France is one of the premier destinations for International Students to pursue higher studies. With an amazing environment, esteemed institutes and universities, high-quality faculty, and facilities, it is the perfect place for students to experience the real world while expanding their own knowledge. In fact, France is a world leader in higher education, innovation, entrepreneurship. It also provides a highly-conducive environment for upcoming businesses and start-ups. So, with the current trend of pursuing an MBA abroad becoming more and more popular, this article aims to explain the different opportunities available for a person who wishes to pursue an MBA program in France. 

Why MBA from France?

There are a plethora of reasons why one should seriously consider the prospect of pursuing an MBA in France. If you are wondering why an MBA from France is valuable, then we have put together a list of benefits and advantages that make France one of the best destinations in the world to pursue an MBA. 

The following is the list of advantages of pursuing an MBA in France: 

• Internationally renowned MBA program: France is known across the globe for its quality of institutions that focus on development and innovation. In fact, most of the MBA programs offered by various universities are recognized on an international level. This, combined with the world-class business schools and faculties, make France the dream destination to pursue an MBA. 

• Excellent Networking opportunities: France is a hub for international communications, businesses, and entrepreneurship. Students who get enrolled in the top business schools of the country get to interact with competitive peers who motivate them and also get the opportunity to network with businesses across the European continent. This provides them with the perfect platform to evolve into future business managers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals. 

• Vibrant Economy: Studying in France and aspiring to become a business professional provides students with amazing opportunities as the country has a constantly growing and vibrant economy. Getting the chance to be part of this economy and contribute towards its further growth is a great way to kickstart one’s career in the business world. As such, an MBA in France provides students with a pleasant lifestyle, lucrative networking opportunities, a plethora of future career prospects, and significant boosts to one’s MBA credibility by being part of such a robust economy. 

• Learning French: French is the 3rd most popular language in the world. In contemporary times where the entire world has become a global market for the exchange of ideas, property, and business proposals, communication is an important aspect. Therefore, having the opportunity to learn French while studying puts students at a unique advantage as they will be able to interact, negotiate and host discussions with a larger group of people.

MBA in France for Indian Students

Having an MBA from a foreign country on your resume is a great step towards a fantastic and lucrative career path. There are many advantages of pursuing an MBA in France for Indian Students, ranging from exposure and experience to networking and merit of the MBA. 

Here are some of the unique advantages of pursuing an MBA in France for Indian Students: 

• World-Class Education: France is a beacon of high-quality education and has a reputation across the world for being the gold standard for higher education, research, and innovation. With nearly 20% of the government funds being allocated for the development of the education sector, the quality of education provided is hard to match. The entire curriculum is based on research and an application-oriented basis, which makes it appealing for Indian students as they get an opportunity to sharpen their minds and be trained to tackle the most difficult problems in their field. 

• Exposure and Experience: Peer-based learning has proven to be one of the most effective ways of learning. This is because one gets the opportunity to test one’s ideas in the field of business management or any other specialization against like-minded students and have the merits of the idea tested by garnering different perspectives. As an Indian student, you get to meet people from all walks of life from around the world, and this provides you with immense exposure, invaluable experience, and incredible networking opportunities. 

• Well Connected economy and market: France happens to have a well-connected market and thriving economy. In comparison to staying within the country, having the opportunity to be part of a robust economy that attracts businesses and companies from all across Europe is an amazing opportunity to test one’s skillset and grow a career that could potentially span across the entire continent. 

• Premium Placed on Innovation: France is one of the few countries that heavily focuses on innovation and encourages its young, bright minds to come up with novel business solutions and ideas that could be groundbreaking in the field of business management. This makes France an appealing country for pursuing an MBA as it will prove to be a constant stimulus to one’s out-of-the-box thinking ability. As such, apart from getting the MBA degree, one gets to be part of an unparalleled learning experience that will provide great value as one progresses in life.  

MBA in France Admissions

The application procedure for MBA in France is as follows:

• Almost all French colleges allow online applications and demand a full set of documentation. You can obtain the application form from their respective websites and complete it according to the instructions.
• After completing the application form, ensure that you have all of the required papers available to send with it. You will also have to pay a small application fee.
• Keep an eye on the submission deadlines set by the institution and try to submit the form as soon as feasible.
• Depending on the university, interviews will be performed over the phone or through other technological methods of interaction.
• Ensure that you have secured your student visa so that you may begin attending the university as soon as you receive your admit letter; otherwise, your admission will be cancelled.

Specializations for MBA in France

The world of business management and administration is pretty broad as there are many niche areas that one can choose to focus upon. The specialization one decides to pursue in an MBA defines the merit of the course and helps them stand out from their competing peers. While it is true that to become a successful businessman, one must be a jack of many trades, having specialization in an MBA in France helps recruiters differentiate between applicants, which in turn allows students to get hired by those who are looking to inculcate and develop a particular skill set from their recruits. 

Here is a list of the most popularly chosen specializations for MBA in France: 

• MBA in Information Technology (IT)
• MBA in Media Management
• MBA in Travel and Tourism Management
• MBA in Digital Marketing
• MBA in Finance Management
• MBA in Business Analytics
• MBA in Marketing Management
• MBA in Aviation Management
• MBA in Healthcare Management
• MBA in HR Management

These MBA programs are called specialization MBA programs. They cover the majority of the syllabus and curriculum from the general management programs and, in addition to that, have courses that give special focus and attention to particular fields. These specific subjects include the likes of economics, finance, accounting, etc. 

Modes of learning MBA in France

Apart from different specialisation available for MBA in Frace, there are also types of modes available for learning. Following are modes of learning available:

• Regular Classroom Programmes
• Distance Education Programmes
• Online Learning Programmes
• Fast-track Programmes

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Check Out: Top Universities in France

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Top MBA Colleges in France

As discussed earlier, France houses some of the top-tier business schools anywhere in the world. Therefore, by securing admission and enrollment in one of the top MBA colleges in France, one can easily start charting out a lucrative career in the field of business management. These business schools offer their MBA courses and programs in different learning modes and specializations. Some of the top MBA colleges in France include INSEAD, HEC Paris, and ESSEC Business School. 

Here is a table of the top 10 business schools in France:

College for MBA in France	Average Total Tuition Fees	Eligibility Criteria
EDHEC Business School	INR 38 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree Minimum of 3 years of work experience GRE and GMAT scores are accepted IELTS: 6.5 / TOEFL:95
INSEAD	INR 75 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree GRE or GMAT scores Average requirement of 5 years of work experience
ESCP Business School	INR 40 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree Minimum of 3 years of work experience GRE and GMAT scores IELTS: 6.5 / TOEFL:95
HEC Paris Business School	INR 75 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree Minimum of 2 years of work experience GRE and GMAT scores IELTS: 7 / TOEFL: 100
Emlyon Business School	INR 33 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree Minimum of 2 years of work experience in the business world GRE and GMAT scores
Toulouse Business School	INR 31 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree Minimum of 3 years of work experience GRE: 303 / GMAT: 500 scores IELTS: 6.5 / TOEFL: 90   Apart from this, the applicant must be less than 28 years of age
Grenoble Ecole de Management	INR 27 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree GMAT: 500 IELTS: 6.5 / TOEFL: 90
ISEG School of Management	INR 24 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree Minimum of 3 years of work experience GRE and GMAT scores IELTS: 6.5 / TOEFL: 85
ESSEC Business School	INR 39 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree Minimum of 3 years of work experience GRE and GMAT scores IELTS: 7 / TOEFL: 100 Also, applicants must be at least 25 years of age at the time of application
Audencia Business School	INR 27 Lakhs	Bachelor’s level or equivalent degree GRE:300 / GMAT: 400 IELTS: 5 / TOEFL: 80

MBA in France Fees

Pursuing an MBA in France can prove to be quite a costly investment for Indian students, primarily due to the exchange rate between INR and EUR. On average, an MBA in France can cost around 20,000 (EUR).

The following table shows the fees for top universities MBA in France:

College for MBA in France	Average Total Tuition Fees
EDHEC Business School	INR 38 Lakhs
INSEAD	INR 75 Lakhs
ESCP Business School	INR 40 Lakhs
HEC Paris Business School	INR 75 Lakhs
Emlyon Business School	INR 33 Lakhs
Toulouse Business School	INR 31 Lakhs
Grenoble Ecole de Management	INR 27 Lakhs
ISEG School of Management	INR 24 Lakhs
ESSEC Business School	INR 39 Lakhs
Audencia Business School	INR 27 Lakhs

Average Tuition Fees = 20,000 EUR = INR 16.71 Lakhs

Maximum Tuition Fees =  45,000 EUR = INR 37.61 Lakhs

Minimum Tuition Fees = 14,000 EUR = INR 11.69 Lakhs

Apart from the Tuition Fees, students, in most cases, will have to pay an application processing fee which can cost around INR 16,500. 

MBA in France Cost

While planning to study for an MBA in France, it is important to know how much the entire course will cost and how much the living expenses will amount to while residing in France. We have curated a list of different costs and expenses that a student will have to bear while pursuing an MBA in France to help students plan and manage their finances ahead of time. 

Mentioned below are the average expenses in France:

• Average Tuition Fees: EUR 20,000
• Cost of IELTS Exam: EUR 240
• Cost of TOEFL Exam: EUR 236
• Cost of GRE Exam: EUR 182
• Cost of GMAT Exam: EUR 250
• Accommodation Rent: EUR 500 – 1200 per month
• Electricity: EUR 50 per month
• Groceries: EUR 300 per month
• Call Charges: EUR 20 per month
• Gas for Heating: EUR 40 per month
• Internet Charges: EUR 30 per month
• Transportation charges: EUR 150 per month
• Food: EUR 80 – 100 per month
• Movie Ticket: EUR 7 per ticket
• Health Insurance: EUR 30 per month
• Restaurant Meal: EUR 40 per meal

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Check Out: The Ultimate Guide to Study MBA Abroad for Indian Students

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MBA in France Eligibility

The eligibility criteria can vary from university, but basic eligibility for MBA in France is mentioned below:

• A bachelor’s degree or a minimum educational qualification equivalent to a French bachelor’s degree is required.
• Candidates must have worked for at least 2-4 years (may vary according to university)
• International students and non-native English speakers must additionally take English language competence tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS (only applicable for universities offering MBA in France in the English language).
• Scores on the GMAT or GRE (depending on the university)

MBA in France requirements

Following is the list of documents required for MBA in France:

• A valid passport
• Application form with passport sized photo
• Proof of funds
• Official highschool and graduateion transcripts
• SOP
• LOR

Duration of MBA in France

The duration of an MBA in France varies according to the university. Some business schools provide two-year (24-month) MBA curriculum, while others give a 12-16month MBA crash course. If you apply for an MBA programme, the programme will run for at least a year. The institutions operate on a semester basis in the spring and autumn, with vacations in December and the summer months.

Scholarships for MBA in France

International students studying in France, can apply for the following scholarships for MBA:

• INSEAD MBA Scholarships: There are just a few INSEAD MBA Scholarship programmes available, and each offer is very competitive. These rewards are given based on a number of criteria and are classified into two categories: need-based and non-need-based (based on merit, nationality, gender, professional background, leadership abilities, the field of previous studies, etc.).
• Erasmus Mundus Scholarships: The European Union funds the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, which is offered to both European and non-European students. This award is available for dual Master’s and Doctoral programmes.
• MBA Scholarships at HEC Paris: HEC Paris offers excellent scholarships to international students from a range of countries and backgrounds. HEC offers three types of scholarships: merit-based, need-based, and criteria-based.
• The Eiffel Scholarship: A Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs initiative that permits respected French colleges to apply. The Eiffel Scholarship seeks foreign applicants for Masters and PhD programmes. The four core fields of study are law, economics and management, engineering sciences, and political sciences.
• Masters Scholarships in Ile-de-France: The Regional Council of Île-de-France provides Masters scholarships to overseas students seeking admission to a higher education institution in the Île-de-France. All international students are welcome to apply, although those from Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, or the new European member countries are given preference.

Career after MBA in France

Earning an MBA in France puts you on a worldwide stage, but chances inside France are many as well. According to a new INSEAD research, an estimated 40% of its graduates obtained jobs in France with top Fortune 500 corporations in their respective fields. Creating an alumni network or seeking advice from them might help you chart your post-MBA course.

According to recent statistics and data on post-French MBA employment, 80-90 percent of candidates from these colleges get work in their respective professions as soon as they acquire their degree. Their starting salaries vary from $80,000 to $120,000.

MBA in France without GMAT

While it is recommended in most cases to submit GMAT scores, it is not compulsory in all cases. In fact, there are plenty of opportunities to study for an MBA in France without GMAT scores. However, securing admission into an MBA program in one of the top business schools of France without GMAT scores will require students to prove their mettle in some other fashion. They will have to undergo separate analyses and academic assessments so that the recruiters can gauge the capacity and potential of the candidate. In such cases, CGPA in previous degrees, Essay answers, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, work experience bear greater weightage on determining one’s candidacy. 

Work experience gained is often the most important and valuable factor that recruiters take into consideration while determining which applicants make the cut. Business schools will require students to have around 2 to 5 years of active work experience in the business world if they do not have their GMAT scores. For executive MBA programs, this work experience requirement can go up to 8 to 12 years. Apart from this, it is always advisable to have 2-3 letters of recommendation and referrals from superiors in past work experiences. Along with your resume and curriculum vitae, stellar leadership qualities are also a valuable asset for determining whether you are eligible to be an MBA student at the university. Therefore, it is not always essential that one should have GMAT scores to secure admission into an MBA course in France.

MBA in France without Work Experience

Recruiters use work experience to assess a student’s academic capacity and understanding of the inner workings in their field. Most colleges will require students to show proven leadership and managerial qualities through a minimum of 2 to 5 years of work experience. However, it is not impossible to pursue an MBA in France without work experience. With the right curriculum vitae and in-depth understanding of corporate affairs, one can manage to get an MBA in France without prior work experience. It is important to note that the admission process without prior work experience becomes all the more difficult, as students are expected to show a history of consistent top grades in previous courses, academic and non-academic achievements, and participation, and outstanding letters of recommendation to get the green signal. 

If one were to peruse through the top business schools in France, then they would find that the HEC Paris School of Business is one of the premier institutes for MBA in France that offers a 2-year course in management that does not have a minimum work experience requirement. 

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