KEDGE Business School International Master in Management Guide 2026

Why Choose KEDGE for Your Master in Management

KEDGE Business School is one of France’s largest independent business schools, with 14,800 students, 192 permanent faculty members (45 percent from abroad) and a global footprint that spans four continents. The school’s International Master in Management — known as the MiM Grande Ecole — is its flagship programme, designed around three strategic pillars: entrepreneurship, technology management and the common good. These are not abstract themes but structuring principles that shape every module, project and international experience in the curriculum.

What makes KEDGE’s MiM distinctive is its radical personalisation. Every student builds a unique learning journey guided by their interests, career goals and personal inclinations, supported by one-on-one coaching throughout the programme. This is not a one-size-fits-all degree: students choose their campus, their MSc specialisation, their international experiences and even the format of their professional placements. The result is a management degree that is as individual as the career it prepares you for.

Ranked the eighth-best French business school and 34th in Europe by the Financial Times, KEDGE sits in the upper echelon of European management education. For candidates comparing Grande Ecole options, the EDHEC MSc in Risk and Finance offers deep specialisation in one domain, while KEDGE’s MiM provides broader management foundations with the flexibility to specialise in your second year across 18 different MSc tracks.

KEDGE MiM Programme Structure and Duration

The KEDGE MiM is structured as a two-year programme (Master 1 and Master 2) that combines foundational management education with deep specialisation and significant international exposure.

Year One: Management Foundations

The first year establishes a solid base in core business and management principles. Students develop competencies in strategic management, financial performance, digital skills, marketing fundamentals and sustainability — ensuring every graduate has the cross-functional knowledge that employers expect from Grande Ecole alumni. The pedagogy is immersive and multimodal, blending individual and group sessions with real-world projects, virtual simulations and corporate challenges.

Year Two: MSc Specialisation

In the second year, students select from 18 distinct MSc specialisations delivered across the Bordeaux, Marseille and Paris campuses. This is where the KEDGE MiM truly differentiates itself: rather than offering a narrow set of concentration options, it provides the full breadth of a business school’s MSc portfolio — from Corporate Finance to Digital Marketing, from Supply Chain Management to Arts and Creative Industries.

Two Entry Tracks

International candidates can enter through two pathways:

• Regular Pathway (Long Track, 2 years): For holders of a three-year bachelor’s degree — includes the foundation year plus the MSc specialisation year
• MSc Short Track (1 year): For holders of a four-year international bachelor’s or higher degree — direct entry to the specialisation year with three semesters (two classroom plus one internship/thesis)

Curriculum: Foundation Year and Core Modules

The foundation year is organised around two complementary skill sets — Manager Skills and Expert Skills — designed to transform graduates from any discipline into business-ready professionals.

Semester 1: Manager Skills

• Introduction to Business Management — fast track for non-management backgrounds
• Strategic Management — competitive analysis, business models and strategic planning
• Financial Performance Management — budgeting, financial statements and performance metrics
• Business and Sustainability — CSR frameworks, ESG integration and sustainable business models
• Public Speaking — presentation skills and executive communication
• Visual Communication and Design — professional design thinking
• Data Management — data literacy and analytics foundations

Semester 1: Expert Skills

• Marketing — strategy, segmentation, positioning and brand fundamentals
• Digital Experience — digital marketing channels, social media and e-commerce
• Marketing Studies — research methods, consumer insights and market analysis

Digital Certifications

KEDGE integrates hard-skill certifications throughout the programme: TOSA Excel, Google Analytics, Adobe Photoshop (TOSA), and coding skills through a specific partnership with Le Wagon, Europe’s leading coding bootcamp. These certifications add tangible, verifiable skills to the traditional management degree — a detail that hiring managers increasingly value.

Semester 2 Options

Students choose one of three paths for their second semester:

• Academic Semester: Innovation Management, Complexity Management, Coding Skills and a corporate Open Innovation Challenge
• International Academic Exchange: Study at one of KEDGE’s 201 partner universities worldwide
• Double Diploma: International Business Management with Nottingham Trent University

MSc Specialisations and Elective Expertise Tracks

The heart of the KEDGE MiM experience is the second-year specialisation. With 18 MSc tracks available, students can pivot their management degree toward virtually any business domain. Key specialisations include:

Within each MSc, students further refine their profile through Elective Expertise Tracks (EET). For example, the MSc Marketing offers four EETs: Brand Management (Bordeaux and Marseille), Negotiation and Key Account Management (Bordeaux), Communication and Event Management (Marseille) and International Marketing (Paris). Each track combines advanced coursework with applied projects and industry partnerships.

Optional specialisation courses include Applied Neuroscience Psychology for Customer Experience Analysis, Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, and Luxury Experience Management — reflecting the programme’s commitment to staying at the cutting edge of business education.

International Experience and Exchange Opportunities

Internationalism is not optional at KEDGE — it is structural. The MiM requires two mandatory international experiences, which can take the form of academic exchanges at partner universities, international internships or professional placements abroad. With 201 academic partners across every continent, students have extraordinary choice in designing their global trajectory.

A standout feature is the China pathway: students can spend between one and four semesters at KEDGE’s campuses in Shanghai or Suzhou, building deep expertise in the world’s second-largest economy. This extended China option is rare among European business schools and particularly valuable for students targeting careers in Asia-Pacific trade, supply chain management or luxury goods — industries where understanding Chinese business culture is a genuine competitive advantage.

KEDGE also offers double-diploma agreements, including the International Business Management programme with Nottingham Trent University, adding a UK credential to the French Grande Ecole degree. The school’s African campuses in Dakar and Abidjan provide additional options for students interested in emerging market exposure. For candidates interested in other programmes with strong international exchange components, the Singapore Management University offers excellent Asian network options.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

KEDGE’s admissions process for international candidates is straightforward and efficient, with decisions communicated within five working days of a completed application and interview.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold an international bachelor’s degree with at least two years of higher education undertaken outside France. This requirement ensures the programme maintains its international character and cultural diversity.

Required Documents

• Current CV
• Copy of passport or national identity card
• One letter of recommendation
• English proficiency certificate: TOEFL above 550 (iBT above 80), TOEIC above 785, IELTS above 6, Duolingo 105 or PTE 46
• Motivation responses covering programme choice, career plan, relevant experience and personal expectations

Recommended (Not Mandatory)

GMAT, GRE, GAT or TAGE MAGE scores are recommended to strengthen an application but are not required. KEDGE explicitly states these tests uphold educational standards without being gatekeepers.

Interview

All applicants participate in a 30-minute online interview via Microsoft Teams. The session functions like a professional job interview, assessing motivations, programme knowledge and alignment between the candidate’s career project and KEDGE’s offerings. In some cases, candidates receive a short article or questions 24 hours before and must submit responses prior to the interview.

The application fee is €120 (non-refundable, paid online by credit card). The selection period runs from October to July, closing once the new student quota is reached. KEDGE strongly recommends early application, particularly for candidates requiring a visa. Applications are submitted through join.kedge.edu.

Tuition Fees, Scholarships and Financial Planning

KEDGE offers competitive tuition across its programme tracks:

A deposit of €800 is required upon acceptance for the MiM programme.

Scholarship Portfolio

KEDGE believes no student should abandon their education because of funding problems. The financial support framework includes:

• Early Bird Discount: 10 percent off tuition for applications completed before 30 November; 5 percent before 28 February — can be combined with merit scholarships
• Excellence Scholarship: €4,000 discount based on interview grade, GPA, and optional GMAT/GRE scores
• Achievement Scholarship: €2,000 discount for strong academic profiles
• Solidarity Scholarship: Need-based grants for students with demonstrated financial constraints
• Diversity Scholarship: Supporting students from underrepresented international, cultural or social backgrounds
• Partner Scholarships: For students joining via pathway agreements with partner institutions
• Alumni Scholarship: For KEDGE alumni pursuing further education

Regional scholarships are also available through government programmes in Latin America (Colfuturo, Conacyt), Asia (Charpak India programme), Africa and the Middle East. Living costs in Bordeaux and Marseille average approximately €980 per month, and students of all nationalities may be eligible for French government housing subsidies of €100 to €200 per month. Compared to programmes like the NYU Stern MBA, KEDGE delivers exceptional value at a fraction of the cost.

Campus Locations: Bordeaux, Marseille, Paris and Beyond

KEDGE’s multicampus model is one of its most distinctive features, giving students the ability to study in different French cities and even across continents within a single programme.

Bordeaux

The 35,000-square-metre Bordeaux campus sits on the Talence university campus, 20 minutes from the city centre by tram. Bordeaux has been ranked France’s top city for quality of life and has experienced the country’s strongest growth in executive populations over the past decade. The campus serves as the base for several MSc specialisations including Marketing (Brand Management track), Banking and Finance, and Supply Chain Management.

Marseille (Luminy)

The 21,000-square-metre Marseille Luminy campus is integrated within the stunning Calanques natural environment — one of France’s newest national parks. Located 20 minutes from the city centre by bus, the campus features cutting-edge teaching equipment and innovative facilities. It hosts MSc specialisations in Corporate Finance, Marketing (Communication and Event Management) and International Business.

Paris

KEDGE’s Paris campus occupies 3,200 square metres in one of the capital’s largest business centres, focused on executive education and specialised MSc programmes including Arts and Creative Industries Management, Sustainable Finance and International Marketing. Its proximity to France’s corporate ecosystem and Station F — the world’s largest startup campus — creates unique opportunities for entrepreneurial students.

International Campuses

Shanghai and Suzhou campuses provide dedicated facilities for the China pathway. Dakar and Abidjan campuses extend KEDGE’s reach into Francophone Africa, offering students exposure to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Career Outcomes and Employer Network

KEDGE’s 72,000 alumni form a global professional network that spans every major industry. The average first salary for MSc graduates is approximately €37,500, with graduates placing into roles across brand management, business development, consulting, finance, international marketing and operations.

The school’s recruiting company roster reads like a who’s who of global business: L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Danone, Amazon, Nike, Chanel, Christian Dior Couture, Publicis, Société Générale, Ubisoft, Universal Music, Rolex, Accor, Adidas, Decathlon, CMA CGM and UEFA, among many others. This breadth of recruiters reflects KEDGE’s strength across both luxury and mass-market industries, technology and traditional sectors, French and international companies.

Career services at KEDGE include personalised coaching, corporate networking events, internship facilitation and alumni mentoring programmes. The six-month internship that concludes the MSc year provides extended professional immersion — whether in France or abroad — and frequently leads to permanent offers. With 23 percent of its student body already international, KEDGE is well-practised at helping non-French graduates navigate the French job market, visa processes and career development.

Accreditations, Rankings and Global Recognition

KEDGE Business School’s quality credentials are among the strongest in European business education:

• Triple Crown: AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditation — fewer than one percent of business schools worldwide achieve all three
• Conférence des Grandes Écoles: Membership in France’s most prestigious association of elite higher education institutions
• Bienvenue en France: Quality label certifying excellence in international student services and welcome

In research, KEDGE punches well above its weight. The Shanghai World Ranking places it as France’s second-best business school for research in Business Administration and fourth worldwide in management research. In 2017, it was ranked the number-one French institution for management research publications. The school operates four Centres of Excellence and three Centres of Expertise, with its Marketing and New Consumption research centre recognised as one of Europe’s best.

For candidates comparing French Grande Ecole programmes, the ESSEC Executive MBA targets experienced professionals, while the INSEAD MBA focuses on one-year accelerated general management. KEDGE’s MiM offers the two-year immersive model with unmatched specialisation breadth — ideal for early-career professionals who want both foundations and depth.