Why Should You Consider Pursuing An MBA Degree?

What Good Can An MBA Degree Do For Your Career?

An MBA degree can do several good (and rather obvious) things for your career, but that’s not really the question. The question is, what can an MBA degree do for your career that’s worth the cost in time and money to get one? Also: what can an MBA degree do for your career that’s moving it in the direction that you want your career to go? The first of those questions is objective and can be fairly easily answered (after all, cost-benefit analysis should be one of the skills one expects to learn in business school). The second question is more subjective. An MBA degree is not for everyone (or everyone would have one). You’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not the career paths an MBA degree makes possible are the ones you want to walk.

France to Offer 300 Excellence Scholarships Worth Over 1 Million Euros for International Students

A slew of recent initiatives have enhanced the popularity of France as an academic destination…

Published by alka singh on 26-03-2014

 

 

 

Quick Bite

  

The French Govt has announced more than 300 excellence scholarships

  

The scholarships would be worth over one million euros

 

Students from all field are eligible to apply for these scholarships

The French government is planning to announce more than 300 excellence scholarships worth over one million euros for the academic year 2014-15. Students from all fields and subjects at the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels are eligible to apply for these scholarships.

“The French government is keen to welcome Indian students in a wide range of fields like engineering, management, and design,” said a spokesperson from the embassy. The benefits of these scholarships include a monthly stipend to cover daily expenses, free student visa, medical insurance coverage and assistance in finding affordable accommodation in France.

Other offers are the Charpak scholarship programme which offers three types of funding (research internship prog ramme, exchange programme, master’s programme), Eiffel scholarship programme which provides benefits like living expenses (1,200 euros/ month), travel expenses, health insurance and accommodation.

Today France is a much sought after academic destination as far as Indian students are concerned. Small classroom sizes, well developed research facilities and an internationally acclaimed academic heritage are the major attractions of this country. “With over 800 courses being taught in English, there has been a spurt of 50% in the number of Indian students going to study in France in the last two to three years. Today, more than 2,600 students opt to study in France and we hope to see this figure doubled over the next five years,” said Francois Richier, Ambassador of France to India.

Visa rules simplified

Indian students can go to France on a student visa that is valid for the entire Schengen area. After finishing their course, students can stay for up to one year if they are seeking employment. “Earlier, international students were allowed to stay for just six months. The French government however, extended the period in June last year to foster cooperation. And finally, it was decided that any Indian student who has a graduate or postgraduate degree from a French institute of higher education will be automatically eligible for a short-stay tourist and business Schengen visa with five-year validity. Even if one has obtained a degree prior to this decision, he/she can still apply for the alumni visa. This visa can be extended to spouses and children,” informed the ambassador.

Job opportunities

International students have a temporary work permit for 60% of the normal work time, which amounts to 18 hours a week. “Studying in France stands one in good stead when it comes to securing placement. A French degree is valued by corporate sectors and countries across the globe. Thus, many Indian students who’ve graduated from French institutions go on to work with MNCs in the UK or the US,” said Richier.

University Takes Student-Centered Learning to the Next Level

France’s Université Aprilvis I, known for its innovative and progressive approach to teaching, has announced plans to trial a new student-centered learning initiative this year. Dubbed Student-Centered Learning 2.0, the scheme is based on the now-familiar paradigm shift towards more active and autonomous learning styles currently in various stages of implementation across the global higher education community.

“We felt like this [student-centered learning] was something we’d made a priority for the past decade – we’ve introduced new training for all teaching staff, restructured the curricula across all our faculties, and completely changed the way we think and talk about teaching and learning,” says the university’s Vice President for Teaching and Learning, Clément Douteux. “The feedback from students and staff is now that we’re pretty much there.”

Student-Centered Learning 2.0

Not content to end its forward momentum, the university decided it was time to implement a second phase to its student-centered learning action plan, taking on a pioneering role in the development of the movement. “We’d essentially reached the end of the map,” Douteux says. “Student autonomy and responsibility, peer feedback, responsive curricula, students involved in quality assurance – it’s all in place and working well. But we knew there must be something more we could do.”

Following a consultation process involving board members, external consultants, teaching faculty and of course representatives of the student body, Douteux and his team drafted a series of proposals for the next trial stage. The first and perhaps most controversial of these involves taking a more literal interpretation of the term “student-centered learning” than has previously been seen.

Identifying learning “hotspots”

“We felt like students really were still more peripheral that we’d like to admit,” says Douteux, “And there was one obvious way to fix that.” A team of students and academics, led by members of the mathematics faculty, set about an in-depth assessment of the campus geography, measuring every distance they could think of – from lectern to bench, library shelf to reading desk, computer lab to dorm room.

Following a series of complex calculations, the team identified a series of learning “hotspots”, which they believe place the student as close to the center of the learning as possible. These have been marked on the ground with vibrant green arrows, and mapped to an online system which can be downloaded as a free app by all members of the university community.

“We’ll be tracking this over the next few months using a sample group of students from a cross-section of disciplines,” Douteux says. “It’s going to be tricky to measure the real impact, but already we’re getting positive comments from students.” He adds that there’s already been interest from a number of universities and student organizations both within France and beyond, who have expressed interest in launching their own Student-Centered Learning 2.0 initiatives.

Why Study in France?

That France is one of the world's most popular study abroad destinations is surely no great surprise. Read on to find out why so many international students choose to study in France - and what to do next if you want to join them.

France occupies a distinct place in our collective imagination. From the urbane sophistication and history of its cities, to its legendary food and wine, to the spectacular scenery – think rugged mountains and verdant forests, golden beaches and azure seas, rolling pastures and mighty rivers – everyone has their own idealized conception of France.

Consequently, it is also the world’s most popular tourist destination by far, according to the United Nations World Tourist Organization.

Why study in France?

Perhaps your personal image of France involves its proud intellectual and artistic heritage. This is the nation, after all, which produced thinkers such as René Descartes and Jean-Paul Sartre, authors like Marcel Proust and Albert Camus, filmmakers like Jean-Luc Godard and Jean Renoir, and artists like Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne.

On top of these names we can add a whole host of scientists, mathematicians and other researchers, whose names are slightly less familiar, but whose achievements are no less spectacular for it. A total of 49 Nobel laureates places France fourth in the world.

Universities in France

This academic and artistic tradition continues to this day – there are few countries which invest quite as much money into research and education as France. QS’s rankings reflect this: a total of 35 French universities make the 2012/13 edition of theQS World University Rankings, 22 of which are in top 500.

The nation’s two leading universities, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris and Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech, both make the top 50, cementing their reputation’s as two of Europe’s and the world’s strongest institutions. What’s more, tuition fees at France’s leading universities are among the cheapest in the world, with annual fees averaging under US$1,000 per year for domestic and international students alike.

So is France for you then? Well, if you want to attend a high-quality institution in a nation with a proud intellectual heritage which will have the added benefit of making everyone you know jealous, then is the answer could well be ‘yes’.

Studying at master’s or PhD level? Read our graduate-level guide to France >

Facts about France

• Presidential republic with bicameral legislature
• President is head of state, while government is headed by prime minister
• Capital city (and largest city by far): Paris
• Official language: French
• As well as metropolitan France, which borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra and Monaco, France owns a number of overseas territories, some of which – such as French Guiana in South America – are considered to be part of France (i.e. its citizens belong to the European Union)
• Most popular tourist destination in the world – in 2010, France was visited by 76.8 million people
• Population of 65,312,249 (July 2011 estimate), 62,814,233 of whom live in metropolitan France
• Comparable to Kansas in terms of area
• International dialling code: +33
• Currency: Euro (€)
• Uses Central European Time (UCT+1), shifting to Daylight Savings Time (UTC+2)
• France produces around 400 distinct varieties of cheese (possibly more, depending on how you count them) and the average French person drinks just over 70 bottles of wine a year

Learn more about France's top cities for students...

Universities in Paris

You will, no doubt, already have your own set of ideas regarding Paris, which may well be the result of a visit to the City of Light. Over 15 million tourists descended on the city in 2010, pulled in by attractions like the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame, and world famous galleries like The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, or just to experience the city’s celebrated café culture.

But, like any other great city, the only way to truly get to know it beyond the tourist trail, is to live there and intermingle with the people who make the city what it is. Luckily, if a more extended relationship with Paris appeals to you, there is no shortage of universities at which you might study – seventeen public institutions (albeit not all with the same focus) and several prestigious grandes écoles – and resultantly, a large and cosmopolitan student base which goes a long way to giving the city its unique intellectual and creative culture.

Read more: A student's guide to Paris >

Universities in Lyon

Lyon is a picturesque medieval city (though its history goes back even further than this) situated close to France’s borders with Switzerland and Italy. It is known for the being one of the culinary capitals of France, and is also within spitting distance of the French Alps, for those who like to hit the piste. 

Its well-preserved architecture has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status, but there is more to France’s joint second city (there’s some debate whether Marseille or Lyon can lay claim to this title) than spectacular architecture. Its many higher education establishments mean that it boasts a large student population, and, consequently, the vibrant nightlife common to all student cities.

But if it’s more civilized cultural pursuits you’re after, then Lyon will not disappoint on that front either, and those who have one eye on their future career will be glad to hear that it is one of France’s main financial centers.

Read more: A student's guide to Lyon >

Universities in Toulouse

A historic city situated not too far from France’s south-western borders with Andorra and Spain, Toulouse is known in the modern age as one of the capitals of the European aerospace industry. Its universities are also historic, with the institution that is now split into Université Toulouse 1, Capitole and Université Toulouse II, Le Mirail having been founded in the 13th century.

Toulouse has a large student population, and is known for being a hotbed of alternative culture. But this is France, after all, so if it’s opera, theatre and immaculately preserved architecture you’re after, you won’t be disappointed. And if you want to get out of the city, then the South of France is your oyster, with the proximity of the Pyrenees allowing skiers to get their fix.

Universities in Montpellier

If it’s a student-dominated city you’re after, then you could do a lot worse than Montpellier. Around a quarter of the city’s population consists of attendees of its universities, three of which make the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings, and one of which (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier III) is the seventh oldest in the world.

Its location near France’s Mediterranean coast makes it a good option for sun-worshippers, though it also means you’ll have to brace yourself for a mass influx of tourists in the summer months. The benefit, of course, is that in the off season you can enjoy almost exclusive access to the beaches, and will be left with plenty of time to find yourself some of the more well-hidden pleasures that the South of France has to offer.

Universities in Lille

In former times, Lille was one of the main industrial centres of France, which meant that it sadly went through a period of decline as the world entered the post-industrial age. However, in recent years the picturesque city has undergone something of a renaissance and is now considered by many to be one of France’s hidden treasures, with a vibrant cultural scene and a strong commercial backbone.

One of the main advantages of being based in Lille is how easy it is to leave – its location in the north-west of the country means that it can serve as a great base from which to explore northern Europe. You can, in fact, catch an express train directly from Lille to the world’s two most popular tourist cities, Paris and London, or to Brussels, which can serve as a gateway to the Netherlands or Germany. For those who like to travel, then, there is a pretty strong case for Lille!

See which French cities feature in the QS Best Student Cities >

Admissions and tuition fees in France

One major benefit which students studying in France will enjoy is the country’s fee system. For the majority of courses at most universities you’ll have to pay only EU€177 (around US$230) a year for a bachelor’s degree (there are exceptions – engineering courses tend to cost more for example).

If this sounds too good to be true it is because, in a way, it is: French universities tend to levy additional administrative charges which are known to bring the price up considerably. That said, the final figure is still likely to be far lower than you would pay in a comparable destination.

You will pay more at France’s highly selective grandes écoles and grands établissements(great schools and establishments), which set their own fees. Some of these operate only at postgraduate level, and some – like Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris – require students to either get through two years of preparatory school (which is nearly as selective as the grande école itself) or to transfer across after two years or so of an undergraduate course.

Student visas for France

Visa requirements will depend on whether you come from a country in the EU (students from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are treated the same as EU students in this case) or from further afield.

Applicants from the EU:

• If you want to start in the first year of a program and you hold a French baccalaureate, you must use the online application system used by French students (APB – admission post-baccalauréat). If you want to enter the system a little further on, you may apply directly to the institution at which you want to study.
• If you have a different high-school qualification you should get in touch with the institutions at which you are considering studying – they may request that you apply directly to them rather than through the system.
• Grandes écoles and grands établissements have their own application procedures, so it’s advisable to get in touch to find out what it is required. You can apply to preparatory classes and to some establishments through APB if you want to enter in the first year.
• You will not need a visa.
• If your course is in French, as is likely, you will need to prove you are sufficiently fluent. You can do this by way of a TCF DAP (Test de Connaissance du Français, Demande d’Admission Préalable), DALF (diplôme approfondi de langue française) or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) score. Similarly, you’ll need to prove you can speak English if that is the language of tuition – check with the university to see which language test scores they will accept.

Applicants from outside the EU:

• The application procedure will vary depending on whether or not you are from one of the 31 countries in which CampusFrance runs the CEF procedure. If you are from one of these countries (listed on the CampusFrance website), then you are obliged to use this online application system, which takes you through the entire application procedure, including obtaining a visa, telling you what you need to do and which documents you require. The CEF system can be accessed through the CampusFrance website.
• If you are not from one of these countries then you will need to submit an application for preliminary application at your local French embassy before applying, after which you may apply for your visa. How you will have to apply will depend on your previous qualifications and where you are applying. Contact the establishment(s) you’re thinking about attending to find out the correct procedure to follow.
• The visa you will need – which also includes a residence permit – is called the VLS-TS, which is valid for a year at a time. In order to obtain this visa you will need to present a completed application form and OFII (the French Office of Immigration and Integration) passport photos, your passport, proof of your previous qualifications, a police certificate attesting to your lack of a serious criminal record, proof you can speak French to an appropriate level (if your course is in French – see above) and proof you have sufficient financial means. You will, of course, also need to prove that you’ve been accepted to a university.
• When you arrive in France you will need to contact the OFII, who may request that you undertake a medical examination.

Search and compare French universities in the QS World University Rankings >

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