Why Pursue a Master in Management (MIM)?
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Students can join a business school program directly after high school, through a "classe préparatoire" (preparatory classes), or via direct entry. Within a business school, many different programs are available, such as Bachelors, MSc, Specialized Masters, MBAs, or BBAs, alongside the flagship Master in Management.

Why choose an MIM? How do you join the program? What specialization options are offered? What is student life like? What are the career prospects after graduation? Discover everything you need to know here!

The Two Accreditation Levels of a Master in Management
An MIM must hold two specific levels of national recognition:

  • The "Visa": This is the State’s recognition of the program's pedagogical quality, evaluated based on thirty criteria including governance, human and financial resources, permanent faculty, research, employability, internationalization, and training processes. The "Visa" is granted for a period of 1 to 6 years.
  • The Master’s Grade (Grade de Master): The MIM confers the official "Master’s Grade" and certifies a specific number of ECTS credits. A student completing an MIM earns 300 ECTS credits, allowing them to pursue a Doctorate, for example. This grade is awarded for 1 to 6 years based on criteria such as research output, international scope, and curriculum content.

This means that a Master in Management is recognized by both the Ministry of Labor and, crucially, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, serving as a guarantee of quality in the job market.

Brochure: Master in Management

International Accreditations for a Master in Management

A Master in Management usually holds international accreditations, ensuring the program meets global standards:

  • EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System): This European accreditation distinguishes schools based on pedagogy, innovation, internationalization, research, and corporate relations.
  • AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business): An American label evaluating pedagogical quality and student support.
  • AMBA (Association of MBAs): A British label that evaluates the best MBAs, MIMs, and DBAs (Doctorate of Business Administration).
  • EPAS (EFMD Programme Accreditation System): This label highlights schools with strong international programs.

Only a small fraction of French business schools (around fifteen, or 1% of business schools worldwide), including emlyon, hold the "Triple Crown" accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA.

MIM Rankings: A Sign of Quality Education

Rankings are often central to a student's decision-making process. Several reputable rankings are published annually:

  • In France: Le Figaro Étudiant, Le Point, Le Parisien Étudiant, and SIGEM (for preparatory class students).
  • Internationally: The Financial Times and QS Rankings.

The goal is to establish a hierarchy based on criteria such as selectivity, faculty quality, the number of international students, employability, research, starting salaries, and international reputation. For instance, emlyon business school is ranked as the 4th best management school in France across all national rankings for 2025.

Note: Choosing an MIM should also be based on the specific skills developed and the professional opportunities offered.

Why Choose a Master in Management?

Between academic excellence, a rich association life, numerous international opportunities, high-level professional integration, and very high starting salaries, an MIM provides significant advantages in the job market.

Master in Management programs are recognized for their academic excellence. Management schools attract world-class research faculty to maintain their standing in rankings through high-quality research and student supervision. Schools also bring in guest speakers from major global organizations to provide practical insights from the field.

Furthermore, business schools often establish academic partnerships with renowned international institutions. This allows them to offer double degrees recognized globally, enabling students to acquire dual competencies, which leads to better employability and compensation. Double degrees also allow for additional technical skills, such as the Engineer-Manager double degree.

At emlyon, students can pursue double degrees worldwide:

  • Europe: WHU Koblenz (Germany), Aston Business School (UK), Bayes Business School (UK), POLIMI Graduate School of Management (Italy), King's College London (UK), and UCL Global Business School for Health (UK).
  • Asia: Tongji University (China), Hong Kong Baptist University (China), National Chengchi University (Taiwan), AIT-SOM (Thailand), and Nagoya University of Commerce & Business (Japan).
  • North America: HEC Montréal (Canada) and New York Film Academy (USA).

Students also have the option to pursue double degrees in France with prestigious institutions like Centrale Lyon, Mines Saint-Etienne, or INSA Lyon. Additionally, students can participate in academic exchanges at numerous partner universities, take a gap year for internships or humanitarian missions, or attend summer schools. The goal is to learn a new language and culture while developing soft skills such as adaptability, flexibility, and openness.

MIM courses cover many fields: marketing, human resources, finance, international trade, logistics, management, entrepreneurship, strategy, economics, purchasing, and labor law. This allows students to access a wide range of careers. Beyond classes, students are involved in student associations based on their interests: sports, culture, humanitarian work, environment, professional networking, or culinary arts.

In addition to fostering integration, these associations allow students to develop skills by applying course concepts in concrete contexts.

Students develop Soft Skills essential for corporate life:

  • Adaptability and Teamwork
  • Synthesis skills and Autonomy
  • Organization and Rigor
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Risk-taking and Public Speaking

Students also develop Hard Skills relevant for internships or work-study programs:

  • Project Management and Event Planning
  • Social Media Communication
  • Budget Management and Financial Statements
  • Administrative Tasks and Market Research
  • Corporate Strategy via consulting missions
  • Sponsoring and Partnerships

Additional Tip: Keep in mind that you should choose your Master in Management based on how well it aligns with your professional project.

Entrepreneurship: A Career Path in Graduate Schools

In business schools, students can choose to start their own business through the school’s incubator. All schools now offer support services for those wishing to create their own company. This aligns with the mission of management schools to foster creativity and innovation to solve complex global challenges. The emlyon incubator, for example, is based on six foundations:

  1. Support: Coaching from mentors, professors, and experts.
  2. Connection: Access to business angels, bankers, partners, and potential clients.
  3. Community: Peer-to-peer advice and experience sharing.
  1. Visibility: Leveraging the school's brand image and alumni network.
  2. Inspiration: Assistance with business models and plans to conquer markets.
  3. Challenge: Expert feedback to refine and succeed with the project.

Professional Opportunities After an MIM
High Employability

The professional integration of MIM graduates is very high thanks to international exposure, corporate-aligned courses, and numerous internships or work-study (alternance) programs.

According to the CGE (Conférence des Grandes Écoles) survey, the net employment rate for business school graduates is 78.3%. For the Class of 2024, base salaries increased by +2.1%, with an average gross annual salary of €39,604. At emlyon, 86% of MIM students are employed before graduation, and 100% are employed within 6 months, with an average salary of €58,000 gross (including bonuses).

Note: Work-study programs are expanding within MIMs, as they exempt students from tuition fees while providing a salary and professional experience.
 

Career Support Services
To favor professional integration, schools like emlyon offer a Career Center:

  • Career Workshops: Professional projects, CV/LinkedIn tools, networking, and interviewing.
  • Career Tracks: Specialized preparation for selective sectors like Strategy Consulting (with partners like McKinsey, BCG, Bain) and Finance (investment banking internships).
  • Alumni Network: A global network of 48,000 graduates in 130 countries, offering webinars and "Career Booster" support for up to 3 years after graduation.

Career Paths After Graduation
Career paths are diverse: audit, finance, banking, insurance, marketing, communication, recruitment, HR, consulting, sales, and accounting. At emlyon, 57% of 2024 graduates entered Consulting or Finance, with top recruiters including EY, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, LVMH, BCG, and L’Oréal. Graduates often hold leadership positions requiring flexibility, organization, and management skills.

Summary: Why Pursue a Master in Management (MIM)?

A Master in Management offers key advantages for a successful career:

  • Academic Excellence: Solid theoretical teaching combined with practical projects.
  • International Exposure: Exchanges, internships, and global double degrees.
  • Rapid Integration: Work-study options and specialized Career Center support.
  • Network: Access to an influential global alumni network.
  • Accreditations: State recognition and international labels (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA).
  • Specializations: Diverse options in finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
  • Dynamic Student Life: Associations and incubators to develop leadership.
  • Attractive Prospects: Competitive salaries and rapid career progression.

In short, a MIM combines elite training, practical experience, and a powerful network, offering a unique springboard for ambitious careers.

A Master in Management is designed to train versatile and competitive leaders, combining academic excellence, professional expertise, and international exposure. It attracts students aiming to quickly reach leadership positions in management, finance, marketing, or entrepreneurship. The pedagogy is based on a solid theoretical foundation, enriched by practical projects, internships, and frequent international exchanges. Choosing this path allows students to benefit from an influential alumni network, international recognition, and strategic, rapid professional integration.