Accreditations & Recognition
This page brings together the international accreditations, State recognitions and labels that distinguish Excelia and Excelia Business School. Excelia Business School and the Master in Management (Programme Grande École) hold a quadruple accreditation (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA, EFMD Master), while the Bachelor in Business, the BBA International and the Master of Science (MSc) programmes are accredited EQUIS and AACSB. Each recognition is presented with its exact scope, from the State visa to labels of territorial impact.
Accréditations & reconnaissances
FESIC
Excelia is a member of the Fédération des Établissements d'Enseignement Supérieur d'Intérêt Collectif (FESIC). FESIC brings together more than 30 private, not-for-profit French higher education institutions and its mission is to promote an educational model based on the public interest.
Its members share common requirements in terms of governance, transparency and academic accountability. They contribute actively to the quality of programmes, to research and to the development of regions, as part of a recognised commitment to serving students and society
EESPIG, State label
Created by decree in July 2013, the EESPIG qualification (Private Higher Education Institution of General Interest) aims to bring together all private, not-for-profit higher education institutions that have signed a contract with the State. This qualification leads to a multi-year contract being signed between the State and the institution, setting the institution's strategic objectives to meet the national priorities for higher education and research.
To benefit from this label, the institution must demonstrate disinterested management and commit to the not-for-profit nature of its activity. 56 higher education institutions are labelled to date, including 8 management schools, among them Excelia since April 2017.
1st labelling obtained on 27 April 2017.
Renewal of the labelling on 31 December 2022 until 31 December 2027
PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education)
The school's commitment within the Global Compact (UN) to promoting values such as sustainable development, responsibility and ethics in teaching and research.
The "Bienvenue en France" label
Excelia holds the "Bienvenue en France" label, which 139 management schools hold in France. This label means that Excelia's schools meet the international quality standard set for the policy on welcoming international students at French higher education institutions.
Renewal on 24 May 2024 for a period of 5 years
FLE Quality Label
Excelia's Institut d'Études Françaises has held the French as a Foreign Language (FLE) Quality label for its French as a Foreign Language courses since 2009.
Awarded jointly by the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the FLE Quality label guarantees quality services (enrolment, welcome, accommodation, administrative follow-up, premises), teaching and training.
Renewal on 17 February 2023 for a period of 4 years
France Compétences RNCP (France's National Register of Professional Certifications)
The National Register of Professional Certifications (RNCP) is an official database managed by France Compétences. This register lists all the State-recognised certifications that award a qualification or a title certifying professional skills.
When a certification is listed on the RNCP, this means it has been assessed and validated by France Compétences and that it meets concrete needs of the labour market.
Why does this matter for you?
- Official recognition: your qualification is recognised by the State, companies and professional bodies.
- Employability: the programme prepares you for a clearly identified career with specific skills.
- National clarity: RNCP levels (from level 3 to level 7 or 8) correspond to the qualification levels of the French system and make equivalences easier.
France Compétences is the national authority for the regulation and funding of professional certification and apprenticeships. Created by the State, its mission is to guarantee the quality, transparency and efficiency of the certification system in France.
In concrete terms, France Compétences:
- Validates the titles and qualifications listed on the RNCP and the Répertoire Spécifique.
- Regulates the funding linked to professional training and apprenticeships (via OPCOs and the CPF, for example).
- Analyses the skills needs of the labour market to adapt training programmes.
- Sets the rules so that all players (training centres, companies, certifying bodies) operate fairly and effectively.
Accréditations & reconnaissances
EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System)
Excelia Business School obtained EQUIS accreditation for the first time in 2020 and secured its renewal in 2023 for a period of 3 years.
This EQUIS accreditation strengthens the School's position among the elite of Business Schools worldwide. Extremely selective, this international label confirms the quality of the School's strategy and demonstrates its level of excellence on a global scale. It also highlights its distinctive features.
Renewal in 2023 for 3 years
AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), a mark of international excellence
Since 2013, Excelia Business School has been accredited AACSB, an international label of excellence.
Founded in 1916, AACSB is the oldest of the accreditations. Its purpose is to assess the School's mission, the qualifications of its faculty, its intellectual contributions and its teaching programmes, with a focus on overall quality and continuous improvement.
AACSB accreditation assures students and parents that the School provides a high-quality education, and assures companies that its graduates perform well. It also benefits all stakeholders (graduates, local authorities, partners…) by affirming our stability and boosting the reputation of the region.
Renewal on 25 June 2019 for 6 years
AMBA
A label of excellence, the international AMBA accreditation guarantees, according to demanding criteria, the high level of quality of the programmes delivered by a Business School. It was awarded for the first time in 2020 and was renewed in 2023 for the maximum period of 5 years. AMBA accreditation was awarded to Excelia Business School on the basis of a highly detailed report and following an in-depth audit of the entire institution. Thanks to this renewal, Excelia Business School confirms its triple accreditation EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA, which only 1% of Business Schools worldwide can claim.
Awarded in 2023 for 5 years
Conférence des Grandes Écoles
Excelia Business School has been a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles since 2007. It brings together around forty management Grandes Écoles recognised by the State. Admission to the CGE is based on demanding criteria covering structure, recruitment arrangements, teaching approach, international outlook, links with business, student support and the nature of the qualifications.
Excelia Business School - Member of the CGE since 2007
EFMD
By obtaining the EFMD accreditation delivered by the organisation of the same name, Excelia Business School enters the circle of the very few management schools holding all 4 international accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA and EFMD Accredited. The EFMD Accredited Programme accreditation delivered by the EFMD was awarded to the Master in Management (Programme Grande École) of Excelia Business School for 5 years, for the maximum period of 5 years. Among the strengths highlighted by the audit report are the quality of the programme's structure, pedagogical innovation, the priority given to ecological and social transition, a solid reputation with companies and the strong employability of graduates.
Awarded in 2025 for 5 years
BSIS
An impact of €168 million a year on the region
BSIS (Business School Impact System) aims to assess the different impacts of a management school on its environment, in financial, economic and societal terms, as well as in terms of innovation and image. In July 2012, Excelia was among the first schools to obtain this label.
Excelia Business School renewal in November 2025 for 3 years
The Bachelor in Business labelled " Bachelor Pro des CCI "
The Bachelor des CCI label identifies business and management programmes at Bac+3/+4 level. Nearly 80 programmes have been labelled by the CCI de France. Excelia's Bachelor in Business, a State-accredited qualification accredited by the Ministry of National Education, is now labelled Bachelor Professionnel des Chambres de Commerces et d'Industrie by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. Among the criteria used for labelling are: rapid employability, innovative pedagogy, programmes led by qualified professionals, an international outlook, and State recognition.
First labelling in March 2012.
Renewal on 1st September 2022 for 4 years, in connection with the Visa cycle.
Sustainable Development & Societal Responsibility Label
The labelling scheme known as the DD&RS label for higher education was created in 2015. It promotes, nationally and internationally, the Sustainable Development and Societal Responsibility approaches of French higher education and research institutions. Excelia's recent achievement of the DD&RS label rewards the higher education group's long-standing commitment to these issues.
First labelling in June 2024 for a period of 2 years.
VISA from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space
National label implemented by the Commission d'Évaluation des Formations et Diplômes de Gestion (CEFDG).
Four programmes are concerned:
Master in Management (Programme Grande École) - Renewal on 1st September 2024 for 5 years
Master of Science (MSc) - First certification from 1st September 2024 for 3 years
BBA International - Renewal 1st September 2025 for 3 years
Bachelor in Business (BB) - Renewal 1st September 2025 for 5 years
Grade de Licence
National label implemented by the Commission d'Évaluation des Formations et Diplômes de Gestion (CEFDG).
Grade de Licence for the Bachelor in Business - First certification from 1st September 2025 for 5 years
Grade de Licence for the BBA International - First certification from 1st September 2025 for 3 years
Grade de Master
National label implemented by the Commission de Formation de Diplômes de Gestion (CEFDG). It is awarded to schools delivering a Bac+5 qualification and reflects a high level of professional and academic skills.
Grade de Master for the Master in Management (Programme Grande École) - Renewal 1st September 2024 for 5 years
Grade de Master for the Master of Science (MSc) programmes - First certification from 1st September 2024 for 3 years
FAQ about Excelia and its accreditations
- What are Excelia Business School's accreditations?
Excelia Business School holds a quadruple accreditation (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA and EFMD Master), which applies to the school and to the Master in Management. The Bachelor in Business, the BBA International and the Master of Science (MSc) programmes are, for their part, accredited EQUIS and AACSB.
- Since when has Excelia Business School been accredited AACSB?
Excelia Business School has been accredited AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) since 2013. Founded in 1916, this accreditation is the oldest of the four held by the school, and it assesses, among other things, the quality of its faculty and its programmes.
- Do the accreditations apply to all of Excelia Business School's programmes?
No, each accreditation has its own scope. The quadruple accreditation (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA and EFMD Master) applies to the school and to the Master in Management, while the Bachelor in Business, the BBA International and the Master of Science (MSc) programmes are accredited EQUIS and AACSB.
- What does Excelia's EESPIG qualification mean?
EESPIG stands for établissement d'enseignement supérieur privé d'intérêt général (private higher education institution of general interest). It is a qualification created by the State in 2013 for not-for-profit private institutions placed under a multi-year contract with it, and Excelia has held it since April 2017.
- Is Excelia Business School a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles?
Yes. Excelia Business School has been a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles since 2007.