MBA in France cost

France is a popular destination for many business students as it offers lots of exciting opportunities within the innovation, technology, and development sectors. With its socially invigorating surroundings, choosing to pursue an MBA in France is a popular choice among many international students. Not to mention the overall beauty of the country's many cities and towns that students can enjoy away from their studies.

Graduates who have studied an MBA in France are now employed within many international businesses and corporations all over the world. Students choosing to pursue an MBA in France have the option to learn from a variety of highly acclaimed institutions as well as from each other as they cultivate a network of peers within the industry. But studying abroad can be daunting as you first must work out how much an MBA in France could cost you, if this is affordable for you, and whether you would like the lifestyle if you were to move to France to study.

How much does an MBA in France cost in terms of tuition fees and funding?

The total fees of an MBA in France differ from one institution to another. This will depend on several factors, such as: 

• The choice of university and its accreditations.
• The location of the institution.
• Rating and status of the course the university offers.

A one-year MBA course can cost anywhere between 15,000 and 20,000 EUR, but it is important to keep in mind that most courses for MBAs in France cost more due to their 2-year duration. Some public universities provide different tuition fees for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Keep in mind that if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, then your tuition fees could be higher. If you are choosing to study on campus then, depending on which university you choose, there may also be an additional-required cost of up to 91 EUR per year as a campus and student life contribution. 

Plus, there’s also a consideration of ‘getting what you pay for’ as private universities such as Business Schools are more highly regarded, and are considered as offering a much higher quality of education with more opportunities to gain employable skills. So paying more for a private education in France is the better option for a quality education.

Online courses are usually far cheaper, often ranging from anywhere between 15,000 and 17,000 EUR a year. They can often offer similar MBA courses at a more affordable price.

MBA in France – Scholarships and additional financial aid

Choosing to study for your MBA in France can be costly, however, there are a lot of financial aid options available to students that depend on educational history, family background and alumni affiliations with certain universities.

There are many scholarships sponsored by the government. Most universities offer various scholarships that are available depending on the GMAT score of the applicant. Universities, both campus and online, can usually offer up to 40% of the total fees as scholarship funding if you can find the scholarship that is most suitable for you.

If you’re wondering how much funding you could be eligible for to cover the cost of an MBA in France. See our finance and scholarships section for more details on the types of financial aid that IPAG could offer you.

Work-study programmes for MBA in France.

Work-study programmes are a good alternative for those who want to study for an MBA in France and want to keep costs covered. These programmes allow you to work alongside your studies in various related sectors.

Work-study students will usually have employee-status with a company who agrees to reimburse the student for their time. This is an excellent way to gain some vital work experience as well as your qualification, which will be invaluable when later applying for jobs. It may also allow you to create contacts within the industry before focusing on your main career path.

There are two types of work-study programmes; apprenticeship contracts and professionalisation contracts.

• Apprenticeship contracts: Reimbursement will depend on your age and year of study. Students over the age of 21 will receive a salary that is equivalent to between 53-75% of the minimum wage.
• Professionalisation contacts: Reimbursement will be linked to age. Students between the ages of 21 and 25 will receive the equivalent to up to 70% of the minimum wage.

You can extend your income as a student by working while studying in France, regardless of the type of course you are taking, or the institution you choose to study at. All students have the right to work on or off campus for up to 20 hours per week in order to meet costs. There are also lots of opportunities to work part-time with many businesses as a student to help add to your funds.

What are the visa requirements to study for an MBA in France? Cost and providing financial evidence.

There are lots of factors to consider before looking at tuition fees and different institutions. Many students will need to meet specific visa requirements if they’re looking to study for an MBA in France. As the duration of an MBA in France is two years, students must provide financial evidence that they could support themselves if they were to move to the country to study. 

For their visa application, students, usually, must have proof of finances that can cover expenses up to 615 EUR per month during their study period. On top of this, if you are not from the EU/EEA the application for a French student visa costs 99 EUR.

Studying an MBA in France – Cost of student living.

Accommodation 

The first focus for any student looking to study abroad is to look at the types and costs of different accommodation options. There are lots of ways you can find the right housing option to suit you and your budget.

• Student accommodation – On average, most universities will charge students around 200 EUR per month to stay on campus, closer to the areas where you will be studying. Paris is often the exception, with most universities charging up to 400 EUR per month. Student accommodation is one of the most popular choices for students, with around 13% of international students choosing to live in student accommodation.

• Renting an apartment - Another option is to rent an apartment or share an apartment with a friend. Rent in most French cities costs between 400 and 700 EUR per month. This can be a cheaper alternative to student accommodation, especially if you choose to share with other students. If you want to live with your family in a bigger apartment or a house, the renting costs could range between 700 and 1,000 EUR per month on average, or higher if you choose to live within the city centre. Utility bills could also cost you an additional 200 EUR per month on average.

• Living with a host family – A lesser known and cheaper alternative is finding a French family who would be willing to host you in their home, usually in a spare room or annex. Rates usually range between 200 and 800 EUR per month, but the rates would be entirely different depending on the family you’re staying with, and they have the rights to raise the costs of rent if and when needed.

City living 

Of course, overall living costs will entirely depend on your lifestyle, but location also plays a huge part in knowing your costs when studying in France. To avoid surprises, you should research the average budget needed to live in your chosen city.

In a city such as Paris, you could find yourself spending a lot of your budget on accommodation that usually runs between 1,200 and 1,800 EUR per month. However, some universities may reduce accommodation costs if you choose to live in a student hall of residence. View IPAG’s Paris Campus here.

In Nice, rent is usually a lot cheaper than it is in the capital. You should expect to be paying anywhere between 900 and 1,400 EUR per month, depending on location. Check IPAG’s Nice Campus here.

For other cities within France, you may find the overall cost of living a little more affordable, with many accommodation costs only rising to 650 EUR per month on average.

There are plenty of benefits to living in a larger city, including easy access to transportation, building social and professional connections, and being able to visit sights and tourist hotspots with ease.

Transportation costs

In most cities you can buy a monthly bus pass or travel card for the metro, or the tram, that will cost between 30 and 75 EUR depending on how far you are intending on travelling within the month.

Taxis are another option, but can be quite costly if using them frequently for short journeys. On average, you should expect to pay between 7 and 10 EUR per cross-city trip.

Bikes are a very popular option in many French cities, with cycling being the most popular choice for transportation in cities such as Bordeaux. Vélib is the go-to bicycle rental programme in France.

France also has the TGV (train à grande vitesse) which is the high-speed train service that you can use to Interrail between different cities in the country for up to 30 EUR per trip.

Additional costs and saving money.

There are many additional costs to consider if you want to study for an MBA degree in France. Health insurance usually costs 20 to 30 EUR per month, depending on your chosen insurance plan. This is really important to have when staying in France, as it will help you to cover costs if you are ever injured or ill. 

Books and other materials for your studies will be something that you will be asked to purchase by your course instructors and can take up a large chunk of your budget, with many books costing up to 50 EUR each.

If you purchase an international Youth Travel Card, you can receive major discounts to visit many tourist attractions around France.

Why consider IPAG Business School for your MBA in France

Study an English-taught MBA in Paris with IPAG Business School. International students from across the world travel to Paris to complete their MBA in France, and IPAG in particular offers a course for international students that provides flexibility and support for your studies, while encouraging students to cultivate both academic theory and practical industry skills and experience. 

This is because we understand that Master’s graduates can utilise this time during their MBA to gain priceless experience in the industry, create a global network of like-minded people, and broaden their personal horizons by travelling and living in France.

Contact us for more information or see how international students can apply with us.