Pre-experience postgraduate business programmes in Continental Europe

The traditional insularity of most European education systems is disintegrating in the face of economic globalisation and the Bologna Accord, which encouraged nations across Europe to systematise their approach to university education along Anglo-American lines. As a result, most countries’ bachelor’s degrees take three to four years and master’s degrees one to two years. This Bologna-inspired approach has meant that students are no longer locked into their initial university for both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. To make up for the possible loss of bachelor’s students (headed for a different university for a master’s) as well as to take advantage of the opportunity to attract students from elsewhere, many universities have added master’s degree programmes, especially in business fields. Some have taken the opportunity to develop a substantial portfolio of master’s programmes.

The development of new business master’s programmes means that candidates are spoiled for choice. On the other hand, it is unlikely that all of the new programmes will succeed, so applicants are warned to choose programmes with an eye toward their viability.

Programme lengths
Continental business master’s programmes range from one to two years in length. Unlike in the UK, where one year is the norm, there is no continental norm, with programme lengths varying according to both subject and national predilection.

Costs
The range in tuition fees is very substantial, but it is by no means as substantial as that seen at the undergraduate level. At the undergraduate level, after all, some countries still do not charge their own citizens any tuition fees, and may charge international students relatively little, too. The emerging consensus about master’s programmes – and especially business master’s programmes – however, is that they are not to enjoy (much) governmental subsidy. Thus, tuition fees tend to range from €10,000 per year upward.

French exceptionalism Not all national education systems are entirely compatible with the Bologna Accord’s strictures. For instance, in France, the Grandes Ecoles require more than just a bachelor’s degree for entry. Candidates must have one of the following: • A Grande Ecole degree • A master’s degree (requiring five years of study, inclusive of the bachelor’s degree) • A postgraduate degree (more than five years of study) • A bachelor’s degree with at least three years of work experience France is unusual in another regard: many French business master’s programmes require an internship during the programme. For instance, ESCP-EAP’s Master’s in Marketing and Communication requires an in-company internship of at least four months. These positions provide the opportunity to put into practice the concepts and techniques developed on the course. Just as important, they offer companies a chance to try out a potential employee. Most schools that require such an internship provide considerable assistance in obtaining one.

Living expenses also vary hugely, but only in some southern or eastern European locations is living likely to prove less expensive than it is in Britain, North America, or Australia. 

Scholarships
Many universities in Europe offer scholarships for local, European, and/or international students. These are limited, however, especially those that cover the full expense of the course, so expect fierce competition for them.

National educational organisations in most European countries, especially in Western Europe, offer scholarships to encourage study in their country. Some of these scholarships are limited to citizens of European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries, but many are available to students from elsewhere, too. Consult the website of the national education body concerned.

The European Union also provides scholarships (www.ec.europa.eu/comm/europeaid) for study within member states, including scholarships for international students.

Working
EU and EEA students are permitted to work during their programme in most parts of the EU and EEA. International students, however, face different restrictions on a country-by-country basis. Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries are among the more liberal, allowing part-time work during the academic year.

Studying in Europe
Even though many business master’s programmes are taught in English, some are taught in other languages, or in a combination of English and another language. In any event, the opportunity exists for Anglophones (and others) to improve their knowledge of another language and culture, even if coursework is largely in English.

In many European educational systems, a majority of students live at home (with their parents), so there is less campus-based activity than on a typical Australian, British, or American university campus. Although this tendency to live at home is much more pronounced with undergraduates than with postgraduates, it does mean that there are a comparatively limited number of student clubs and organisations. International students, therefore, tend to form their own organisations.

Rankings
Although various national publications rank undergraduate (and even postgraduate) universities and programmes, the de facto standard for postgraduate business programmes has become The Financial Times’ rankings. For more about rankings, consult the ‘Rankings’ discussion.

Find the perfect business programme for you Search for the perfect pre-experience postgraduate business programme for you using our course search. You can search a database of programmes on offer at European institutions by country, subject and study mode.

In some systems, formal rankings may matter less than the divide between different types of institutions. For instance, in France, the Grandes Ecoles are part of a system that exists in parallel to the university system. The Grandes Ecoles, however, are much more prestigious – especially those in or near Paris, of course. In Germany and the Netherlands, as well as elsewhere in Europe, the divide is between universities and Fachhochschule or Hogescholen: universities are research-driven and teach from a somewhat more theoretical perspective, whereas Fachhochschule or Hogescholen (like the former English Polytechnics) emphasise teaching over research, with a highly practical orientation. In these systems, universities generally have more prestige than their more practical counterparts.

Reputation
As a rough-and-ready guide to the international reputation of a country’s degrees, consider how long the country has been wealthy. Thus, northern European, French, Swiss, and Austrian programmes are likely to be well regarded, Italian and Spanish programmes less so. This off-the-cuff reaction has been mitigated, though, by the advent of international rankings. The Financial Times’ ranking, noted above, has played a part. So, too, have the MBA rankings, especially those provided by The Economist and The Financial Times. As a result, Spanish universities in particular have gained in reputation (with three schools’ MBA and other business programmes routinely well ranked).

Balance sheet

Country	Positives	Negatives
France	Many high-quality programmes available.	Some programmes available only in French.
	Moderate tuition fees.	Post-programme work visas difficult to obtain.
	Many government scholarships for international students.
Germany	Low tuition fees.	Relatively few programmes taught in English.
	Able to work during programme.
	Degrees enjoy strong international reputation.
The Netherlands	Wide range of programmes available (in English).	Dutch degrees generally not well-known internationally.
	Able to work during programme.
	Problem-based learning approach highly regarded.
	Moderate tuition fees.
Nordic countries	Uniformly high-quality education.	Very high cost of living.
	Able to work during programme.	Some countries' degrees not well-known internationally.
	Low tuition fees.