MBA in France: INSEAD vs HEC
Choosing to pursue your MBA in France is a great option for Merchant GMAT students. There are two very prestigious MBA programs in France, INSEAD and HEC Paris, that are known for getting MBA students to where they want to be. In this article, we will compare and contrast these two programs in an attempt to provide clarity and guidance for current Merchant GMAT students. After reading this article, you will have a much better understanding of each of the programs offered and may even consider going abroad to enroll.
| INSEAD | HEC Paris | |
| Program Duration | 1 year MBA program. Students may begin in September or January for a 10-month term. | 16-month MBA program. HEC also has 2 intakes, in September and January. |
| Tuition (2020) | €89,000 | €76,000 |
| Locations | Europe Campus: located on the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau and just a little over 60 km. away from Paris. It lies within easy reach of all major airports and rail systems connecting Paris with the rest of the world. There are also campuses in Asia (Singapore), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) and North America (San Francisco). |
Based close to Paris and Versailles (almost 30 km. from Paris), HEC is located in the Paris-Saclay Innovation Cluster, created in 2010 to unite France’s best research institutions, hi-tech businesses, startups and universities. It is surrounded by a 110 Acre Park, English Gardens and a lake. |
| Class Size (enrolled in the class of 2020) | Although INSEAD typically welcomes 500 students in every intake, due to the pandemic and in order to respect social distancing, 310 students were accepted in 2020. | 295 full-time MBA students in the 2021 Class. |
| Gmat average score | The middle 80% of GMAT scores for the incoming class ranges between 670 and 750. | The average GMAT score for the incoming class at HEC Paris is 690. |
| Average age | 29 | 29 |
| Average work experience | 6 years | 6 years |
| Academic Information | INSEAD: 10 Months 5 periods up to 8 weeks ending with an exam, essay or project. First 3 periods cover the 14 core courses including “financial accounting”, “organizational behavior”, “corporate financial policy” and “macroeconomics in the global economy”. Second 2 periods – Customised course to the student’s personal interests from 75 different electives over 10 academic areas. Many of the electives also include a range of travel abroad options. |
HEC Paris: 16 months 2 phases: fundamental and customized. Fundamental phase – 8 months- covering core skills in business and management from financial policy to management skills, accounting and other entrepreneurship essentials. Final 8 months – customized period – Students can choose electives based on their own career goals and aspirations. The options include elective courses, specializations, international exchanges, and fieldwork projects. |
| Average Post-MBA Salary | $104,500 | $128,206 |
| Employment Rate (graduates who found jobs within 3 months) | 92% | 92% |
If you need help with the GMAT or the admissions process we can help. For more information on our different GMAT products see:
- GMAT private classes – see the stories of Will, Teddy, Jessica and Nico and how they approached their GMAT journey with Merchant.
- Merchant Academy – a GMAT teaching innovation that makes taking the GMAT, like an MBA. Click to find out more about the Merchant Academy format.
- Merchant GMAT Hall of Fame – a gallery of some of our clients over the last eight years.
For admissions help see some of the client stories on our admissions page.
