Top 10 Best French Business Schools

Top 10 Best French Business Schools

France has over 2.6 million university students, making it one of the biggest student countries in the world. Business school is one of the most popular options in higher education in France, and there are more than fifty in the nation! Here’s a guide to the top 10 best French business schools.

1. HEC

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Perhaps the most well-known on the list of top 10 best French business schools, HEC is a Grande Ecole or the French equivalent of an Ivy League school. Located a bit outside Paris, the majority of French presidents have studied here. And the reputation is absolutely the best in Europe.

Famous not only for its prestige and celebrity alumni, HEC is a school known for its intensive research programs and top-tier professors. Competition is stiff though, and only 8% of applicants are accepted to their International Business program.

2. INSEAD Business School

Definitely one of the top 10 French business schools, INSEAD vies for the second place on my list. With an excellent repuation, INSEAD is a graduate business school located in Fontainebleau, outside Paris. They cater solely to graduate students, and offer nearly a dozen different programs, from Leadership to International Finance.

A degree from INSEAD opens a lot of doors in France, and across the globe as well. This business school has started international programs in cities like San Francisco, so maybe you could study abroad!

3. ESSEC Business School

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With campuses in Paris, Singapore and Morocco, ESSEC is one of the main Grandes Ecoles in France, and in the world! Up there with HEC and ESCP, ESSEc is one of the top 10 best busines schools in France. They offer a global MBA program as well as specialized MSc routes in subjects like Hospitality and Supply Chain Management, so you have a lot of options here. But ESSEC is best known for its intensive International Finance program.

4. ESCP Europe

Next up on my guide to the top 10 best French business schools is ESCP Europe. This business school started out in France,  but now has 6 locations across the continent. ESCP is classified as one of the country’s Grandes Ecoles and is one of the toughest in France in terms of admission policies. They offer a variety of programs, for all levels of studies. From Bachelor programs to gap years, to specialized masters. So if you want to study business in France, ESCP is a great bet.

5. EmLyon Business School

Photo courtesy of EMLYON – Sourced from their website

Part of the prestigious Grande Ecole ranking, EmLyon has more than earned its place on my guide to the top 10 best French business schools. Originally hailing from Lyon, this university now has a campus in Paris’ 12th arrondissement, near the Gare de Lyon. Many faculty members actually commute from Lyon daily to teach in Paris!

EmLyon has a wide array of programs and courses available; everything from accelerated MBA to a prestigious Grande Ecole Masters program with specialities such as Computational Finance and International Trading. They also have programs designed for entrepreneurs, professionals and researchers.

6. Grenoble Ecole de Management

Situated in the student city of Grenoble in the French Alps, the Grenoble Ecole de Management is one of the top 10 French business schools. Offering degree programs from Bachelor to Doctorate; this school is known for its excellent faculty and variety of business technology courses.

Whether you plan to major in Diplomacy or Big Data, the Grenoble Ecole de Management has a degree program for that. And pretty much anything else business or tech-related! There’s even Doctorate of Business Adminstation programs, with a variety of concentrations .

7. Université Paris Dauphine

Photo courtesy of Université Paris Dauphine – Sourced from their website

Next up on my guide to the top 10 French business schools is located on the perimeter of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris’ 16th arrondissment. Université Paris Dauphine is renowned for its international approach. They have degree programs available in both English and in French, and Paris Dauphine is set up as a more American-style university (meaning you have more choice regarding courses, timetable, etc. than in a traditional French university). There are even specialized preparatory programs for those planning to pass the bar exam in New York or California!

Aside from their international approach, Université Paris Dauphine has been around for over fifty years. And  the university has built up quite a reputation for academic rigor and excellent alumni opportunities. No matter the level of study!

8. EDHEC Business School

With five campuses around France’s major cities (Paris, Lille, etc.), EDHEC is one of my picks for this guide to the top 10 French business schools. The variety of programs at EDHEC is impressive, and their curriculum is more flexible than many other universities of this rank. They really cater to the international community, and even offer an IMBA in English. Plus, the school has online degree courses, anything from Financial BBA to a specialized Computer-Aided Trading degree, and even certificate programs.

And one of the reasons this school made the list (other than official academic rankings) was its interantional community. Students at EDHRC hail from more than ninety different countries, and the faculty is about the same. This means you’ll learn just as much inside the classroom as outside; discovering other cultures and languages with your classmates.

9. SKEMA

Photo courtesy of Skema – Sourced from their website

SKEMA is a truly international business school with campuses spread out across 5 continents! You can choose to study in France, the USA, Brazil, China, or even South Africa. They highly encourage study abroad as part of the university experience, and most students spend at least one semester on another campus.

With their highly-rated Grande Ecole program, SKEMA is one of my picks for the top 10 best French business schools. Levels of study range from Bachelors to Doctorate and executive MBA programs. But if you’re just looking to brush up on some skills, there are also summer sessions and certificate programs.

10. IESIG School of Management

Next up on my guide to the top 10 best French business schools is called IESIG. This school is located in La Défense, in the heart of Paris’ business district. Year after year, IESIG makes it onto the top 10 MBA in France in official rankings – so you know that the quality is there. IESIG has several degree programs available, but is best known for the Master in Management program.

After graduation, the school has over 260 corporate partners worldwide, and an extesnive alumni network. This means you’ll have some great resources available to find a job quickly after your studies end.

Well, now you know some more about the top 10 best French business schools! I hope this article has been helpful for you.

Best of luck with your studies!