Financial Times’ ranking 2023 of Masters in Finance: France in the leading group

The 12th edition of the Masters in Finance ranking lists exactly what the Financial Times, major economy and finance British newspaper, calls “pre-experience programmes for those with little or no relevant previous work experience”. In its methodology section, the FT explains that the ranking is based on two types or different surveys: the first is for business schools, which are 82 (but only 55 are ranked), approved by the AACSB or Equis. The second survey is for graduates who finished their studies three years ago (who graduated in 2020): in total, 2,294 alumni participated in the survey, an overall response rate of 36%.

Five French business schools among the first ten 

The new edition of the ranking once again places France in a largely leading position this year. Five business and management schools in the Top 10 of international schools are French.

The Top 10 indeed includes:

• on the first step of the podium: ESCP Business school, a higher business studies school in Paris created in 1819 and considered “the world oldest business and management school”.
• In second place, HEC Paris, school of higher business studies in Paris, a major business and management school created in 1881;
• in third place, ESSEC Business School, a superior French business school founded in 1907;
• in fourth place, SKEMA Business School, created in 2009 from the merger of Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Lille and CERAM Business School in Sophia Antipolis;
• And EDHEC Business School, in 9th position, a leading business school founded in Lille in 1906, with other campuses in Paris and Nice.

Three additional schools in the Top 50

With five schools in the Top 10 and three more ranked between 10th and 35th, France has a total of eight schools ranked out of 55.

A little lower down the ranking are:

• emlyon Business School, in 17th position;
• Grenoble Ecole de Management, in 19th position;
• Rennes School of Business, in 35th position.

A dual methodology with precise criteria
 

The two surveys forming the basis of the Financial Times rankings are first based on criteria, for students, such as professional integration immediately after leaving the school (after three months), the salaries of recent graduates after three years of professional experience, salary progression, and the nature of the position held.
As for the schools themselves, they take into account academic criteria such as the programmes taught, the number of women on the teaching staff, the number of professors, the proportion of foreign students, the languages taught, the presence of research laboratories and the number of doctoral students.