Best Undergraduate Programs in Europe?
I'm currently a junior planning to go to university in 2023 and I should probably start planning for college. I have been searching for good colleges in Europe (I cannot attend college in the US).
Currently, I'm looking at ESSEC, Emlyon, RSM, and HSG. Does anyone have any experience with these schools? How are these schools for international students (I'm asian)?
I would love to hear your experiences going to college in Europe and please recommend me some as well.
My only criteria is that it has a good reputation and is well regarded in the management industry. It should also be a good school to network as I am leaning more towards business management and entrepreneurship.
Thank you in advance!
Hey! Based on my experience the best BBA in Europe are HSG, LSE and RSM. They provide great education and really good job opportunities.
Thank you! I will look further into HSG, LSE and RSM!
By the way, how about Copenhagen Business School? How does it compare to RSM?
Hey! Check my answer below ;)
Do not go in the French schools unless you are doing their Grand Ecole program (usually after prepa). As a foreigner, it makes very little sense to go down this route. Otherwise some top schools in no particular order:
Denmark: Copenhaguen Business School
Italy: Bocconi
DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland): WHU, Mannheim, HSG
Benelux: RSM
Sweden: SSE
UK: Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, Warwick (Imperial too if you like STEM)
France (Grande Ecole only): HEC, ESSEC, ESCP
In your shoes, I would 100% try one of the UK schools, overall stronger brand recognition and better if you are not from Europe and do not speak local languages
Ahh thank you for the information! Much appreciated.
Does HSG, RSM, CBS and the UK colleges encourage taking on internships during the term? The only reason I'm considering those French schools is because internships are integrated in the curriculum and are mandatory for graduation which gives a lot of work experience, actually.
Continental schools are usually much more flexible on allowing internships during the term, however speaking local languages is necessary, hence why you would likely not be able to capitalize on this and why I recommend UK schools. In the UK people go through Spring Weeks, then Summer Internships, then Full-time jobs. You will not be disadvantaged as much as an international (although the visa situation may change with Brexit). The only major drawback of UK schools is the tuition fee, but if you can take care of that go for it.
Tbh you shouldn't care about gaining experience (i.e. getting a FT offer after 18 months of internship vs converting your first Summer in London), the name of the game is just to place as soon as possible in a leading institution and go from there. In the UK this is doable with relatively little experience and only Summer internships, while in continental Europe you have to grind through several long-term internships. People also study longer in Europe.
You can always go for a gap year and Master after undergrad to create your own apprenticeship programme if things don't pan out at first try.
Hey! To give you a more elaborate answer.
Well, I would not go to any french bachelor as they are considered "Cash Cows". They are not well recognised by top recruiters and it will hinder your future growth opportunities.
CBS is an awesome school but I heard the Danish government is trying to limit the number of international students. Check this out because it seems to be very serious (due to the fact that education is free, this lead to a huge imbalance in danish/international students). From what I read it will change dramatically and can impact the program and its diversity.
Then with Bocconi, LSE, RSM and HSG.
I agree that universities are stronger in their home countries (aka Italy for Bocconi, Netherlands for RSM, etc..). However, since you are asking for an undergraduate degree, what I would do is a bachelor at a cheaper uni like RSM or HSG and then go for a master at LSE/HEC/LBS or even Bocconi.
That way you benefit from the network/opportunities/reach of more than one "good" university and reduce the total tuition fees for your university life (speaking to your bank account or your parents aha).
One thing to take into account is the global economies of the countries you apply to. Great striving economies in Switzerland, UK and the Netherlands but not so good in Italy and Southern Europe in general. One last thing would be to consider would be how well the local population speak English because it will directly impact your job search. Good for the UK, Switzerland and the Netherlands but again not so good for Southern European Countries.
However, the best would be to visit these unis in person and talk to current students in the programs you intend to apply. This will help you try to find the best fit and what you want to do in your career (even though, it is not very important when you start uni as it will probably change a few times but still).
All the best and let me know if you have any questions, glad to help out! :)
Hey! Thank you for your help! I thought I had replied to your comment, but it seems that it did not upload. My internet, as well as country, is in a bit of a situation. Would you happen to know how the University of Warwick compare to LSE, Imperial, and UCL?
Hey! So Warwick is a bit below than the other uni's in London. Also, consider that Warwick is in Coventry and it is not so much fun...
All the best!
IE and ESADE have also a solid BBA
Ahh I will check those out. Thank you!
Be careful, there are a lot of french students that weren’t accepted to the top business schools in France for their Grande École program (Master’s in Management) and therefore they are jealous of the ones that got in these same schools straight after High School for their bachelor’s program. Top French bachelor programs are very good indeed. Just take a quick look on ESCP and ESSEC websites or just go for a quick search on LinkedIn. You’ll find out that students from theses schools are ending up at McKinsey, Bain, Google, GS, etc. abroad (not in France) straight after their bachelors. On the other hand, if your primarily goal is to work in France don’t attend these programs, since the French System is still focused on MiM (Grande École) students. It might change in the future, but it’s a risk I wouldn’t take. These programs are great if you want to work abroad! They also place very well on top masters programs at Standford, Cambridge, LSE, LBS, St Gallen, Imperial, etc.
Hey, I just saw this but thank you for the info! I will try searching on linkedin :))
Be careful, I am pretty sure this comment comes from a person that is either doing a bachelor in a French school or is trying to justify their huge tuition fees based on the prestige gained from none of their bachelor programs (only based on their MiM programs). HEC does not have a bachelor degree (why do you think?).
Please by all means check their websites and ask recruiters their opinion. Of course, people that have done the school (or people working in the program) will be baised and tell you otherwise. I mean he/she may not have done the school (or program) but I feel it is very aggressive for no reason... (even more sad as he/she talks without having any evidence or idea...).
PS: I did not do my university in France ;)
Good luck and ask other people of course for their opinion and pick a choice you are comfortable with.
Haha, I get what you mean. Thanks for the warning and I'll definitely look into recruiters' opinions. Where can I do that? Linkedin?
Hey! Linkedin is a great way to meet recruiters, plus you can narrow it down to the job/place/company you would like to work for. Do an extensive search for all the universities you are interested in (alumni + ask recruiters + friends/family) but in the end you should be the one that picks based on your gut feeling and the whole package provided by the university (location, parties, connectivity (train, plane, etc...)). At the end, university is one of the best moments of your life. Good luck and do not hesitate!
I agree that MiMs (Masters in Management - Grande École) are the “flagship” programs for top French Business Schools, therefore they carry the prestige of the school. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that their Undergraduate programs aren’t very good. For example, MIT is known for their Engineering Undergrad programs, but they still have one of the top MBAs in the World. Even l’Ecole Polytechnique (the leading French Engineering School) has recently created a Bachelor program and their students are getting in the best masters programs (Caltech, MIT, Columbia, etc.) in their respective fields just like ESSEC and ESCP students are doing. It’s only a question of time to when HEC will lunch their undergraduate program. The french system is changing although it’s still very focused on Prépa + Grande École.
To sum up, I totally agree with the fact that you should ask lots of different people about their opinion and do your own research. Anyways good luck on your choice!
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