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, Ashwin MURALIDHARAN was kind enough to share his Master’s experiences from Audencia Business School in Nantes, France.
Since 2020, A non-profit telegram group for Indian students is actively run by Indian alumni, who graduated in France. The group covers the various topics relevant to our Indian students enrolled in French colleges and universities.
Alumni & Course Information
| Name | Mr. Ashwin MURALIDHARAN |
| LinkedIn Profile | |
| Degree | Master of Science (MSc) “RNCP/CGE certified” |
| Course Specialization | Supply Chain and Purchasing Management |
| Year of Graduation | 2022 |
| College | |
| City | Nantes, France |
| Course Intake | September |
| Course Duration | 18 months |
| Course Fees | 16,500€ (check course website for latest info) |
| Funding for the course | Bank Loan + Sponsorship from family + Self-sponsorship |
| Monthly Expenses (Rent, utilities, etc) | 500€ |
| French level before the Course | A1 |
| French level after Graduation | A2 |
| Status after Graduation | Salaried Employee |
| Current Status | Project & Productivity Buyer, Domain: Purchasing |
Audencia Campus in Nantes city
- Located across from the Ecole Centrale de Nantes and on the banks of the Erdre River, the campus is Audencia’s largest.
- It houses the Grande École program, the graduate programs (Mastère Spécialisé® programs, Master of Science programs, International Masters, MBAs), the school’s general management, the Enterprise and Graduates, Academic and Research, and Human Resources departments, as well as a Knowledge Hub.
Course Information
Personal Experiences during the Course
- Audencia is known as a top business school in France with great professors, but my own experience wasn’t perfect.
- While the professors were good, some subjects felt pointless and lacked relevance. Still, getting my master’s degree from Audencia helped me find a job in France, which was the only positive thing for me.
- I wasn’t happy with the courses mainly because they were mostly online, so I couldn’t connect well with my professors & classmates. Plus, all my exams were online too.
- In terms of diversity, there weren’t many international students in my class. Most were from India & China, with a few from Morocco, Latin America, and only one from France. But in my second semester, when we had hybrid classes, I made an effort to mix with students from different backgrounds.
- Despite these challenges, I enjoyed the presentation sessions & the thesis project, especially because we had a great professor guiding us. Our thesis was a success, and it was nice working with an Indian student since there weren’t many international students in my class.
- I’m not saying Audencia is bad, but I want people to know both the good and the not-so-good aspects of my experience.
Return on Investment (ROI)
- I have not received a complete return on my investment in terms of education and daily life expenses during my studies in France.
- I believe that I should receive these returns by the end of 2024.
Multi-cultural Aspects of the Course
- As I already mentioned, In terms of diversity, there weren’t many international students in my class.
- Most were from India (13) and China (15), with a few from Morocco (5), Latin America (3). Only one from France, Italy, Egypt, and Nigeria.
Part-time Job Experience
- I did not do any part-time job during the Masters.
Internship Experience
- Though I started applying for internships during my internship, my intensive internship hunt spanned over 2 months, commencing shortly after the conclusion of my second-semester exams.
- I applied to many companies, mostly in the supply chain and purchasing domain.
- At first, I got a bit worried because I didn’t hear back from anyone. But then, out of the blue, I got a call from Valeo. They wanted to interview me.
- After the interview, they hired me as a Purchasing intern. I worked with them for six months in Bobigny, France, where I helped implement a plan to reduce CO2 emissions at the supplier level. It was an interesting mission.
Job Search Experience
- After my internship, I landed a full-time job at Valeo as a Platform Project Buyer in Angers, France.
- In less than a year, my performance led to more responsibilities as a Platform Productivity Buyer for Valeo’s sites in Angers & Blois.
- I want to highlight how smoothly my transition to a full-time role went. In just my fifth month of the internship, my manager was impressed with my work and offered me a permanent position.
- Although the role was in Angers instead of Bobigny, he gave me a week to think it over.
- Despite the change in location, I didn’t hesitate to accept. I felt like the opportunity came to me effortlessly, and I didn’t want to miss out on it.
Advice for Juniors
- Well, I do not have great comments about my student life.
- All you can do is wait patiently to secure a good internship and the most effective route to a job is often by turning that internship directly into a full-time position.
- This advice comes from my personal experiences, which I’ve shared with my friends. The key is to never give up!
Practical Information
Rankings & Accreditations:
- Current ranking
- Audencia is one of only 1% of institutions worldwide to receive triple accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA for a maximum of 5 years, reflecting its commitment to teaching excellence.
Admissions:
- Applications are accepted until May 31 for the September intake or until the program is full. It is recommended that you submit your application by the early application deadline of March 1.
- To apply, please visit apply.audencia.com
- Documents required
- CV and Cover Letter in English
- Copies of undergraduate degree transcripts
- Undergraduate Degree Diploma
- English language test results less than 2 years old (TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS)
- Copy of identification (passport or ID card)
- More information at audencia.com
Entry requirements for 1 year MSc:
- Proficiency in English as demonstrated by one of the following:
- TOEFL iBT 84, TOEIC 650 or IELTS 6.5
- English-taught undergraduate program
- 4-year degree in business or engineering, or exceptionally, a 4-year degree in another field with business experience or academic honors.
- The 2-year MSc or Master in Management program is strongly recommended for applicants without a degree in business.
- You can apply during the last year of your Bachelor’s studies.
Entry requirements for 2 years MSc:
- Proficiency in English as demonstrated by one of the following:
- TOEFL iBT 84, TOEIC 650 or IELTS 6.5
- English-taught undergraduate program
- 3-year or 4-year degree in any field.
- You can apply during the last year of your Bachelor’s studies.
Final degree:
- Degree recognition: Grade Master, Visé BAC+5
- RNCP title number: 37936
- RNCP title: Niveau 7 – Diplôme d’Études Supérieures en Management Global
- Graduation level: Master of science
- Number of ECTS credits: 90 or 120
Campus Address:
- Audencia Atlantic Campus
8 route de la Jonelière
44312 Nantes
Tel. +33(0)2 40 37 34 34
Tram stop “Ecole Centrale – Audencia”
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.
