France is not merely a tourist destination. Apart from the UK, it is one of the best countries in Europe to pursue MBA at! HEC Paris, INSEAD, Essec Business School, etc. are some of the best B-schools in the world, and if you can crack their MBA program your future will be more secure than ever.
A MBA in Paris is truly a dream come true for many!
So, if you are planning on getting an international MBA degree but haven’t yet finalized on a destination, the French B-schools should definitely be in your list.
There are also plenty of job opportunities in France. Some of the best Fortune 500 brands regularly carry out placements from these B-schools, and with the right attitude you will find yourself serving a high role in the consultancy or finance industry!
But, what does it take to do an MBA in France? What are the requirements, which are the schools you should be looking at, are there any scholarships, etc. are some of the major questions this article will answer.
Top B-schools for MBA in France
If the absolute top-tier is what you are aiming for, then the two names you should be concerned with are HEC Paris and INSEAD. Not only are they the best B-schools in France, but they are also among the best in all of Europe.
There are plenty more B-schools in France for you to consider as well. Take a look at these rankings below:
| B-school Ranking | QS Global Ranking: Europe | Economist Global Ranking |
| INSEAD | 2 | 18 |
| HEC Paris | 4 | 4 |
| ESSEC Business School | 16 | 9 |
| Grenoble Graduate School of Business | 25 | 75 |
| EDHEC Business School | 27 | 44 |
| EMYLON Business School | 41 | 71 |
| Audencia Nantes School of Management | 45 | 88 |
If you crack any of these MBA programs expect to get placed in some of the best companies in the world. Just take a look at the different industries the last batch from HEC Paris joined:
Source: Poets & Quants, HEC Paris Employment Reports
Now that you have a fair idea of what an MBA in Paris or anywhere else in France has in store for your professional career, let’s take a look at what is needed to get admitted in these B-schools!
2. MBA in France Requirements
GMAT and GPA
The average GMAT score requirement for INSEAD or HEC Paris is always above 700, and if you are in the 710 – 720 area, then you definitely have high chances of being selected. But, one should not consider these scores as something absolute. Candidates with lower GMAT scores have also made it to the top B-schools of France.
If you have a low GMAT score then what you need is a strong application. Key work experience, leadership positions, relevant extra-curriculars, and a good GPA can ensure that your dream of pursuing MBA in Paris is possible even with a low GMAT score. At the same time, always try to retake the GMAT and improve your score to ensure you have the best chances of cracking the top-tier MBA programs.
The GPA of your graduation course, along with the institution from where you received the degree matters to the admissions committee. An average score of 3.5 is a strong application builder, but a lower score from a top institute also counts!
Work Experience For Top MBA in France
While the minimum requirement to apply to most of these B-schools is 3 years of full-time work experience, at an average the work experience of an INSEAD MBA class is 6 years. This doesn’t mean you need to have mandatorily completed 6 years at your profession to stand a chance at qualifying!
Rather, your work experience is analyzed in a qualitative manner. If you have worked in one of the top companies within your industry or in a Fortune 500 brand then 3 – 4 years of work experience will definitely count as a solid trait. On the other hand, if you have worked in a small company for 4 – 5 years, but achieved good leadership position along with regular promotions, you will still have a strong application as well.
Some B-schools in France may also ask candidates for international work experience. Here’s a video where this is explained in detail:
Other requirements
If you are applying for MBA in Paris or anywhere else in France you will need to have passed the TOEFL/IELTS test, and also produce a set of recommendation letters. The LORs do play an important role in your application and here are some
tips to create the best possible LORs.
The top-tier MBA mindset
Apart from the general requirements you will also need to cultivate an attitude that is unique to those seeking admission in top-tier international B-schools. This consists of an in-depth understanding of your strengths, your professional goals, and more importantly how you will be achieving them through a MBA program.
Networking is another important step in cultivating this mindset. Attending webinars conducted by these schools and getting in touch with the alumni are some important steps you should consider. And if you can do a school visit then you will build a solid network that will help you get admitted.
This mindset is also key to correctly attempting the application questions and acing the interview!
MBA in France Costs & Scholarship
Compared to the American B-schools acquiring a MBA degree in France is a much easier task. Not only is the tuition fee much lower, but there are also plenty of scholarships that you can get hold of!
Take a look at the tuition cost of the top B-schools in France:
| Business School | Duration | Tuition (Approx.) |
| HEC Paris | 16 months | INR 58,94,734 |
| INSEAD | 10 months | INR 70,59,126 |
| Grenoble Ecole de Management | 12 months | INR 25,47,107 |
| EDHEC Business School Global | 10 months | INR 35,65,950 |
| Essec Business School Global | 12 months | INR 40,75,372 |
| EMLyon Business School International | 12 months | INR 31,29,303 |
Each of these schools also provides need and merit based scholarships, and you can easily find the information from their respective websites. If you are looking for more scholarships then there are many external ones you can consider. These include the likes of Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, Eifel Scholarship, Ile-de-France scholarship, etc.
Overall, if you are choosing to pursue your MBA in Paris or anywhere else in France, you are probably making one of the best decisions of your life. Not only will you be earning a huge amount once you are placed, you will also be living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world!
Best of luck and visit our YouTube channel for more MBA tips!
Other Useful Links:
HEC Paris MBA Application Essay Questions and Tips
HEC Paris MBA | Interview with Indian Student
After Facing Rejections for 2 Years, Indian IT Applicant Cracks Duke & HEC Paris
