MBA

  • PARIS

Intake

  • September
  • March

Pace

  • Full time

Graduation diploma

  • Certified RNCP
  • 5-year MBA degree

Teaching languages

  • English English
  • French French

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.

From September 2021, 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-French speakers: B2 level at TCF or DELF in French.
• 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 or French level, depending on the specialisation
• 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 or French depending on the selected major

  • 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.

A wide choice of specialisations:

  • Full time
  • 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 specialisation 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, devoted to students wishing to work in the energy industry, in its international, sustainable, financial and managerial dimensions.
  • 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: also, 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, 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, which 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!

Phase 1 (6 months)

Fundamentals of Management

Upgrade modules

  • Cost accounting
  • Financial analysis
  • Organisational design
  • Digital marketing
  • Operations management
  • Intercultural management

Projects

Business Game

A Week-end Challenge to work on a business issue

Workshops & Seminars

  • Personal development workshops to improve your leadership
  • Conferences and regular meetings with professionals

Phase 2 (12 months)

Applied management, specialisation & work experience

Core modules

  • Strategic management
  • Finance for managers
  • Supply chain management
  • Leadership
  • CSR

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

    Applied Management Courses + Specialisations

  • Semester 2

    A 6-month internship, in France or abroad

MBA Specialisations

  • MBA Digital Strategy Design & Transformation

    MBA Digital Strategy Design & Transformation

    The 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.

    Objectives
    • Control of the impacts of the digitalisation of the economy on the different industries and economic models
    • Support for the digitisation of a company's value chain
    • Digital marketing and distribution Innovation management and methods
    • Support for change in consulting mode

    Specialisation modules
    • Digitalisation of the economy and new business models
    • Digitalisation of the value chain and associated tools
    • Digital strategy
    • Innovation Management
    • Consulting approach and jobs of tomorrow

    Career Opportunities
    • Digital transformation consultant
    • Chief Digital Officer
    • Innovation Consultant
    • Innovation Manager

  • MBA Management of Sustainability Transformation

    MBA Management of Sustainability Transformation

    How 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.

    Objectives
    • Holistic approach to sustainable development Development of a sustainable business model
    • Knowledge of international policies and the legal framework for sustainable development
    • Management of sustainability projects (indicators, team management)
    • Financing of sustainable development programs
    • Marketing and communication applied to sustainable development
    • Mastery and implementation of the concept of Closed Loop Supply Chain

    Specialisation modules
    • The sustainability legal framework impact on business model generation
    • Creating value through sustainability
    • Sustainability project, operations and team management
    • Financing the sustainability
    • Opportunities from Closed Loop Supply Chains

    Career Opportunities
    • Chief Sustainability Officer
    • CSR Specialist
    • Lead Sustainability Specialist
    • Sustainability / CSR Consultant

  • MBA Entrepreneurship and Family Business

    MBA Entrepreneurship and Family Business

    The 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.

    Objectives

    Specialisation modules

    Career Opportunities
    • CEOs of family businesses
    • Family owners and family members
    • Next generation members
    • Consultants focusing on family firms
    • Customer Relationship manager
    • Non-family managers

  • MBA in International Business Development

    MBA in International Business Development

    IPAG's MBA in International Business Development leads students to the roles of international business developers, expansion manager or foreign market development consultant. Covering the entire field of international business: development of new markets, supply chain management, business negotiation mastery, it provides a comprehensive fundamental knowledge base in international business. IPAG's MBA in international business development leads to key skills enhancing professionals in the opening and development of new foreign markets.

    Objectives
    • Specifics of regional markets
    • Development of a new market abroad
    • Principles & Rules of international trade
    • International negotiation
    • Control of the international supply chain

    Specialisation modules
    New market development:
    • Influential factors in international business country’s ability, nations interdependence
    • Rise and impact of trader barriers on international business
    • International market opportunities assessment according comparative advantage and opportunity costs and international entry strategies: franchising, licensing and other business vehicles
    • European market specificities (offer, demand, national legal framework)
    • Chinese market specificities (offer, demand, national legal framework)
    • Middle-Eastern market specificities (offer, demand, national legal framework)

    Global Financial Markets
    • Foreign Exchange Risk
    • International Treasuries
    • Global Stock Markets
    • Alternative Investments around the World
    • Tax implications of global finance

    International business planning and trade:
    • Individual country business plans development
    • Import/export and customs regulations documents preparation and processing, according laws and procedures
    • Export and import restrictions, tariff systems, letters of credit, insurance requirements and other customs-related matters

    International business negotiation:
    • Practical negotiation skills
    • Complex negotiation skills: negotiate in team or in complex situation
    • Culture and Negotiation Strategies: negotiations types and cultural intelligence in negotiation across countries

    Business ethics in international negotiation:
    • Global supply chain management
    • Global sourcing and procurement (global supplier networks, insource and outsource models, offshore or re-shore)
    • Global Logistics (physical transportation, inventory management, warehousing, simulation tools and techniques)
    • International lean warehousing challenges
    • IT support in International supply chain performance

    Career Opportunities
    • International Business Developer
    • International Franchise Developer
    • International Expansion Manager
    • International Account Manager
    • Market Development Consultant

  • MBA in Finance & Investments

    MBA in Finance & Investments

    The MBA in Finance and Investments trains professionals prepared for the increasingly demanding world of global finance. Mastering advanced quantitative methods of wealth and investment management, from artificial intelligence to risk management applied to global financial markets and the sustainability challenge for corporate finance. IPAG's MBA in Finance and Investments is one of the few business school programmes to offer specific attention to Wealth and Health Management. Students thus have access to a wide range of professional opportunities, ranging from risk and wealth manager, financial manager to corporate financial strategist.

    Objectives
    • Mastery of investment management tools, including the main drivers of machine learning applications
    • Knowledge of global and local regulations
    • Integration of environmental, societal and governance criteria applied to wealth management
    • Ability to communicate with quantitative specialists on engineering applications (big and smart data)
    • Development of financing projects for sustainable investments

    Specialisation modules
    • Wealth and Risk Management
    • Investment Management
    • Financing Sustainability
    • Global Financial Markets
    • Corporate Finance & Governance

    Career Opportunities
    • Financial Manager                                                      
    • Corporate Financial Strategist                                  
    • Wealth Manager                                           
    • Quantitative Analyst                                    
    • Portfolio Manager                                        
    • Investment Adviser                                      
    • Risk Manager

  • MBA Project Management and Organisational Innovation

    MBA Project Management and Organisational Innovation

    The Project Management specialisation leads to mastery of all operations related to a project and its conduct: international standards framing costs, quality and deadlines, to the management of individual and organisational change.

    Objectives
    • Mastery of the fundamental principles of project management (inspired by PMI / PMBOK)
    • Management of uncertain environments
    • Team and change management, individual and organisational
    • Leading rapid product / service development projects

    Specialisation modules
    • The fundamentals according to the PMI / PMBOK (1)
    • The fundamentals according to the PMI / PMBOK (2)
    • Agile approach with Scrum
    • Project management applied to entrepreneurship and innovation: lean startup
    • Successful project management: team and change management                           

    Career Opportunities
    • In-house consultant
    • Agile organisation coach
    • Scrum Master
    • Transformation Project Manager
    • Change Manager

Internship

A 6-month internship, in France or abroad

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.

Family Scholarship

A 25% discount on annual tuition fees is granted to students who have a brother or sister enrolled at IPAG in the MBA or any other programme.