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What happens after you’re accepted to become a part of EDHEC’s Global MBA Programme? We’ve consolidated a few things you should keep in mind as you’re preparing to join the programme, with the help of Aude Theobald, the Head of International MBA Admissions.
JUNE 23, 2020
Aude heads the recruitment and admissions for the programme and is on the admissions committee which means she reviews all the applications - in fact, she might be taking a look at your application next! So after months of research, preparation, interviews and decisions, you have finally received an offer to join the EDHEC Global MBA. Firstly, congratulations!!. But what should you do next?
Once you’ve been accepted, you will be invited to a special WhatsApp group chat. This group chat includes members of the current class who are ready to welcome you into the EDHEC Global MBA family, as well as all of your future classmates.
If you’re worried about any aspects of your new life, this is a great first step to dispelling them. You’ll have a group of people who’ve already gone through what you’re going through.
Whatever questions you have about your MBA programme or living in France, you’ll have your classmates and alumni ready to help you out. From the best restaurants to the cheapest gyms around town, all you have to do is ask. This is also an amazing opportunity to get to know your peers personally before you get to Nice.
This way you’ll already have some familiar names and connections once you get to your new environment.
Starting a new journey in a different country can be a complicated process when it comes to paperwork. As soon as you get accepted, you’ll receive information on how to get in contact with the International Student Office. You can reach out to them as soon as you get this information. In fact, even if you’re enrolled in a later intake, you can get ahead by contacting them to start planning well in advance.
The International Student Office offers assistance on many administrative aspects of your move to France. Before you arrive on campus, they make sure that you can find accommodation, have all the right paperwork in order, that you can get a work permit if needed, and more.
The International Student Office can also help you get your visa. For example, one of our international students was in France on a work visa attached to another company she was leaving because she was starting the MBA. The International Student Office was instrumental in helping this student obtain her visa without having to go back to the USA to apply for it, supporting her along the way and simplifying a potentially complex process.
“The Student Office called up the authorities in Nice to help sort out a visa extension, which is exceptional,” Aude recalls. “She even went to the prefecture with the candidate. I think that’s an amazing level of personalised support, and is what makes EDHEC such a great school to be part of.”
Moving can be exciting, but also stressful and overwhelming. So how do you prepare for moving to a different country entirely?
A great first step is to start learning some basic French. Learning the language of your new home is a good way to get familiar with the local culture and lifestyle, as well as having the words to go about daily tasks, like shopping or asking for directions. EDHEC has a partnership with the Alliance Française in Nice, where you can take a programme of intensive French classes before your MBA begins. Once your MBA begins, we also offer free french classes as an option, but the intensive course will help you immerse yourself into the french culture and give you a head-start in terms of the language.
Aude suggests arriving in France a month early in order to get yourself acquainted with your new environment and to have time to sort out your financials and paperwork. Plus, this gives you plenty of time to discover the best restaurants and to start exploring the stunning French Riviera.
If you do arrive early, you may be interested in EDHEC’s summer course called ‘Globalising Europe’, which combines a hands-on business perspective along with historical, cultural and economic analyses.
It’s also good to have some extra time for administrative tasks since French official processes can be very heavy on the paperwork. Make sure to plan ahead so that you have all the documents you’ll need before your MBA programme starts.
Don’t forget, you’ll always have your EDHEC Global MBA cohort and the International Student Office to help you settle in.
With these tips, you’re now ready to tackle the Global MBA with your new EDHEC family. We look forward to welcoming you in Nice.
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Read the related article: "EDHEC’s Global MBA: A Complete Guide to the Admissions Process"
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Operating from campuses in Lille, Nice, Paris, London and Singapore, EDHEC is one of the top 15 European business schools, ranked 1st worldwide for its Master in Finance. Fully international and directly connected to the business world, EDHEC commands a strong reputation for research excellence and the ability to train entrepreneurs and managers capable of breaking new ground. EDHEC functions as a genuine laboratory of ideas and produces innovative solutions valued by businesses.
The School’s teaching is inspired by its research work and a focus on “learning by doing”, all with the aim of equipping people with the skills to succeed in business.