Hi All,

Greeting from Thailand. I've got accepted into MIB at IESEG and IMM at Audencia Nantes in France. I'm leaning towards IESEG because the fee is much lower but I'm not sure if I'm making the right choice. What are your opinions on these 2 programs and 2 schools? Are they on the same league? FYI, I'm from a non business background (liberal arts), have more than 3 years of working experiences but in the area that isn't business oriented. My goal is to get international exposure and find a better job in my country preferably in project management field.

Thank you in advance for any input/advice.

All the French rankings put Audencia much higher.

Thanks a lot Duncan for your reply. What about the course content, do you think these 2 have much difference? FYI, one is Master in International Business and the other is International Master in Management.

No, since these are both Grandes Ecoles both of them will adapt the French MACI curriculum for the foreign students. The difference will be in the quality of the students, faculty, professors, resources and alumni and, of course, the sheer volume of classes (since the full track at Audencia is so much closer to the US MBA format).

Yes, not to mention the added AMBA accreditation that Audencia has - which would give you a rather large secondary network (plus added employment opportunities, etc.)

Hi Duncan,

I have received offers from IESEG and Audencia for MBA. Can you share some light on which is better?
I have got 30% and 50 % scholarships respectively.Also roles I would be looking for is product manager in IT
I know for both the schools knowing french is important and I have started learning it. 

[Edited by Shreyas Namjoshi on Jan 08, 2021]

If you have only started learning French now, then you will not be able to work in French by the end of an MBA taught in English. Take a university diploma in the French language instead.

Hi Duncan,

My course starts in sept 21 and I would be looking out for jobs by April 22.So I have a year and a half to prepare for French language. Which of the above two business school would you suggest? 

You will (almost certainly) not be able to work (at the MBA level, rather than in a manual job) in French by April next year if you take a master's in taught in English and are not already In France in a full time academic French diploma course at a TFE accredited school. So, neither of of these MBAs are better than my recommendation if you want to work in France. However, your French will certainly improve faster in the setting of Audencia's francophone campus than at IÉSEG's Engliah-speaking annex in Paris.

[Edited by Duncan on Jan 09, 2021]

Hi Duncan,

Apart from Audencia MBA and IESEG MBA , I have also received offer from Aston Business School.
My profile is 8 years into IT , worked with extensive product development companies as quality assurance analyst such as Oracle. My BE percentage was 78.9 and GMAT score is 560( below avg).which MBA's or mim's would you suggest for the my profile if I consider I may not get jobs in france at the end of my english taught mba

[Edited by Shreyas Namjoshi on Jan 11, 2021]

Honestly, it's not a school I tend to recommend because of the very limited career support for graduate students: half a person for the MBA program and one for all the other postgrads. But it is a stronger option than a school where you don't speak the language. There is a promising Aston video from 2015 on MBA careers support on YouTube. 

[Edited by Duncan on Jan 11, 2021]

Thanks Duncan.I really appreciate your advice. Can you suggest some good options for my profile .I can look out and apply in such Business Schools.If your suggestion is to improve upon my GMAT score,I am already doing that but if you can suggest some good options of 1 year MBA or may be 1.5 years in the mean while, I will see through the program and apply which are within the budget.
I am looking forward to an MBA that will help me find a job in product management in IT sector or a Product Consultant role.Also if there are any MIM or MSc Programs that might help ,do let me know.

[Edited by Shreyas Namjoshi on Jan 11, 2021]

I think Duncan, I or anyone else here would need to know a lot more about you to make a solid recommendation. Take a look at past posts mentioning Aston you might get some ideas. Your focus seems to be on a functional role rather than a general management role. Perhaps an MSc at a better school will give you better careers support and more suitable opportunities? Aston may be the best option available with your GMAT,

PS A GMAT of 600, and with an even score between the two major elements, will open a lot more doors. 

[Edited by StuartHE on Jan 11, 2021]

Hi @StuartHE,

Can you suggest some good MSc Programmes which can help me out. I have gone through some Msc programs and the average age was 23-24 and I am 30.Though I dont mind the average age but will such programs be a fit for me is something i am not sure about.
I have 8 years of experience as Quality Assurance Analyst and worked for extensive product development companies such as Oracle  and start ups such as Visible Alpha and Altimetrik.I am looking to make my career in Product Management after my MBA.

I would need to know a lot more about the sort of project management roles where you think you could hit the ground running. These are the general direction I would start from: http://bit.ly/ProductMSC 

[Edited by StuartHE on Jan 12, 2021]

Age is definitely a concern when looking at programs like these. The fact is, many students in these programs are going to be pretty fresh out of undergrad, and maybe have not really been in the work place, at all, yet.

That's not to say that can't be valuable - and 'older' students are far from atypical in courses like this - but the classroom discussions will be much different from those in MBA programs, where everybody will have a good chunk of work experience under their belts already.

But it sounds like you really need to focus on clarifying your goals. Knowing your goals will help you decide more effectively between an MBA and an MSc. In general, you want to get into the best / most well ranked school you can, because that's where the career support and networking opportunities will be.