Grande École Masters Programme : English-Taught

Grandes Écoles are privately run, higher education institutions in France, these ‘Schools’ are considered a more prestigious option than a publicly run university. The Grande École Program is a well respected qualification offered in these education institutions, with places offered to the very top candidates. Taking students through a bachelor and master’s level degree, for 3-5 years of study, which grants a diploma at the Bac +5 level.

IPAG’s English-taught PGE course specialises in business management, with a focus on international business and practical learning. The first 3 years cycle is committed to learning the fundamentals, followed by the second 2 years cycle which is dedicated to your chosen specialisation. All teaching in the American Track program is given in English, so a very good level of English is required for the course.

This course offers many international study opportunities, for example, at the end of the first year, all students have the option to attend a 6 weeks summer session at the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, the Grande École Programme also allows students to obtain a dual degree with one of our partner universities in the UK, America, or Russia.

What is the Grande École Program (PGE)?

Grandes Écoles are privately run, higher education institutions in France, these ‘Schools’ are considered a more prestigious option than a publicly run university. The Grande École Program is a well respected qualification offered in these education institutions, with places offered to the very top candidates. Taking students through a bachelor and master’s level degree, for 3-5 years of study, which grants a diploma at the Bac +5 level.

IPAG’s English-taught PGE course specialises in business management, with a focus on international business and practical learning. The first 3 years cycle is committed to learning the fundamentals, followed by the second 2 years cycle which is dedicated to your chosen specialisation. All teaching in the American Track program is given in English, so a very good level of English is required for the course.

This course offers many international study opportunities, for example, at the end of the first year, all students have the option to attend a 6 weeks summer session at the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, the Grande École Programme also allows students to obtain a dual degree with one of our partner universities in the UK, America, or Russia.

1st-year entry

Holder of a French baccalaureate

• Parcoursup + SESAME exam

Holder of a foreign diploma equivalent to the French baccalaureate (e.g. GED or A-Levels)

• Interview + Application file (French and English)

2nd year entry

Subject to obtaining 60 ECTS credits or international equivalent

• Interview + Application file (French and English)

Documents to include in the application:

• Identity card
• 3 last report cards
• Diploma(s) or transcript(s) of the exam (if obtained)
• CV
• Letter of motivation/Cover letter
• French language proficiency test: DELF / DALF / TCF / TEF (French-speaking students or those who have completed two years of studies taught 100% in French are exempt)

Contacts

• Deputy director of Admissions: Christophe Pivaut

Mail : c.pivaut@ipag.fr

• Admissions officer - Paris campus : Marion Facello

Mail : m.facello@ipag.fr

• Admissions officer - Nice campus : Théo Montuso

Mail : t.montuso@ipag.fr

About the Grande École Programme - American Track

Undergraduate: year 1 to year 3

1st year: acquiring the basics

The first part of the course is devoted to the basics of the subjects you will be taught throughout your studies at IPAG. You will also learn how to develop your communication skills and self-confidence.

2nd year: working in project mode

The following year of the Grande École Programme is to reinforce and broaden the initial lessons of the course as you begin work on your first practical projects. Finally, students strengthen their sense of listening and dialogue as well as your organisational skills.

3rd year: moving to another country

The third year takes place partly or entirely abroad, depending on your choice of study. The aim of this unique year is to discover other cultures, to adapt to other professional uses and to immerse yourself in a new cultural and linguistic context. In the Grande École Programme, students can choose to stay with a partner university, complete an international internship, partake in a volunteer mission abroad, there are many possibilities available, so you can structure your year to suit you.

Postgraduate: year 4 & year 5

4th year: Start specialising

This 1st year of the Grande École Programme Master's degree is focused on grasping the core topics of your given course. You can then choose from 5 main areas of study to accompany this.

5th year: Specialise and get a dual international degree

The last year is the year of your actual specialisation in one of the 10 specialisation options. There is also the option to obtain a dual international degree by spending a semester with one of our Grande École Programme partners in the United Kingdom, Corea, Canada, or the United States of America etc.

In Short

DEGREE

5-year Master's degree

ADMISSIONS

In the first year:

Holder of a French baccalaureate

• Parcoursup + SESAME exam

Holders of a foreign diploma equivalent to the French baccalaureate

• On File + Interview (French and English)

In 2nd year:

Subject to obtaining 60 ECTS credits or international equivalent

• Interview + file (French and English)

TEACHING LANGUAGE

English

DURATION

5 years

CAMPUSES

• Paris
• Nice
• Various International Study Options

WORK EXPERIENCE

Up to 34 months of accumulated experience over the 5-year Grande École Programme

INTERNATIONAL

• 6-week expedition at the UC Berkeley at the end of the 1st year with additional costs
• 3rd year entirely abroad
• Possibility to study up to 3 languages of the 9 taught at IPAG
• 25 possible dual degrees
• Possibility of integrating other Master's specialities

TUITION FEES

1st year entry:

• €10 500 per year, if paid in full (excluding double degree fees)
• €10 700 per year, if paid in installments (excluding double degree fees)
• €5 000 to €8 000 extra cost for the expedition week, depending on your destination

2nd and 3rd year entry:

• €9 900 per year, if paid in full (excluding double degree fees)
• €10 100 per year, if paid in installments (excluding double degree fees)

The American Track

1ST YEAR

Acquiring the basics

Semester 1

• Marketing fundamentals
• Sales techniques
• Financial accounting
• Written and oral communication
• English theater
• Ethics Courses

Semester 2

• Marketing & Communication mix
• Introduction & Business law
• Introduction to statistics
• Economic context

Extra-curriculum

Business game

Case studies submitted by IPAG partner companies, to which the students, divided into teams, must respond collectively.

X'Trem/Extreme trails

New adventures and experiences to develop your personal skills and work within a team, activities include; survival missions, military training, humanitarian commitment and more!

Culture and discovery trails

The Grande École Programme also allows students to develop their cultural experiences with an open-mind. This is to improve your analytical skills and broaden your knowledge in art history, geography, fashion, music, gastronomy and beyond.

• SEMESTER 1

Fundamental courses

• SEMESTER 2

Courses, 8 to 12-week of internship, and 6-week in Summer at Berkeley, California for a sales course

2ND YEAR

Working in project mode

Semester 1

• Financial analysis
• Corporate law & Taxation
• Market research
• Human resource management

Semester 2

• International trade
• Digital marketing & innovation
• Logistics & Purchasing
• Management of organisations

Extra-curriculum

Business game

As in the 1st year, the business game uses real business case studies submitted by IPAG’s partner companies, so that students can work in teams to respond to the presented scenario.

Cultural and discovery trails

This was designed, so students can develop their cultural awareness with an open-minded and analytical approach. The 2nd year is an opportunity to discover a new universe, completely different from the one explored during the 1st year.

• SEMESTER 1

Grande École Programme courses

• SEMESTER 2

Course modules plus 8 to 12-week of internship at a start-up business

3RD YEAR

Going abroad

Study stay at a partner university

During the third year of the American Track Grande École Programme, there is a mandatory semester of study abroad at one of our 130 partner universities on all five continents. You can also choose one of our two associate campuses; Kunming and Riverside, where you can follow IPAG courses.

Internship or volunteering mission

The second half of the third year of the American Track takes place abroad as well, either as an internship or in the form of a volunteering mission in line with IPAG's values and commitments.

• SEMESTER 1

Study abroad or internship abroad

• SEMESTER 2

6-month internship, study abroad or humanitarian mission abroad

Possibility of certificate or bachelor degree

4TH YEAR

Start specialising

Core modules

• Strategic management
• Project management
• Software for business

The 6 majors of the 4th year

• Marketing & Sales Strategy Specialisation (4) - Paris/Nice
• Finance, Audit & Control Specialisation (4) - Paris/Nice
• Purchasing and Supply Chain management Specialisation (4) - Paris/Nice
• International Management Specialisation (4) - Paris/Nice
• Human Resources Management Specialisation (4) - Paris
• Specialisation Entrepreneurship & Project Management (4) - Paris/Nice

SEMESTER 1

Core modules and specialisation courses

SEMESTER 2

Specialisation internship for 4 to 6-month

Work and study possible

5TH YEAR

Specialise and get a dual degree

Core modules

• Business Ethics & CSR
• Digital transformation & innovation
• Corporate Challenge

The 10 majors of the 5th year

• Digital Marketing Specialisation (5) - Paris/Nice
• Marketing BtoC Specialisation (5) - Paris
• Sales Strategy Specialisation (5) - Paris/Nice
• Corporate Finance & Audit Specialisation (5) - Paris/Nice
• Finance & Markets Specialisation (5) - Paris
• Wealth Management Specialisation (5) - Paris/Nice
• Purchasing and Supply chain management Specialisation (5) - Paris/Nice
• International Management Specialisation (5) - Paris/Nice
• Human Resources Management Specialisation (5) - Paris
• Entrepreneurship & Project Management Specialisation (5) - Paris/Nice

The possible dual degrees 

• Dual degree MSc in Business Management (United States)
• Dual Degree with MSc Finance and Investment (London, UK)
• Dual Degree with MSc International Marketing (Edinburgh, Scotland UK)
• Dual Degree MSc in International Marketing with Tourism & Events (Edinburgh, Scotland UK)
• Dual Degree MSc in International Marketing (Moscow, Russia)
• Dual Degree PGD (United-States)

Business game

The 5th year Business Game (#Negoc'IPAG meaning #NegotiationIPAG) consists of a commercial negotiation on the basis of 4 to 6 case studies submitted by our partner companies. Students have 2h30 to prepare their arguments, which they then present before a jury of seasoned professionals. The last editions have brought together companies such as CBRE, Altran and IZI by EDF, which have had the opportunity to get a fresh look at their problems and to identify future high-potential graduates.

End-of-studies paper

The Grande École Programme’s final dissertation is the link between the academic and professional world, since it deals with a theme related to the students' future professional life. Students choose their subject in the first semester, from a list drawn up by their thesis supervisor, who then guides them through each stage of the writing process including; constitution of the corpus, definition of the plan, conduct of the empirical study, and so on. A pre-presentation in May allows students to adjust the final work to be submitted (between 60 and 80 pages), before the presentation in front of a jury, which takes place in June or September. So you’re fully supported throughout the whole process.

• SEMESTER 1

Course modules

• SEMESTER 2

End-of-study internship of 4 to 6-month as well as

Work study is possible

Discover the world

The American Track of the Grande École Programme is by essence an international programme. Apart from a specialisation in the beginning of the course, it offers all the opportunities of the Grande École Programme in terms of studying abroad, language learning or dual degrees.

A third year entirely spent abroad

The third year of your course is entirely, or mostly, spent abroad. You can choose to stay on the campus of one of our 130 partner universities, do an internship abroad, or volunteer work internationally. So, you choose the travel experiences that best suit your interests and needs.

Study up to three languages

To work in a multicultural and international environment, an advanced level of language skills is essential. The Grande École Programme allows you to study up to three languages from: English, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, and Japanese. Although particular emphasis is placed on English, since nearly 30% of our management courses are taught by native English speakers.

Obtain a dual degree

In the 5th year, you have the opportunity to obtain a dual degree with the Grande École Programme. Whatever your major, you will spend one semester on the campus of one of our partner universities during your final year. You can choose from :

• City University of New York
• Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
• University of Greenwich
• University of South Wales
• Edinburgh Napier University
• University of California Riverside

More about the American Track of the Grande École Programme:

Internship & Work Experience

The Grande École Programme is a professional programme that allows students to acquire up to 34 months of work experience.

Course Placement Calendar

In the 1st year

8 to 12-week of internship in a sales role

In the 2nd year

8 to 12-week internship in a start-up company

In the 3rd year

Up to 12-month of an internship abroad

In the 4th year

4 to 6-month of a specialisation internship

In the 5th year

4 to 6-month of an internship at the end of your studies

Our Career Center

No matter whether you are looking for an internship, a work-study program, a job, or simply for advice, our Career Center is there to help you. Throughout your studies, you can benefit from its many services including; interview preparation, resume proofreading, recruitment forums, speaking workshops, image coaching, management of professional social networks, and more.

Consider a master's during an apprenticeship

A compensated work contract, tuition fees paid by the host company, or more professional experience to graduate with, indicates that work based study programmes have many advantages. It is a choice you can make for the Grande École Programme master's cycle, regardless of your chosen major and your campus.

Career Opportunities

By major specialisation, these are some of the career paths you can expect to take via the American Track of the Grande École Programme.

• Marketing
• Finance, Audit & Control
• International Business & Supply Chain
• International Management
• Human Resources Management
• Entrepreneurship

Employability of Grande École Programme Students

2018 Labour Force Survey:

• Industry: 25%
• Finance, accounting, audit: 20%
• Information service and communication: 14%
• Studies, consulting, expertise, research: 12%
• Trade: 9%
• Transport (services): 5%
• Energy: 4%
• Accommodation and catering: 2%
• Human Resources: 2%
• Others: 7%