MBA

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!