MBA

  • PARIS

Intake

  • September
  • March

Pace

  • Full time

Graduation diploma

  • Certified RNCP
  • 5-year MBA degree

Teaching languages

  • English English

Introduction

IPAG's specialised MBA is an international degree in Business Administration (Master of Business Administration). It is intended for 3-year or 4-year degree holders.

Along students of all nationalities, you learn to manage teams and pilot projects ethically in a business environment increasingly impacted by digital and new technologies.

6 specialisations are offered:

  • International Business Development
  • Finance & Investments
  • Project Management & Organisational Innovation
  • Digital Strategy Design & Transformation
  • Management of Sustainability Transformation
  • Entrepreneurship & Family Business

At the end of the course, students obtain a 5-year degree and are eligible for "Manager of Organisations" Level 7 RNCP title issued by ECEMA ASSOCIATION by Order of July 7, 2017 registered in the Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles (RNCP) under the RNCP code 15053.

Admissions

ON FILE
Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits or equivalent)
Letters of recommendation and English
language tests (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS or Cambridge) are not required but highly recommended.

Conditions
 Subject to obtaining a 3-year degree
 In addition for non-English speakers: TOEFL IBT (internet-based test: 80) or TOEFL PBT (paper-based test: 550) or TOEIC (780) or IELTS: 6.0 or Cambridge (FCE)

Elements of the application file
 A copy of your CECR, TOEFL and IELTS diplomas and supporting documents, if applicable.
 Curriculum vitæ (CV)
Proof of English
Last three transcripts
Diploma or attestation of schooling
ID copy
 Cover letter

The stages of the admission process
 Evaluation of the application file
 Motivational interview - in English

  • Description

  • Programme

  • Career

  • Fees and funding

MBA

Specialisations

Project Management & Organisational InnovationThe MBA in Project Management trains students to master and manage all the operations relating to a project, from international standards to cost control, quality, deadlines and individual and organisational change management.

Digital Strategy Design & TransformationThe Digital Transformation and Innovation Management MBA trains change makers. It prepares graduates to master the digital transformation of the value chain, generate new business models and implement a global, comprehensive digital strategy. There is a specific course on innovation management consulting.

Management of Sustainability TransformationHow can sustainable development generate value? That is the challenge of this specialisation, which provides a solid, comprehensive knowledge base in the field of renewable energy and CSR, a mastery of closed-loop supply chain processes and an understanding of the legal constraints associated with these developments.

International Business DevelopmentThis specialisation takes a comprehensive approach to international business: new market development, key international business decisions, global financial markets, trade negotiation and the legal and regulatory framework of international trade.

Finance & InvestmentsThis specialisation provides a solid foundation in corporate and market finance in the increasingly complex context of a globalised economy. It integrates the contribution made by AI to market risk management and the challenges of sustainable development for the company. Particular emphasis is placed on ESG criteria, detecting greenwashing and, more generally, regulation in the field of "green" investment.

Entrepreneurship & Family BusinessThe MBA specialisation on Entrepreneurship & Family Business provides you with the needed skill set to empower your entrepreneurial thinking and attitude in both non-family and family firms. You will be also able to develop skills and abilities that will help you professionalise the family business through increased governance standards and clear succession planning.

Our strengths

  • A wide choice of specialisations: 6 in all;
  • CSR at the heart of each programme’s academic project;
  • The emphasis put on case studies and real-world scenarios: business games, internships in France or abroad, meetings with professionals, Weekend Challenge;
  • Support for students: career planning, personal branding and job search workshops and leadership development seminars;
  • Core courses in the Blended Learning format.

In Short

Degree

MBA 5-year degree level RNCP certified

Admissions

  • Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits or equivalent)
  • Letters of recommendation and English
  • Language tests (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS or Cambridge) are not required but highly recommended.

Teaching languages

English

Duration

18 months

Campus

Paris

Work Experience

  • 6-month internship
  • Several corporate visits and networking opportunities

International

  • 6 choices of specialisations taught 100% in English
  • The possibility of doing a 6-month internship abroad

Tuition fees

€16 000

MBA in Paris: Improve your skills with our 5-year MBAs To find out more

MBA: Description and principles

The MBA, Master of Business Administration is an Anglo-Saxon degree, created to train high-potential executives, enabling them to acquire managerial skills and a global vision of the company. This training is intended for students as well as for profiles already justifying several years of professional experience.

This prestigious diploma is considered a real professional springboard and is particularly prized and is growing rapidly in France. There are several thousands of them worldwide, some generalists and others more specialized. Don't hesitate to compare them and consult the ranking of the different MBAs to make your choice.

Specifications of the Master of Business Administration

The MBA is designed to be a generalist but firmly practice-oriented degree, which is mainly addressed to technicians, from very different professional backgrounds, who want to take up managerial or even executive positions in a business. It thus aims to develop managerial skills for technical profiles who want to progress in their professional career.

Lectures are becoming rarer and give way to case studies and company projects, with the goal of exchanging as much knowledge as possible between participants. The work is also done in groups, so that students develop certain essential skills, such as diplomatic skills.

It is also an internationally oriented training: a large part of the courses is given in English, and a class often welcomes many international students. 

It should be noted that the MBA is a diploma that generally targets profiles who already have experience in the professional world (at least 3 years), and who would be willing to acquire a double expertise. Nevertheless, MBA admissions are often open to students with 4 or 5 years of higher education without experience.

What is the distinction between an MBA and a Master's degree?

The Master's degree can be completed in two years (M2). It is a 4-year / 5-year degree, normally awarded by universities, but some Grande Ecole programs (such as the IPAG Grande Ecole Programme) can also be awarded the Master's degree.

The cost varies depending on whether it is taken at a university or at a private school, such as a business school.

The French "Conférence des Grandes Ecoles" accredits certain school courses as Specialized Masters (MS) or Master of Science (MSc). These degrees allow students with five years of higher education or four years of higher education with professional experience to acquire a specialisation or a double qualification.

The disparities between these diplomas are slight, as their objective is more or less the same: to help students adapt to the realities of the company and provide them with the necessary skills to be immediately operational. Nevertheless, the MBA aims to specifically train future managers who wish to boost their careers, whereas the Masters are more technical courses.

The main difference between a master's degree and an MBA is its cost. In fact, a master's degree in a university implies minimal tuition fees compared to an MBA.

The target audience for these courses is also different: an MBA is more aimed at working people who want to enhance their skills or even give their professional career a new direction, while admission to a master's degree is open to graduates with a bachelor's degree. 

We can also mention the importance of English in the teaching of a Master of Business Administration compared to that of a Master's degree.

Lastly, the organisation of courses is more flexible in an MBA, since it can be completed in one or two years, in a classroom or continuing education program... while the Master's follows the European LMD system: a Master's degree is obtained by validating two semesters, thanks to ECTS credits.

How can I finance my MBA?

MBAs are known to be very expensive. Their costs can amount to several tens of thousands of euros in the major schools. There are several ways to fund MBAs :

  • First of all, the loan, as the MBA is considered a profitable investment in the long term. When the graduate is reintegrated into the job market, he or she will obviously be entitled to a higher wage.
  • Some MBAs can be done on a work-study basis, with a professionalisation contract. In this case, the programme is financed by the company which hosts the work-study student.
  • And finally, employees can have this training financed thanks to the Professional Transition Project also known as CPF, a system in force since 2019. Employees with a certain seniority can take a certified training course that is eligible for the Personal Training Account: their employment contract is then suspended and at the end of the training, they can return to their position.
  • At last, the employee can possibly count on his company's training budget to start a part-time MBA or an Executive MBA.

Why an MBA?

There are many reasons to do an MBA. First and foremost, you need to ask yourself about your professional ambitions because an MBA is a real commitment in terms of time and money.

For technical people (lawyers, engineers), an MBA is an opportunity to acquire a highly prized double skill, and then to progress in the company.

One of the main objectives of an MBA is to learn how to manage. Through this training, the student acquires a cross-functional vision of the company and the skills that are essential to management functions. You learn how to work in a team, make decisions quickly, be diplomatic... By joining this program, you will also add an international dimension to your CV, thanks to the courses given in English and the great cultural diversity found in the promotions.

Naturally, displaying an MBA on your resume is highly valued, especially in terms of salary! An MBA graduate could be entitled to an annual salary of between €60,000 and €80,000 gross, depending on the graduate school he or she has joined.

Finally, one of the advantages of an MBA is the network you will have access to.  In fact, you can quickly make very profitable contacts with other participants, lecturers and alumni. 

 

You can choose to join 1 of the 6 MBA proposed at IPAG:

 

  • The Digital Strategy Design & Transformation MBA: This MBA, allows students to understand the impacts of the digitalization of the economy and to acquire skills in web marketing, digital communication and project management.
  • The Management of Sustainability Transformation MBA: This course is devoted to students wishing to work in the energy industry, in its international, sustainable, financial and managerial dimensions.
  • The Project Management & Organisational Innovation MBA: The MBA in Project Management trains students to master and manage all the operations relating to a project, from international standards to cost control, quality, deadlines and individual and organisational change management.
  • The Entrepreneurship & Family Business MBA: This MBA enables students to master the professional skills and techniques specific to the luxury industry, with a focus on digital, e-commerce and retail.
  • The International Business Development MBA: This course is designed for managers wishing to work in an international environment and in companies opening up to foreign markets. They will acquire all the necessary skills to understand international business.
  • The MBA in Finance and Investment: This specialisation is intended for managers wishing to succeed in the world of finance by acquiring skills in crisis management, investment management and financial techniques.

What to do after an MBA?

After completing an MBA, it's time to apply your newly acquired skills, be it by returning to your original company, to a management position, or by starting out on the job market again. By including the MBA on your resume, many opportunities and jobs will open up to you and you will obviously be able to qualify for a higher remuneration.

Some MBA graduates, now mastering the basics of business management, do not hesitate to launch themselves into the entrepreneurial path.

To sum up, now is the time to make your professional project a reality!

Fundamentals of Management

Phase 1 (Semester 1 and 2)

Core modules

  • Strategic Management
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Supply Chain Management
  • HR and Leadership

Projects

Projects and Business Game

  • Personal development workshops to improve your leadership
  • A Challenge Weekend to work on a concrete business issue
  • Conferences and regular meetings with professionals
  • A concrete individual project such as "Capstone project

Applied management & specialisation

Phase 2 (Semestre 3)

Internship and project realisation

  • 4 to 6-month internship
  •  Capstone Project

Projects & Business Games

  • Personal development workshops to improve your leadership
  • A Week-end Challenge to work on a business issue
  • Conferences and regular meetings with professionals
  • A individual project like Capstone project
  • Semester 1&2

    • Applied Management Courses
    • Specialisations
    • Personal and professional development
  • Semester 3

    A 6-month internship, in France or abroad

MBA Specialisations

  • MBA Digital Strategy Design & Transformation
  • MBA Management of Sustainability Transformation
  • MBA Entrepreneurship and Family Business
  • MBA in International Business Development
  • MBA in Finance & Investments
  • MBA Project Management and Organisational Innovation

Internship

  • A 6-month internship, in France or abroad
  • Personal Branding
  • Public Speaking
  • Private career coaching sessions
  • Meet MBA community events

A Career Centre to support you

Whether you are looking for an internship, a job or more simply for advice, our Career Centre is there to help you. Throughout your course, you benefit from its many services: preparation for interviews, proofreading of CVs, recruitment forums, speaking workshops, control of one's image, management of professional social networks, etc.

Fees and
funding

Tuition fees

€16 000

IPAG SCHOLARSHIPS

Alumni Scholarship

A 10% discount on tuition fees is given to all children of our graduates, regardless of the programme.