France is the second largest MBA market in Europe after the UK, as measured by both the number of MBA programs available and the students' population.

In France as elsewhere, MBA programs are highly selective and relatively expensive (at least 7,000 euros per year). Applicants are admitted based on their academic & professional achievements and on interviews. The degree is primarily for young international managerial staff with high potential. The instruction draws upon the experience of the students who, as a rule, already have work experience. Many MBAs are taught in English and include many nationalities. CampusFrance’s online catalogue lists many MBA offerings.

Some MBAs offer remedial instruction in English; others offer exchanges with foreign universities, often leading to a joint degree (For example, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)has a dual MBA degree with the top French Management School - HEC School of Management - situated in Paris).

French Business schools are some of the oldest in the world. France’s best known MBA programs are those at INSEAD (First European university started to offer a MBA programme in 1959), HEC (started to offer its MBA in 1969), ESCP-EAP, EM-Lyon, Reims Management School and Grenoble School of Management. Today, most of the French business schools has began to offer their MBAs. There are approximately 60 business schools in France offering over 200 MBA programs (all of them having a considerable foreign students mainly from Asia, countries like China and India).

France's MBA growth potential is still quite high as France is a 'growing market' in need of further development in the area of MBA options. Before, MBA programs focussed on general Management nowadays many schools have started their specialized MBA like Executive MBA or MBA in luxury Management or MBA in Aerospace etc... due to the growing integration, globalization of the world's economy and the emergence of new global players such as China & India. Most of the MBA programs require a full-time attendance though part-time MBA programs are getting into track in France.

Joint MBA programs are often offered and it gives an opportunity to study at two different campuses, to acquire additional language skills and cultural know-how. Often these programs offer the possibility of earning two degrees upon completion of the programs. French business schools with such U.S. connections include INSEAD with Wharton, HEC with NYU and with Chinese University of Hong Kong, ENPC with Temple, Paris - Dauphine with UQÀM, and ESCEM with Sherbrooke.

Despite its recent origins, the French MBA has proven its worth through the high position of its programs achieved on several international MBA rankings. For example INSEAD, HEC Paris, and ESCP-EAP were all ranked among the top programs in the world by the Financial Times in 2006; EM Lyon and ESSEC/Mannheim Executive MBA programs also occupied high lines in the 2006 Global EMBA rankings. Furthermore, the French MBA shows no sign of slowing its rapid growth any time in the near future.