I am a US citizen with French language skills, looking at MBA programmes in Europe to help me change professional direction. Since I don't think I can make the cut at the super elite schools for admission, I have been really looking at EM LYON and EDHEC as the best possibilities for me, from a cost and time commitment standpoint. My gut sense is that EDHEC is on the upswing in terms of reputation, and more or less seems to offer a program of comparable quality and cost to EM LYON.

I do wonder about a couple of things, however. Does the shorter EDHEC programme sacrifice quality? How much difference, if any, does an extra two months make?

EM LYON is clear about the specializations you can have in the MBA (ie luxury, life sciences, etc), while EDHEC seems to have a reputation for finance. I do not have a very clear picture as to whether you can really get a "specialization" at EDHEC - can someone clarify this?

My final question is about career guidance and help. If possible, I'd love to remain in France, but know that's a long shot. I don't really know if an MBA will help me change careers at all - I have what the EDHEC representative has called an "atypical profile," and I think they are interested in me. However, I am going to need a lot of help in translating my previous work experience, even with an MBA, into a new career. Does one generally fare better than the other in career services? Or is it a wash?

EDHEC has four specialisations, which are taught at other campuses: called "global tracks": Three are listed at http://www.edhec-mba.com/curriculum/global-tracks/global-tracks-149728.kjsp?RH=theseus03 and the new one in Family Business is listed in the left hand sidebar of that site.

Perhaps you've seen my post at: I visited EDHEC www.find-mba.com/board/34886

Appreciate the links, Duncan. I was honestly a little suspicious of a 10- month program when I first started looking into it, but I have to say that EDHEC keeps looking better and better.

If you haven't applied, let me know and I can recommend you for an alumni recommendation bursary.

The EDHEC programme is very different, as you can tell from the two entry points in the year and the fact that it's based in the executive education institute. In September there's a 10 month option, and the January 12-month option gives a long sumer break for those who want an internship. I think that's a better design than the EM Lyon programme. But EDHEC is really focussed on going deeply into the core, and developing leadership skills through action learning. EM Lyon seems more extensive, and the international exchange programme is attractive for people with little international exposure.

I'm a big fan of Lyon: I studied at the Catholic university there and was admitted to the EM Lyon MBA as well. It's an impressive school. But EDHEC is certainly its peer school now, with clear leadership in finance, and they'll flip back and forth as the 4th and 5th French schools for several years.

That said, EDHEC has great vision and an incredible ability to execute. Just look at the Paris and London campuses, and the growing Nice campus. In contrast, EM Lyon's had a failure with the Geneva campus and deems pretty steady-state. I think its pre-experience portfolio is really where the innovation is. http://www.msc-entrepreneurship.com/