How to choose a business school for a master's?

In brief
To choose your business school for a master's, first check the recognition of the qualification, that is, a State-accredited qualification leading to the Grade de Master, and the international accreditations, before looking at the specialisations offered in light of your project, work-study options, the alumni network and student life.
Excelia Business School holds the quadruple accreditation EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA and EFMD Master, and its Master in Management (Programme Grande École) leads to the Grade de Master.

Why does this question deserve real thought?

Choosing your business school for a master's is not a decision to take lightly: not all schools are equal in recognition, and this gap affects the value of your qualification.

According to surveys by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE), the employment rate of graduates from the Grandes Écoles remains at a good level: a recognised qualification makes the difference. Hence the value of checking its accreditations, its EESPIG label (a French designation for private higher-education institutions of public interest) and its qualifications listed on the RNCP (France's National Register of Professional Certifications), the same method that Excelia Business School applies.

Which student profile does this question apply to?

How to choose your master's depends first on your starting point, at Excelia Business School as elsewhere.

After a bachelor's or a BBA?

Staying at your school or joining another one for the master's: the question legitimately arises at the end of a Bachelor's or a BBA. You can enter directly into a Master in Management (Programme Grande École) or apply to a Master of Science (MSc), which is more specialised, through direct entry based on your application, possible tests and a motivation interview. For more detail, find out how direct entry works.

After a university licence or a BUT?

Profiles coming from university or a BUT bring solid general knowledge and a subject specialisation that schools look for. The key is to show how your previous background enriches the career project you are aiming for.

Which criteria should you look at first to choose well?

Which accreditations and recognitions should you check?

First criterion: is the qualification State-accredited and does it lead to the Grade de Master? This accreditation is granted after assessment by the Commission for the Evaluation of Management Training Programmes and Qualifications (CEFDG). Internationally, the EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA and EFMD Master accreditations set apart schools that meet the best global standards. Few business schools hold all four.

Which programme and which specialisations should you favour?

The programme must match your project. In particular, check:

• the specialisations offered at the end of the course
• the significant internships planned in the curriculum
• the partnerships built with companies
• the double degrees offered with partner universities

Which cost and which return on investment?

Tuition fees vary from one school to another: compare them against the employment data the school can provide you. Work-study remains an effective way to fund your studies, since the company covers tuition fees and pays you a salary.

These are the three criteria Excelia Business School invites you to check on any school, including its own.

How do you check that a school is genuinely recognised?

Take a methodical approach: check that a qualification is listed on the RNCP on the France Compétences website, then make sure it appears on the list of State-accredited qualifications, published in the Official Higher Education Bulletin. Finally, look at Excelia Business School's accreditations or those of any other school you are interested in.

Excelia Business School thus holds the quadruple accreditation EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA and EFMD Master, held by fewer than 1% of business schools worldwide, and its Master in Management (Programme Grande École) is a State-accredited qualification leading to the Grade de Master. The school also holds EESPIG status, which attests to its public interest purpose.

Beyond academic criteria, what makes the difference?

The alumni network and student life also set schools apart. The network is gauged on LinkedIn, through the presence of alumni in recognised companies and the progress of their careers, because an active network makes internships, work-study and first jobs easier. The Excelia network, which brings together graduates from all the group's schools, numbers 53,000.

What student life and what campus?

Societies, whether the students' union, junior enterprises or sports and cultural clubs, develop cross-cutting skills valued by recruiters. There, you learn leadership and project management in real situations, before putting these skills to the test of teamwork. Find out about their diversity and the support the school offers to encourage this involvement.

Should you visit the school before enrolling?

An open day remains the best way to get a concrete idea of an institution: there, you visit the campus, meet lecturers and students, and check that the institutional message matches the reality experienced day to day. Discover our open days, organised on each of Excelia Business School's campuses.

If you cannot travel, or if your question goes beyond what a visit can answer, speak with an Excelia Business School adviser to review your master's project.

Frequently asked questions

What are the criteria for a good management school?

A good management school is recognised by its international accreditations, EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA and EFMD Master, by a label such as EESPIG which attests to its public interest purpose, and by State-accredited qualifications leading to the Grade de Master. The quality of the teaching staff, international openness and partnerships with companies count just as much, as do RNCP qualifications, which guarantee its fit with the labour market.

Do you have to change school after a bachelor's to do a master's?

It is not automatic: you can stay at your school or change to join a Master in Management (Programme Grande École) or a more specialised Master of Science (MSc). These direct entries are based on the assessment of your application, possible tests and a motivation interview.

How do you know if a master's specialisation matches your project?

Compare the end-of-course specialisations offered by each school, for example finance, digital marketing, data or sustainable development, against your career project, and check that they are backed by significant internships and concrete partnerships with companies in the sector.

Does the alumni network matter when choosing a school?

Yes: an active network makes access to internships, work-study and first jobs easier. To assess it, check LinkedIn and observe the presence of graduates in recognised companies, the progress of their careers and their engagement with their former school.

Should you visit a business school before applying for a master's?

It is strongly recommended: an open day lets you visit the campus, meet lecturers and students, and check that the school's message matches the reality experienced day to day.