Business and Management
Management studies cover many fields: commerce, economics and management, accounting, finance, human resources, public and private administration, etc. Many French public and private institutions offer excellent training in this field, in French and English.
STUDY IN IAE
The IAE (Instituts d'Administration des Entreprises) are the public management schools of French universities. There are 32 IAEs in France. The curriculum is organized according to the LMD format (bachelor-master-doctorate). IAE offers professional licenses, management licenses, professional and research masters as well as MBAs (Master of Business Administration). Training courses in English and French are available.
Score IAE-Message
Some courses (in 3rd year of bachelor's degree or master's degree) require the passage of the Score IAE-Message. This exam evaluates candidates in 4 areas: general culture, French language, logic, English language. The exam lasts 3 hours and takes the form of a multiple choice. Each training and IAE has its own prerequisites, so to be sure check them out!
Most IAEs require a parallel procedure, that is in addition to applying on the “Études en France” platform, you must also send an application form (electronic or paper) directly to the institution. Always remember to consult the "admission" page of the IAE you are interested in, while following the calendar that corresponds to your level of study. More information on Etudes en France here.
STUDY IN BUSINESS SCHOOL
There are more than 220 business and management schools in France. Most of these schools are private. Most of them are not recognized by the State. Only about 40 institutions are recognised by the State and authorised to award the master's degree (bac +5); these institutions are part of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles: this accreditation guarantees the accreditation of certain courses as well as the quality of the diploma awarded.
International accreditation by AACSB, AMBA, EPAS or EQUIS is also a guarantee of quality and excellence.
Business schools offer Bachelor and BBA (Bachelor in Business Administration), Master and MBA (Master in Business Administration) degrees. After obtaining the Master's degree, it is possible to complete a Specialised Master's degree (Bac +6). Business schools also offer training for professionals through Executive MBAs (EMBAs).
French business schools enjoy international recognition: in 2017, 24 institutions were among the top 95 in the Financial Times' ranking of the best Master in Management, including 3 in the top 10 (HEC, ESSEC and ESCP).
Business schools benefit from numerous partnerships with companies and also allow international mobility.
All these institutions offer French and English courses. You must apply directly to the school for the program that interests you before registering on Études en France.
STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY
Universities also offer management training at the bachelor, master and doctorate levels, particularly in the Law, Economics and Management department:
They offer degrees in economics, economy-management and economic and social administration (ESA). A master's degree course allows for specialization: banking, marketing, human resources, etc...
Applications are made on “Études en France” , according to the schedule that corresponds to your level.
English language programs are available at the master level.
START WITH A BTS OR A DUT
The Superior Technician Certificate (BTS)
The BTS (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur) is a two-year diploma prepared in a high school or vocational training centre. There are about 10 BTS in the field of commerce and management: banking, commerce, communication, transport, etc... The BTS allows for direct professional integration (for sales positions, marketing assistants, human resources assistants, etc.) or further study in a bachelor's degree or business school. It is a national diploma that is part of the European LMD system, and confers 120 ECTS upon graduation.
For the BTS: Apply on Parcoursup!
The University Diploma of Technology
The DUT (Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie) is a two-year diploma prepared by the IUT (Instituts Universitaires de Technologie), the technology courses of French universities. The DUTs in the field of administration, management and commerce prepare students for entry into professional life (for positions as sales representatives, marketing assistants, human resources assistants, etc.) or for further studies in a professional degree, general licence or business school. The training is part of the European LMD system, and confers 120 ECTS upon graduation. Applications should be made on “Études en France”.
Entering a Business School
Students with a BTS or DUT may enter an economy-management preparatory class. This one-year training allows them to prepare for the examinations for parallel admissions to business schools, while allowing them to validate an economics and management degree or an AES (economic and social administration) degree.
Students are often required to pass the Tage-mage, a test of aptitude for management studies.
Attention, the DUT and BTS are 100% taught in French.
START WITH AN ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL PREPARATION
The CPGE (Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles) is a two-year course given in high schools in France. It is accessible after the baccalaureate and prepares students to take the entrance exams to business and management schools and ENS (Ecoles Normales Supérieures). There are 3 different options: scientific, economic and technological.
Preparatory classes are not degree courses, but give access to European credits and allow entry to the University in L3. Registered in the LMD system, preparatory classes validate ECTS (120 maximum at the end of the 2 years) which make it possible to obtain equivalences in the event of reorientation.
There are also 2 ENS preparatory classes that combine high school and university courses. One is mainly about law courses and prepares for the ENS de Rennes exam (law, economics and management department), the other one prepares for the ENS Paris-Saclay exam (economics and management department). These two pre-requisites are degrees and allow you to validate 2 years of law (or AES - Economic and Social Administration) and economics (or MASS - Applied Mathematics and Social Sciences) respectively.
More information on the Onisep website.
For the preparatory class, apply on Parcoursup!
Please note that CPGEs are 100% taught in French.
On the same subject
- Find a programme taught in Englishhttp://taughtie.campusfrance.org/tiesearch/#/catalog
- Find a programme at the Licence levelhttp://cataloguelm.campusfrance.org/licence/#/catalog
- Find a programme at the Master levelhttp://cataloguelm.campusfrance.org/master/#/catalog
- French Higher Education System/french-higher-education-system
