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicants must hold a recognized Bachelor’s level degree or equivalent | |
TOEFL | No specific cut off mentioned |
PTE | No specific cut off mentioned |
IELTS | No specific cut off mentioned |
Work Experience | Minimum: 36 Months |
The EMLYON Business School was earlier known as EMLYON Management School. It was established in Lyon in 1872 by the business community of the region. The school is certified officially by the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The MBA program at EMYLON has a strong focus on developing entrepreneurship skills. The program provides students with the required tools to reach their career goals
Students have the option to choose a specialization from innovation in life or luxury business and multi-national companies or new ventures.
Eligibility Requirements
The requirements for MBA at EMLYON Business School are given below:
Requirements for MBA at EMLYON Business School | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized University. |
|
TOEFL | No specific cut off mentioned |
GMAT | No specific cut off mentioned |
PTE | No specific cut off mentioned |
IELTS | No specific cut off mentioned |
GRE | No specific cut off mentioned |
Work Experience |
Minimum: 36 Months |
Applicants must have minimum of three years of full-time work experience after graduation |
The Audencia Business School is a leading business school established in 1900. It has been awarded accreditation from many reputed organizations, like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the European Quality Improvement System, and the Association of MBAs.
This institution collaborated with the UN or United Nations initiative, known as the Global Impact.
The aim of the initiative was to combine the business firms under the principles of human rights and the environment. In addition, it has many global partners in more than fifty countries in the world.
Eligibility Requirements
Here are the requirements for an MBA at Audencia Nantes School of Management:
Requirements for MBA at Audencia Nantes School of Management | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in any field | |
TOEFL | Marks – 60/120 |
GMAT | Marks – 400/800 |
IELTS | Marks – 5/9 |
GRE | Marks – 300/340 |
Duolingo | No specific cut off mentioned |
Work Experience | Minimum: 36 Months |
The Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management, also known as IAE Aix or IAE Aix-en-Provence, is a business school in southern France. It is a part of Aix-Marseille University, which is the largest University in the French-speaking part of the world. The school was established in 1409.
In 2013, it was awarded “3 Palmes – EXCELLENT Business School” by the Eduniversal Business Schools ranking by Palmes. It is consistently ranked in the 3rd position by Financial Times.
It is the first and only public graduate business school in France to be awarded the EQUIS in 1999, AMBA in 2004, and its Masters in Management in 2005.
Eligibility Requirements
The requirements for an MBA at Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management are given below:
Requirements for MBA at Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
Applicants must hold a recognized Bachelor Degree in any field |
|
IELTS | Marks – 6/9 |
Work Experience | Minimum: 36 Months |
IÉSEG School of Management is one of the leading business schools in France. It has been ranked 7th in France and 121-30 globally. The institution is a non-profit school under the contract of the state.
IÉSEG is part of the most well-known higher educational institutions in France. It was awarded international accreditations like the AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. The business school is among the top 1 percent of business schools in the world.
It is a part of the elite association known as the Conference des Grandes Ecoles. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation of France recognizes the school.
Eligibility requirements
The requirements for an MBA at the IÉSEG School of Management are given below:
Requirements for MBA at IÉSEG School of Management, Paris | |
Qualification | Entry Criteria |
12th | No specific cut-off mentioned |
Graduation |
No specific cut off mentioned |
A Bachelor’s degree in any field from a recognized university with strong academic performance |
|
TOEFL | Marks – 85/120 |
IELTS | Marks – 6.5/9 |
Work Experience | Minimum: 36 Months |
Here are a few reasons why you should pursue your MBA studies in France:
The French authorities are serious about enhancing their education system. It is supported by the fact that over 20 percent of the country’s budget is in the education sector. France practices equality norms. It means that irrespective of your nationality, if you are a student in France, you will have all the benefits that a citizen of France has.
Higher education in France has its roots in research, and you would interact with brilliant minds across France. The country’s higher education is considered to be one of the top worldwide for its content and quality.
If you have heard of Alcatel, Airbus, Alstom, Michelin, and Pernod Ricard, then you should appreciate the reputation of the French Industries. They are ranked among the very best in the world.
France holds leadership in the industries like automobiles, aerospace, electronics, fashion, and agri-products. Paris, the capital of France, is also the top destination for international trade fairs and business tourism in the world.
As an MBA graduate, what enhances your career is not limited to the quality of education in your school but also the experiences you gain outside the classroom. From the best internships to employment offers, you can gain value in your resume and in your personality.
France has something for everyone. You will be able to find people with the same interests as you. As an international Student, you would find many students coming from across the globe to study in France to pursue higher education. So, if you wish your post-graduate studies should have an international tinge to them and give you global exposure, the universities of France are the right choice.
French is spoken by over 68 million people across the world. After English and Mandarin, French has a stronghold in the business sector. Many established businesses in the world are of French Origin, the language will enhance your resume.
Although multiple business schools offer the MBA and M.Sc. in Business in English as the medium of instruction, learning French would be helpful. The availability and ease of the programs make it convenient for you to learn the language.
With the competitiveness in the MBA market growing, external conditions have a vital role to play. In the present times, managers must be progressive and innovative in their thought processes, develop social responsibility in their actions, and practice sustainability along with profits. The University of France help you in this case.
France is reputed all over the world for its active research-oriented education system. The country has seen multiple Nobel Laureates. A center for research, the French education system, and industry look for research scholars from all over the world. It ensures that irrespective of the subject, expertise in any field is conveniently accessible to you.
France is a diverse nation; it offers the right set of attributes that would add great value to your management studies. It has multiple advantages for its location. It is strategically located in Europe, providing you access to other countries. France is not only one of the most advantageous countries for an MBA degree, but it has all the required attributes to ensure that your time in the country is a fruitful experience.
The country has ten of the top 100 business schools in the world. Thereby, post-graduate candidates are drawn to the country. They can opt for a diverse range of subjects to choose from and select extra subjects along with their chosen curriculum. Apart from being a hub of progressing technology, development, and innovation, an MBA in the universities of France offers the chance to learn from the best of educators, interact with people with varied backgrounds, and have a pan-European network for career prospects.
Grenoble Graduate School of Business
IAE Aix Marseille Graduate School
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