A series of alumni testimonials about French colleges and universities. The alumni share their personal experiences about their courses, part-time jobs, internships, job search, etc. I have focused on alumni because it can help prospective and current students get a complete picture of the course and future opportunities.
In this particular article, Sandhya was kind enough to share her Master’s experiences from SKEMA Business School.
Alumni & Course Information
| Name | Ms. Sandhya |
| LinkedIn Profile | NA |
| Degree | Master of Science (MSc) “RNCP certified” |
| Course Specialization | |
| Year of Graduation | 2022 |
| College | |
| City | Paris |
| Course Intake | September |
| Course Duration (including internship) | 18 months |
| Course Fees | 17,000€ |
| Funding for the course | Bank Education Loan + Partial Scholarship from the School |
| Monthly Expenses (Rent, utilities, etc) | 1,300€ |
| French level before the Course | A1 |
| French level after Graduation | A2 |
| Status after Graduation | Salaried Employee |
| Current Status | Marketing and Sales in the field of events and hospitality, Paris |
MSc Course Options at SKEMA
Personal Experiences during the Course
- I studied in a multinational school and learned about different cultures in the process.
- Although we had only 3-4 classes/week, the course load was medium to high.
- Lots of presentations, to study, prepare and learn from.
- Exams are quite easy as it is mostly MCQs and presentations.
- They did guide us to some extent in finding an internship (resume review and consulting) but you are on your own. Getting a mentor worked out for me.
Return on Investment (ROI)
- I had an interest in marketing and hence I chose that particular course.
- Although some subjects were familiar, it opened me to many aspects that I did not know such as cultural sensitivity, uses of AI, and other nuances in marketing.
- Also, I utilized the electives which helped me gain certifications that were funded by my school.
- Overall, I did learn a lot and do see a return on investment as it not only helped me with my career but also a pathway to start a life in France.
Multi-cultural Aspects of the Course
- In my class, we were around 40 students and so the ratio of Indians vs International students was 1: 9.
Part-time Job Experience
- I did not do any part-time job during my Masters
Internship Experience
- Great company, but it’s very much a French one.
- I enjoyed it work-wise and learned how to work when different cultures come together.
- Be prepared to transform yourself.
Job Search Experience
- Job search is/was tough.
- Language plays a major role. Again, we graduated during a period of recession and it is tougher.
- Keep networking on various platforms, as these days it’s a lot about who you know!.
Advice for Juniors
- Be prepared to hustle, it’s not all fun, parties, and traveling.
- Please mingle with other cultures too if you would like to grow as a person.
- Keep learning French, before, during, and after graduation if you would like to stay. Helps a lot not only for jobs but also for general communication.
Information about SKEMA Business School
- A Business school with 3 campuses in France – Lille, Paris and Sophia Antipolis.
- The Grande Ecole offers Bachelors, Masters including MBA and PhD degrees.
- Courses are taught in English.
- Seven campuses worldwide: Belo Horizonte, Lille, Paris, Raleigh, Sophia Antipolis, Stellenbosch, and Suzhou.
- More than 160 partner universities.
- Close to 100 specializations in France and abroad including 36 specializations delivering SKEMA double degree MiM/MSc and 20 double and triple degrees and diplomas with international partners.
- Multi accreditation: EQUIS, AACSB and EFMD EMBA Accredited.
- 99% of students have a job within six months of graduation (source:
SKEMA Talent & Careers)
SKEMA Global Ranking
| Course | QS World University Rankings |
| Global BBA – Bachelors in Business Administration (course website) | 2024 : 4th in France (Le Figaro) |
| Master in Management (Grande Ecole Programme) (course website) | 2024 : 23rd Worldwide |
| MSc Financial Markets and Investments(course website) | 2023 : 4th worldwide (“pre-experience masters”) |
| MSc International Business (course website) | |
| MSc International Marketing & Business Development (course website) | |
| MSc Business Consulting & Digital Transformation (course website) | |
| MSc Global Supply Chain Management & Procurement (course website) | |
| Executive Education & EMBA (course website) |
Disclaimer
- These are original testimonials collected from the alumni via Linkedin.
- Opinions expressed are from the alumni and so the author or the blog cannot be held responsible.
- These testimonials include both facts and opinions. Facts will not change but opinions might differ based on personal experiences, perspectives, etc.
