Paris business schools: a guide to State-recognised schools
Paris has many business schools offering Bac+5 programmes. To make the right choice, it is essential to check certain national and international labels: State visa, grade of master, and accreditations from the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE).
Here is a guide to understanding these distinctions and why they matter.
What is a State-recognised business school?
A programme's visa is issued by the Ministry of Higher Education after assessment by the Commission d'Évaluation des Formations et des Diplômes de Gestion (CEFDG).
To obtain this visa, a school must:
Have been recognised by the State for at least 5 years
Offer Bac+3 to Bac+5 programmes
Meet strict quality criteria
The visa is granted for a period of 1 to 6 years.
What does the visa guarantee?
A State-recognised programme:
Is listed in the Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles (RNCP)
Attests to the quality of the teaching
Has its admissions process assessed
Has the school's governance analysed
Has periods spent in companies (internships, work-study) monitored
Has graduate employment outcomes measured
Obtaining the visa authorises the school to award a State-recognised degree. Without a visa, an institution can only award a certificate.
In Paris, several Bac+5 Master in Management programmes are State-recognised, including those of EDC Paris Business School.
These schools can be accessed through, among other routes, the EDC Paris Business School Entrance Exam.
The visa also allows students to benefit from:
CROUS grants
A place in university accommodation
A State-recognised Bac+3 or Bac+4 degree then allows you to continue into a Master in Management through advanced-entry admission.
Why choose a Master in Management with the grade of master?
The grade of master is a more demanding distinction than the visa. It is also awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education, following an opinion from the CEFDG.
Awarded for 1 to 6 years, it attests to a high academic standard.
The criteria for the grade of master
To obtain it, a programme is assessed on:
Teaching innovation
The international dimension (university partnerships, exchanges, courses in English and so on)
Research output (academic researchers, publications, chairs)
The quality of the permanent faculty
The qualitative employment outcomes of graduates
The grade of master is recognised internationally, making it easier to continue studying or to access positions abroad.
The Master in Management of EDC Paris Business School carries the grade of master.
The labels of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE)
The Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE) brings together schools awarding a State-recognised Bac+5 degree with the grade of master.
It awards several recognised labels:
Open to students with a Bac+4, MSc programmes are specialised programmes with a strong international dimension.
The Mastères Spécialisés (MS)
Open to students with a Bac+5, they offer in-depth expertise with strong involvement from industry professionals.
Certificates and continuing education
CQC label for short certified programmes
BADGE label for programmes aimed at employees or jobseekers
These labels guarantee a high standard and strong employability.
International accreditations
Beyond national labels, some schools hold prestigious international accreditations:
AMBA
EPAS
AACSB
EQUIS
BGA
Some accreditations apply to a specific programme, others to the whole school.
How do you choose the right business school in Paris?
To select a Bac+5 programme in Paris, check:
The State visa
The grade of master
CGE membership
International accreditations
The level of graduate employment
These criteria guarantee academic quality and recognition of the degree in France and abroad.