I'm thinking about enrolling in a master's program at either ESCP or EDHEC and Cranfield.



1-Online Executive Master in International Business (EMIB) at ESCP - offer no ECTS, and its a private degree.



2-MSc International Business Management - EDHEC - 120 ECTS, but I contacted EDHEC and they told me that the program offers 120 credits, and it is a private degree, not recognised by French state.



What is the difference that the 120 ECTS makes in EDHEC master?



I'm also considering the MSc in Business and Management at Cranfield by the new Stackable Programmes.



Any suggestions?



Thanks in advance.

[Edited by MG89 on Oct 28, 2024]

Reading through the forum discussions, I hope you have noticed a clear pattern: program choice should flow from clear career plans.

What work do you want to do? Which companies interest you? Where do you want to be based? These questions matter more than comparing ECTS credits.

Let me break down what I learned about these programs from the discussions:

ESCP EMIB:
- Private business school diploma
- No ECTS credits
- Strong name recognition at multinational firms
- Potentially accepted well in Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands
- Less valuable in France, Spain, Italy where state recognition matters

EDHEC MSc:
- Private business school diploma with 120 ECTS
- ECTS credits help if you want:
- Academic transfer options in Europe
- Further study at European universities
- Jobs requiring degrees that pass international evaluations like WES.
- Good reputation with employers

Cranfield MSc:
- UK state-accredited degree
- Strong links to UK industry
- Flexible study format

The 120 ECTS at EDHEC vs no ECTS at ESCP makes a difference mainly for:
- Moving between academic programs in Europe
- Jobs needing state-recognized qualifications
- Some European countries' visa/work permit rules

But the key question remains - what job roles and locations interest you? Once you clarify that, we can look at which program's graduates succeed in those areas. These are not the only three online degrees, so I don't quite understand why you are limiting yourself to them.

What type of work would you like to do after graduating? This will help people give better guidance on program choice.

I appreciate your comprehensive answer. Although my current role is in aviation consulting, I am keen to explore opportunities in general business and management. I am situated between Italy and Greece and am open to relocating to any European location.

If you know of any affordable (up to 15-18k) online Master's programs in Management or Business from a triple-accredited university, please share them.

Flip that around. For what role is an online MSc in business the best route to changing sector?



If you want to change country, sector, role, or all three, then identify a working hypothesis of where you can add the most value. No one is likely to hire you, in this economy, as an MBA-level general manager from a role in aviation consulting. Either move to a business function in aviation (finance, HR, logistics, marketing...) or into consulting with a different vertical market. Either way, I think a lot of people would assume that a consultant has already got a decent grasp of the general management tool box. I think you'd make more progress with a MSc focussed on a business function or vertical market, or through intensive language classes, coaching and personal branding.

[Edited by StuartHE on Oct 29, 2024]

Thank you once again for your response.

I believe that pursuing a master's degree can enhance my understanding of management and business, while also helping me develop both soft and hard skills. My aim is to acquire these additional competencies and to have good networking.

Furthermore, having a reputable business school on my CV could be seen as a valuable advantage from an employer's perspective.

Does that sound correct?

Absolutely, in the same sense that picking any sport at random will make you more likely to be an Olympic fencer than you are now. However, schools and recruiters are not fungible. Choices matter.

Can you recommend some online master's programs that you believe are valuable and offer a good return?

Also, is the main concern with the EMIB that it doesn't provide ECTS credits?

It depends on your specific career goal. If you don't have one, spend your money on career coaching rather than an online degree.