What Is the Duration of an MSc in Corporate Finance in France?
Before committing to a programme, it is essential to understand its duration and structure. The MSc in Corporate Finance at EDC Paris Business School is structured over one to two years, with formats designed to suit a range of academic and professional profiles.
Standard Duration and ECTS Structure
The duration of an MSc in Corporate Finance in France depends on the applicant’s entry level:
2 years / 120 ECTS for students holding a Bachelor’s degree (Bac+3) entering the first year of the programme
1 year / 60 ECTS for students holding a Master’s-level qualification (Bac+4) joining directly in the second year
This 120 ECTS workload corresponds to the European Master’s standard, recognised across all countries within the LMD (Licence–Master–Doctorate) framework. The programme awards RNCP qualification 39483 (Level 7), accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research — a guarantee of both quality and national recognition.
The two-year Master’s in Finance is structured as follows:
First year: a common foundation in management and introductory finance modules, including financial accounting, management control, financial markets, sustainable and ethical finance, and corporate taxation
Second year: advanced specialisation modules such as advanced financial analysis, leveraged buyouts (LBO), mergers and acquisitions, treasury management, portfolio and risk management, international finance, and fintech, followed by a final dissertation and oral defence
Two intakes are available:
September intake for the standard programme start
March intake for selected profiles, offering greater flexibility depending on personal and professional circumstances
Study Rhythm and Delivery Formats (Full-Time or Work-Study)
The programme is available in two formats, designed to match students’ objectives and circumstances.
In the full-time format, students attend classes on campus and complete internships as part of the academic curriculum. This option is best suited to those who wish to focus entirely on their studies before entering the labour market.
The work-study MSc in Finance is also available, following a schedule of three weeks in company and one week at school. This apprenticeship-based format offers several key advantages:
Professional immersion from the beginning of the programme, without waiting for internship periods
Funding of tuition fees through an apprenticeship contract, significantly reducing the financial burden on students
Gradual development of professional experience and a network, providing strong employability upon graduation
The choice between full-time study and work-study depends on each candidate’s career goals: those seeking rapid professional immersion and financial support typically opt for the apprenticeship route, while those preferring to focus on academic learning choose the full-time format.
Impact of Programme Duration on Employability
A two-year programme is not simply longer than a one-year course; it is fundamentally different in what it enables students to build.
The first year establishes the foundations: core finance principles, managerial skills and technical tools. The second year deepens specialisation and exposes students to real-world business situations through business games, consulting projects, and a dissertation grounded in a corporate issue. This two-stage progression creates a level of maturity that employers clearly recognise: graduates from a two-year programme have had time to test their skills, refine their career plans, and build a professional network.
Employability after an MSc is directly enhanced by this progression. For work-study students, the transition into employment is often already underway, with many receiving job offers from their host company even before their final defence. For full-time students, the final internship frequently acts as a first professional role, often leading to a permanent offer.
Programme duration and career outcomes are therefore closely linked: a well-structured two-year programme allows graduates to enter the job market with a level of competence and professional maturity that one-year programmes cannot always provide.
The MSc in Corporate Finance at EDC Paris Business School offers a clear pathway over one to two years, available in both full-time and work-study formats, with two possible intakes (September and March). To access the detailed academic calendar and check the exact structure of the programme depending on your chosen format, please refer to the full programme information on the EDC Paris Business School website.