Keen on pursuing an MBA abroad? Considering France as one of your study destinations? To make it easier on you, we have listed the top MBA colleges in France you can apply to. We will also discuss why France is the ideal study location for you.
Basking in a Parisian cafe with the Eiffel Tower peeking through the scenery, sipping on hot coffee with a croissant or pain au chocolat, what a wonderful feeling that could be, right? For years now, France has been known for its historical monuments, vibrant history and culture, its art and architecture and not to forget its cuisine. But, what if we told you France is also home to popular and prestigious management institutes. Yes, that’s right! For years now, France has also become a study destination for international students. So, let’s explore the top MBA colleges in France and why studying here is beneficial for you.
French Education System
Before we begin to list the MBA colleges in France you can apply to, let us take a look at why France is the ideal study location for you.
To begin with, the literacy rate in France is at 99% with over 15 million students enrolled across high schools and universities. The higher education system in France is divided into categories — public universities and grandes écoles. A grandes écoles refers to an elite educational establishment that consists of a small number of students, typically 100 to 300 graduates per year, and focuses on a specific discipline. Some of these disciplines include engineering, humanities, science, political sciences, and business. Most business schools or MBA colleges in France such as HEC Paris, ESSEC Business School and many more fall under this category. Grandes écoles are usually highly selective and are the most prestigious organisations in the country. Some notable figures such as French scientists and economists have graduated from these institutes.
Why France?
Now that we have given you a brief explanation of the French education system, let us take a look at how studying in France can be beneficial.
Quality Education: More than 20% of the French government’s spending goes into their education sector. This coupled with the fact that France has a literacy rate of 99%, goes to show that education in France is of high quality. Additionally, as mentioned above, studying in a grandes écoles is a prestigious honor and will ensure respect at a global level.
Various Specialisations: Pursuing an MBA in France will provide you with the opportunity to opt for various specialisations in diverse subject areas along with your degree. Some of the specialisations that are offered in France along with your MBA are — MBA in aviation management, MBA in media management, MBA in digital marketing, MBA in HR management, MBA in business analytics, MBA in finance management, MBA in marketing management, MBA in travel and tourism, and MBA in healthcare management.
Global Network: Studying in France will allow you to not only interact with students from all over the world but with highly educated, globally known professors and mentors as well. As part of your MBA, you will also get a chance to engage with the key players of the industry. Additionally, if you pursue an internship as part of your MBA, you will also be able to build a global network. This network will be beneficial when you are looking for career opportunities.
Diverse Career Opportunities: France is a fast-growing and the third-largest economy. It is also the fifth-largest trading nation in the world. With a robust economy, there are bound to be diverse career opportunities for you to pursue right after you graduate. Additionally, in such an economy, you are guaranteed high pay and an even higher increase in your salary after the first few years of employment.
Travel and Explore: France is one of the most beautiful travel destinations. While pursuing your study in France, you will have the opportunity to travel and explore the country. You can use this opportunity to visit historical monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, Mont Saint Michel, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, and Loire Valley Châteaux. You can visit neighbouring cities such as Paris, Marseilles, Toulouse, Nice, and Lilies, Montpellier, Cannes, and Avignon. You should not only use this opportunity to travel and explore France, but also immerse yourself in the French culture, art, music, and its famous cuisine!
MBA Colleges in France
The top MBA colleges in France are as follows:
| Universities | Program Offered | Location |
| HEC Paris | MBA | Jouy-en-Josas, France |
| ESSEC Business School | Global MBA | Cergy, France |
| Paris School of Business | MBA | Paris, France |
| INSEAD – Paris | MBA | Paris, France |
| ESCP Europe Business School | Executive MBA | Paris, France |
| Rennes School of Business | International MBA | Rennes, France |
| Europe International University | MBA | Paris, France |
| EDHEC Business School | Global MBA | Lille, France |
| Emlyon Business School | International MBA | Lyon, France |
| ISC Paris Business School | MBA in International Business | Paris, France |
| IESEG School of Management | International MBA | Lille, France |
| Grenoble Graduate School of Business | MBA | Grenoble, France |
| Audencia Business School | Full-time MBA | Nantes, France |
| The American Business School | MBA | Paris, France |
| Toulouse Business School | MBA in Aerospace | Toulouse, France |
| Schiller International University | MBA in Management of Information Technology | Paris, France |
| ISEE Business School | MBA | Paris, France |
MBA Colleges in France: Eligibility Criteria
The general eligibility criteria for MBA colleges in France are as follows:
- You must have a minimum of two years of work experience
- You must have completed an undergraduate degree
- You must have a valid GMAT or GRE score
- You must have taken the IELTS or TOEFL test if you are not a native speaker of English
Some of these criteria are bound to change according to university guidelines set by the university you decide to apply to. Some universities might prefer the GMAT, while some other universities accept a GRE score. Similarly, the requirement or the number of years of work experience is bound to change from university to university. Hence, you must go through the university guidelines and requirements before you begin your application process.
MBA Colleges in France Accepting GRE
As mentioned above, different universities have different admission requirements. Let us take a look at the MBA colleges in France that accept GRE scores along with the GRE cutoff.
MBA colleges in France that accept GRE scores are as follows:
| Universities | GRE Score |
| INSEAD – France | 325 |
| Paris School of Business | 301 |
| ESCP Europe Business School | 300+ |
| Toulouse Business School | 303+ |
| Montpellier Business School | 303 |
| ICN Business School | 305 |
| EDHEC Business School | 310+ |
| HEC Paris | 320 |
| ESSEC Business School | 320 |
As you can see from the above table, some of the top MBA colleges such as HEC Paris, INSEAD, and ESSEC Business School have a high GRE cutoff.
We hope you find this list of the top MBA colleges in France helpful. And, now that you know the benefits of studying in France, begin your application process if this is where you want to be.