10 Best Business Schools in France

"Every man has two countries- his own and France," as quoted by Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president of the United States. France is a dreamy land more than a country with a rich history, worldly inventions, beguiling architecture, immaculate sites, and some top-ranking business schools worldwide. Over 3900 private and public institutes in the country offer higher education. France welcomes thousands of international students every year who are career-oriented and wish to pursue their education at some of the best schools for business in France. In this blog, we will take you through some of the best business schools in France.

Why Study Business in France?

Why study in France? The reasons are aplenty! France is known not just for its influential location but also for its prestigious business schools. Pursuing business from the top business schools in France means immersing oneself in a culturally diverse and intellectually stimulating environment that fosters innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit. At the French business schools, you will get access to world-class education in business and the chance to gain practical business skills.

10 Best Business Schools in France

The beautiful country of France is popular not only for its tourist attractions but also for the quality of education it provides. Plus, these top B schools in France offers many scholarships for international students. Students migrate from around the world to get France's finest education. Check out the Best business universities in France that offer specialised courses in business management.

1. HEC Paris

QS Ranking: #1 
Location: Paris
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Tuition: €76,000 - €78,000
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, & 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: AMBA (Association of MBAs), EQUIS (European Foundation for ManagementDevelopment), & AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) 
Top Recruiters: Deustche Bank, Burberry, & Amazon

Talking about the best business schools in France for international students, HEC Paris is a choice one might make even without thinking. The MBA program offered by HEC is for 8 months with 60 core subjects and 17 electives, a complete exposure to an entrepreneurial environment. Additionally, the employability outcome is over 99%. You will gain in-depth knowledge about business economics, financial markets, and leadership communication. You can also choose from several specialisations, including Strategic Marketing, Sustainable and Disruptive Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. As one of the best MBA schools in France, HEC Paris has let out several brave minds who have conquered businesses.  

2. INSEAD Business School

QS Ranking: #4
Location: Fontainebleau
Acceptance Rate: 31%
Tuition: €91,225 - €110,312 
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, & 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: AACSB, the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) & AMBA
Top Recruiters: Accenture, Google, & Morgan Stanley

Next on our list of the best business schools in France is INSEAD Business School. It has four campuses: France, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and San Francisco. The university is leading its management courses and research all over the globe. The university welcomes numerous international students for a 10-month programme. INSEAD offers a range of executive, master, and doctoral degrees in various business subjects, including MBA, Leadership, Finance, and Management. The business programs at INSEAD will help you understand the fundamentals of business while offering hands-on experience. And if you’re pursuing an MBA from here, you will be a part of 40+ clubs, 100+ events yearly, and 8 weeks of summer break/internship. Plus, it offers an 88% employability rate with an average annual salary package of €113,400. The university's success is dedicated to its selective admissions, innovative teachings, and effective administrative support services.

3. ESSEC 

QS Ranking: #12
Location: Cergy and Paris
Acceptance Rate: 13.7%
Tuition: €47,500 - €49,500
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, & 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: AMBA
Top Recruiters: JP Morgan Chase, KPMG, & Microsoft

Comprising four campuses: Cergy, Paris, Singapore, and Rabat, ESSEC is one of the top business schools in France. Established in 1907, the school has over 7,550 students from across the world, 154 professors of 36 nationalities, 24 research and teaching chairs, and 222 partner schools and universities. They have a 12-month full-time MBA program with teaching practices blended with academic learning and practical experience. ESSEC is not just one of the best business schools in France but also one of the Trois Parisiennes. They offer the programme in English as well as French. Additionally, they offer several scholarships to international students and a high employability rate.

4. ESCP Business School

QS Ranking: #20
Location: Paris
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Tuition: €47,000 - €75,000
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, MBA, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, & 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: AACSB, AMBA, & EQUIS 
Top Recruiters: HSBC, Bank of America, & bnp paribas

ESCP is undoubtedly one of the top B schools in France, ranked #4 out of the top 90 European business schools. It is a private institute that has excelled in the education sector since 1816. ESCP has two campuses in France and offers two intakes a year. ESCP, one of the best business colleges in France, offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in business management. The Master in Management program is of 2 years and offers hands-on experience, enabling you to gain skills needed for an international career. There are also workshops, case studies, and computer-based activities. They have an amazing academic reputation with a high employability score. Definitely one of the best MBA schools in France.

5. EDHEC Business School

QS Ranking: #17
Location: Criox
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Tuition: €41,000 - €46,000
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation:  EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA
Top Recruiters: SAP, Capegemini, & UNESCO

Functioning from 5 campuses, EDHEC is one of the best MBA colleges in France. The university has a good reputation for research brilliance and training entrepreneurs and managers since 1906. It offers a 16-month program with numerous electives to choose from. No matter which program you choose, be it a BBA, an MBA, or an EMBA, you will get a combination of academic excellence, international studies, and professional experience. The courses emphasise on developing critical thinking, leadership skills, and thinking outside the box. Additionally, students are provided with personalised support and international connections for their consulting projects. EDHEC was one of the first MBA schools in the world, and nothing can beat their teaching methodologies and success stories.

6. Grenoble Ecole De Management

QS Ranking: #32
Location: Grenoble
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Tuition: €33,900- €35,900 
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA
Top Recruiters: Amazon, Microsoft, & BCG

Since 1984, this business school has made it through a lot of research and practice to become one of the top schools for business in France. They don't only focus on academics and research but also on innovation and encounter challenges. The school offers year-long full-time course with 450 teaching hours of core courses and 90 teaching hours of electives. At the end of the year, there will be a final management project that can be completed after employment. The university has an excellent academic reputation and a good employability rate. It is one of the best business universities in France for international students.

7. EMlyon Business School

QS Ranking: #22
Location: Lyon
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Tuition: €38,500 - €45,000
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, & 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB, & AMBA
Top Recruiters: Deloitte, Groupe Atlantic, & L’oreal

When it comes to the best business schools in France, EMlyon Business School can never miss the list. The school was founded in 1872 and has enrolled over 9000 students from 125 nationalities over 6 campuses. Their MBA is a full-time 11-16 month program. One can continue working while pursuing an MBA. They promise high investment returns, career-oriented succession, and hands-on learning in small cohorts. The program has many core and elective courses, an entrepreneurial consulting project, and an internship during the tenure. Undoubtedly, the passed-out students have made big successions in their careers. It is undoubtedly one of the best business universities in France for international students.

8. Audencia Business School

QS Ranking: #39
Location: Nantes
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Tuition: €31,000 - €38,500
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, MSc, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, & 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB, & AMBA
Top Recruiters: American Express, Accenture, & Google

Founded in 1900, Audencia is one of the top business schools in France and a member of France's honoured Grande École higher education institutions. The school offers a range of MSc courses with a few core modules and electives in Brand Strategy and Product Management, Business Development & Growth Hacking, and Data Management in Corporate Finance. Additionally, there are case studies, projects, and internships that you will need to work on. The school also has a good academic reputation and employability rate.

9. IESEG School of Management

QS Ranking: #43
Location: Lille
Acceptance Rate: 7.62%
Tuition: €39,000-€40,000
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, & 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB, & AMBA
Top Recruiters: Amazon, Accenture, & Dell

Founded in 1964, the school is one of the best business schools in France and a member of 'Université Catholique de Lille'. IESEG offers many bachelor’s, specialised, MBA, and doctoral degrees. The MBA program is of 13-16 months delivered in English. With this program, you will be part of collaborating community wherein you will learn via business games, live cases, simulations, and entrepreneurial projects. There are two intakes per year and 16 online hours for 6 weeks.

10. Toulouse Business School

QS Ranking: #84
Location: Toulouse
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Tuition: €35,000-€40,000
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree, MIM, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, 3-4 Years of Experience
Accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA
Top Recruiters: Louis Vuitton, Yahoo, & Deloitte

Toulouse Business School can undoubtedly be called one of the top business schools in France. The school’s Master in Management program has been ranked #3 by French Business Magazine Le Moci. It’s a 2-year double degree that will offer you insights on all aspects of business management, along with international experience. By the end of the course, you will have a robust professional experience with minimum 9 months of internship. The curriculum consists of core and elective modules, case studies, group projects, company consulting projects, and internships. 

Requirements to Get into the Best Business Schools in France

All the best schools for business in France have certain requirements that you must fulfill to get into one. Even though the requirements vary depending on the school, there are a few generic requirements that students must meet to get into the top French business schools. These include:

1. Any Bachelor’s Degree or a minimum educational qualification equivalent to French Baccalaureate.
2. 3-4 years of qork experience if pursuing an MBA.
3. English Language Proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS.
4. GMAT or GRE scores.
5. A French student visa.

So this was our list of the 10 best business schools in France for international students. Remember to always research the university you are interested in before applying, and if you are seeking student accommodation in France, don't forget to check out the amber website. Apart from studies, France is an amazing place boasting of rich culture and traditions with beautiful historic sites and numerous tourist attractions. It's a visit of a lifetime!