The growth of business opportunities and the encouragement of entrepreneurship have a big impact on students pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration. Students who want to pursue an MBA can find fantastic opportunities at universities abroad. France has robust industry and trade networks with nations all over the world. There is plenty of opportunity for growth and development due to its dynamic business environment. It encourages business across a range of industries and helps upcoming entrepreneurs and businesspeople. Among all of the popular study abroad options, France has become one of the best places to pursue an MBA. In France, an MBA program lasts two years. This blog will probably assist you in the selection of French business schools if you want to pursue an MBA in France.
Top-Ranked B-schools in France for an MBA
The fact that ten of the best MBA schools in the world are in France will astound you. The following business schools should be on your list if you intend to pursue an MBA in France.
HEC Paris
EDHEC Business School
Audencia Business School
Emlyon Business School
ESCP Business School
INSEEC Business School
INSEAD
Skema Business School
ISC Paris
IÉSEG School of Management
These B-schools offer online distance learning full-time and part-time MBA programs. Now let us examine how the French B-schools listed above provide some of the top MBA programs available to students from abroad.
1. HEC Paris
Established in 1881 in Jouy-en-Josas Paris, HEC Paris is the first French B-school on our list. Reputable groups have accredited it including the Association of MBAs, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and the EMFD Quality Improvement System. It was also one of the original members of the Global Alliance in Management Education or CEMS. Three different MBA program types are available.
MBA – The 12-month or 16-month full-time MBA program is designed for people in the 25–30 age range who have worked for over 6 years. In addition to a customized career-development program with HEC Talents, it offers a distinctive practical learning and leadership opportunity.
Tuition Fees – € 98,000/-
The three main components of the 18-month Executive MBA program are core courses, customized courses, and a capstone project. A portion of the curriculum is taught through distance learning platforms enabling students to delve deeper into specific program components. To give students the abilities and self-assurance they need to advance their careers it also offers a program for professional and personal development .
Tuition Fees – € 110,000/-
The 18-month TRIUM Global Executive MBA program is taught in partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Stern School of Business at New York University. Business leaders entrepreneurs and seasoned executives who want to advance their careers, can find what they need here.
Tuition Fees – € 204,000/- per year
LORs and essays are required as part of the MBA application process. If you are chosen, you will be invited to two interviews where the MBA alumni from HEC Paris will observe you. The institution considers your essay, profile, personal work history, GMAT score, and the outcomes of your two interviews with HEC Paris MBA alumni when awarding the €1,000,000 E xcellence and Diversity scholarships .
2. EDHEC Business School
With 3 campuses located in Lille, Nice, Paris, as well as in the UK, and Singapore, the next B-school to feature in our list is the EDHEC Business School. It was made in 1906. It holds triple accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. It teaches the following MBA courses:
Global MBA full-time 10-month course is for individuals with 3+ years of professional experience. This course consists of the Lead360 personal, career, and leadership development program which prepares you for your post-MBA journey. It also includes 2 months of a tailored MBA project and 2 international business trips .
Tuition Fees – € 52,500/-
Executive MBA (EMBA) part-time course ( 16-22 months ) is meant for professionals with 5+ years of experience and teaches them about bringing innovation, and transformation in the business world. It comprises a Transform360 elective workshop that enables you to tailor your leadership and professional learning journey, to align with your needs and strengths.
Tuition Fees – € 52,000/-
Executive MBA Healthcare Innovation & Technology part-time course ( 16-22 months ) is for people with 5+ years of experience, who wish to enhance their strategic, financial, and business skills and leadership competencies within the healthcare sector. It includes executive coaching, 2 global business trips, action learning, and collaboration with peers from within and outside of the healthcare ecosystem.
Tuition Fees – € 52,000/-
The Online MBA 24 months course has been designed to accommodate the needs of busy working professionals, who wish to develop their existing business acumen and skills
Tuition Fees – € 39,000/-
To apply for these MBA courses, you need to submit an updated CV , and 2 LORs , and appear for an interview . T o reward excellence and foster diversity in its MBA and EMBA cohorts across all campuses, EDHEC’s generous and transparent scholarship policy can potentially reduce your tuition fees by 15-40% .
3. Audencia Business School
As a B-school, Audencia Business School is ranked 27th in the world. It was built in 1900, in Nantes, France. It is known for the following MBA programs:
International MBA full-time program ( 12 months ) gives students a chance to c ollaborate with major companies and Executive MBA students in France and around the world. It is meant for people with 3-7 years of work experience.
Tuition Fees – € 31,500/-
Executive MBA 18 months part-time program has been specially designed to help individuals with 3+ years of work experience, gain managerial competencies, and skills.
After completion of this program, students are given certification for being an a dministrator of a medium-sized company.
Tuition Fees – € 40,000/-
The institution offers an Early Application Scholarship worth € 4,500 to ambitious students who demonstrate excellence and commitment. Students must submit a detailed CV and a Cover Letter when applying for its above-mentioned MBA programs.
4. Emlyon Business School
Affiliated with the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Emlyon Business School was made in 1872 and has campuses in Lyon Saint-Etienne, and Paris. It also has campuses in China and India as well. When it comes to teaching MBA, it has the following courses:
MBA program in collaboration with Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)- It focuses on deep internationalization, scientific training, and specialized improvement. It is for 2.5 years and is taught in Chinese and English.
As part of its overseas module, students are taken for company visits, are also made to write a thesis on research ethics, and are taught specialized courses on financial investment . You should have 2-5 years of work experience, to be eligible for this course.
Tuition Fees – € 30,640/-
Global Executive MBA part-time 2-year program is taught in both Mandarin and English. It is meant for individuals with a total of 8 years of professional experience, who want to step into senior management and leadership roles. To apply for this, you need to attempt a written test and appear for an interview , along with submission of 2 LORs .
Tuition Fees – RMB 458,000/-
5. ESCP Business School
If you wish to be a part of one of the world’s oldest business schools, then do have a look at the ESCP Business School. Standing tall since 1819, it is the first B-school in Paris. It has several campuses in France, London, Madrid, Berlin, Warsaw, and Turin. The institution offers various types of scholarships , which will lead to a r eduction of 5-20%, in your tuition fees . It offers the following MBA courses:
MBA in International Management is for 10-22 months , for individuals with 3 years of professional experience. You get to study in six campuses in Europe and get to work on two company consultancy projects .
Career development workshops and boot camps in sectors such as Consulting, Finance, Tech, and Marketing are organized. If you wish to apply, you need to submit a CV and a professional LOR and appear for an interview .
Tuition Fees – € 60,500/-
Executive MBA part-time course can be completed within 18-34 months . In this, students are made to be part of international seminars, & consulting projects , and are assigned a personal executive coach . As a part of its application process, students must submit an updated CV , and 2 LORs , and appear for an interview .
Tuition Fees – € 83,000/-
6. INSEEC Business School
The INSEEC Business School was founded in 1975. It has various campuses across the globe, out of which the ones located in France are Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Beaune, and Chambery. It is known for offering an MBA degree in International Business Management , a full-time course that can be completed within 1-2 years.
This trains students for business development but also for other cross-functional positions which enables them to manage the activity and development of an international unit. It incorporates a work-study program. INSEEC’s Jacques Lambert Foundation awards first-year students scholarships based on their academic merit and social conditions. Interested applicants must prepare a written dossier , and a LOR , and also appear for an interview if they want to enroll in INSEEC’s MBA program.
Tuition Fees – € 12,440/- (first-year), and € 13,840/- (second-year)
7. INSEAD
INSEAD is a not-for-profit B-school situated in Fontainebleau, France which was created in 1957. It also has campuses in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and San Francisco. It teaches the following MBA courses:
Full-time MBA is a 10-month accelerated course that has been designed for people with 3-8 years of work experience. By offering a variety of elective courses for students to choose from, students can become leaders who focus on sustainability in their business activities.
Tuition Fees – € 103,500/-
Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) course (14-20 months) has been designed to accelerate the professional journey of executives who wish to step into the C-Suite level. It comprises a Leadership Development Program that has a wide range of innovative learning methods, designed for various styles of leadership.
Tuition Fees – € 22,000- €34,000/-
To enroll in an MBA program here, you need to write essays , submit LORs , a 2-page CV , and answer the video questions , asked by INSEAD. The institution provides various types of scholarships to students who will further help in the promotion of international leadership and business practice.
8. Skema Business School
Founded in 2009, as a result of the merger between two former academic institutions, the Skema (School of Knowledge, Economy, and Management) Business School is a premier B-school. It has three campuses in France- Lille, Paris, and Nice, as well as in the USA, China, Brazil, and South Africa.
Its Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) program (18-24 months) is meant for experienced executives who wish to build upon their managerial and strategic skills in an international environment. As per the Financial Times 2024 rankings, it is placed at the 13th position in the category of Best Executive MBA programs worldwide. It comprises blended learning (in-person residential weeks, webinars, and online modules). Only 20 days of physical presence is required on campus.
It includes four 5-day residential weeks on SKEMA’s international campuses in Paris (France), Raleigh (North Carolina, USA), Suzhou (China), and Belo Horizonte (Brazil). The remainder of the program is delivered online in the form of live online webinars and self-study online classes. To be eligible for this program, you need to have a significant amount of professional experience.
Tuition Fees – €45,000/-
9. ISC Paris (Higher Institute of Commerce of Paris)
ISC Paris was established in 1963. It offers a 3 year long MBA in International Business Management which is a general degree program that trains specialists who have a global overview of the business world and want to become corporate managers. It incorporates a skill-based learning program , in which students are given a certificate after completing each skill set.
Each year, nearly 12% of students receive the ISC Paris scholarships based on social and academic criteria, and for promotion of Student Enterprises. Scholarships vary from € 200 to € 1,500 . To apply here, students need to submit a resume , and a Cover Letter , highlighting their motivation to study in the MBA program.
Tuition Fees – € 10,750/- (first-year), € 13,300/- each for second and third year
10. IÉSEG School of Management (The Institute of Scientific Economics & Management)
The IESEG School of Management is a part of the largest private university in France, in terms of student population, and endowment, which is the Catholic University of Lille. It was built in 1964 and holds the “Triple Crown’’ of international B-School accreditations: EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 French B-schools, it offers the following MBA courses:
The International MBA (1 year) course is for professionals who wish to develop their managerial and leadership skills. This course includes an Executive track, an International track, and a Leadership and coding track . A minimum of 3 years of full-time postgraduate work experience is required to be eligible for this course. You need to submit a CV if you wish to enroll in this course.
Tuition Fees – € 39,000/-
Executive MBA (EMBA) (17 months) is meant for professionals with at least 5 years of work experience who wish to step into senior management roles. The course focuses on enabling students to build a personal brand and connect with the market through their products and services. Students who wish to apply for this have to submit 2 LORs and appear for an interview .
Tuition Fees – €83,000/- (Barcelona & Madrid) and €87,600/- (Munich)
Documents Required for Studying MBA in France
If you are an MBA aspirant, who wants to study in France , then you must have a fair idea of the documents that you would need while applying to a Business school there. These application requirements vary based on the course and university you have applied for. However, the common documents required are:
The university application form has all the correct information.
Official transcripts and high-school leaving certificate from an accredited academic institution.
A Bachelor’s degree in a specific subject from a recognized university.
Competitive scores in standardized tests like the GRE or GMAT , to assess your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, might be asked by certain universities in France.
Academic documents like a resume, essay, Cover Letter, Motivation Letter, SOP, and LOR , that explain your reasons for pursuing an MBA in a French university, will be beneficial for your career.
To write as per the university standards, contact experienced study abroad consultants who have a team of dedicated SOP and LOR writers.
The TOEFL or IELTS language proficiency test results showcase your ability to communicate effectively in an academic context where English is the medium of instruction. At French universities, most of the courses are taught in English. If you want to continue your education and find employment or settle in France, it is always preferable to learn French. You can take French language proficiency tests such as DALF, DELF, TEF, or TCF.
A valid passport and a Student visa for France , bearing your correct initials.
Conclusion
Thus, we saw how France has some of the world’s best B-schools, which offer incredible MBA programs. These MBA programs are for freshers, working professionals, and for senior business executives, and managers. Most of these courses combine on-campus learning with research work and international study and business tours. France being a strong economy and having wide business networks throughout the world provides ample business opportunities. It is one of the top choices for international students who wish to pursue an MBA. These B-schools are known for their high-quality business education and have a highly selective admission process. If you are also an MBA aspirant, who wishes to study in France , and needs any sort of help regarding admission for an MBA program, contact your nearest study abroad consultants . We, at Contentholic provide one of the best career counseling, visa guidance , and SOP and LOR writing services. Reach out to us, and fulfill your dream of studying MBA at a top-ranked university in France.
