Hello all,

I am a 24 year old American looking to possibly pursue my MBA in Europe. I am in the midst of a career change and was unsure if pursuing an MBA was the correct move for me, and if so, if Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) Paris IIM was a good choice?

I received my Bachelors in Bus. Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, however I am looking to possibly move into a marketing career. I came across an E-business and Digital Marketing Master's at CNAM Paris IIM that looked good for as it is taught in English but also provides a French learning course to help learn the language and to assist living in the country. I have a very basic understanding of the language currently so jumping straight into a French taught program would not be an option for me.

I have seen other programs around France that appealed to me such as one in Bordeaux or one in Grenoble, however the CNAM program seemed to be the best fit. However, I have seen CNAM fairly poorly rated and did not want to go there and waste my money. I am not necessarily looking for a degree that jumps off the resume to all global employers, but I also would not want to overpay for an underwhelming education.

Why study in France? I figure the costs for tuition would be significantly cheaper than here in the US (where I would plan to return to after the MBA), though I imagine living expenses in France, especially in Paris, would drive the total cost up to US education prices. I also think studying in another country would give me an incredible opportunity to experience a new culture and further study a language I have always wanted to learn more proficiently.

Ultimately, I was curious if CNAM Paris' program would suffice for what I am looking for or if I would simply be better off applying to other schools throughout France or possibly even Germany to ultimately get my marketing education before returning to the US.

Thank you in advance. All feedback is welcomed and appreciated!

I recommend searching the board for CNAM. I think there's a post from when I visited the school. CNAM is hard to explain, but it's broadly comparable to a state university system that is 95% focussed on non-degree professional courses but also includes a few university degrees. On average, a total of 60 to 75 students are registered across the three management tracks. Facilities and support are generally inferior to US community colleges. The classroom I visited was like a 1970s high school: long and thin, with individual tables facing the front. It felt neglected and sad, but of course greatly appreciated by people who could not afford any better option. It is a very comfortable educational environment for those who want to listen and write what they are hearing. 

Given that education is significantly cheaper in almost all of mainland Europe, I have to advance the idea that you are especially drawn to Paris and have some motivation to be there. That is not uncommon, and Paris is full of really weak schools whose business model is securing visas for people who want to be there. 

Since the IIM at CNAM serves international students, you won't improve your French there as much as in a university management school (IAE) or at a grande ecole in a provincial city. 

I won't bother to suggest better, cheaper alternatives outside France if your heart is set on it. I suggest you look at this ranking of the IAE, and ideally focus on schools that have US accreditation from AACSB: https://diplomeo.com/actualite-classement_iae AACSB accreditation has a roundel logo, and it not the same as simply being a member of AACSB, so check carefully. US accreditation will help you to explain the similarity of the degree. 


You will get better value and a much better quality of support at a grande Ecole. Again, look for AASCB accreditation: https://www.letudiant.fr/palmares/liste-profils/palmares-des-grandes-ecoles-de-commerce/palmares-general-des-grandes-ecoles-de-commerce/home.html#indicateurs=900678,900679,900680&criterias 

French management is different, and foreign students often focus on courses that focus on international negotiations and export management so they can work in those roles for French firms. 

Two other points:

First, do you want a general management degree (MBA) or a specialised marketing masters (MSc)? I think the ICDM MSC at Clermont, the MSc in S&DM at Rennes, and the marketing MScs at NEOMA stand out, and also consider the mid-tier grandes ecoles, which will be more affordable, like IÉSEG, Normandie, SKEMA, Toulouse, etc. In the In the IAE network, Aix and Bordeaux universities really stand out. 

If you want to know France, I strongly suggest you get out of Paris because everyone in the building will be foreign and you will have a bubble in which English is spoken as a second or third language.

At 24, do you have the required 3 years of (post-bachelor's) work experience you'd need to apply for this MBA? 

If you're just looking to study in Europe, affordably - and then return to the US afterward - there are other options outside of France as well: Germany, Greece, Croatia and some other countries all host internationally-accredited MBA programs with similar costs to the CNAM program. 

https://find-mba.com/lists/top-business-schools-by-location/top-10-budget-mba-programs-in-europe