Frequently Asked Questions
How many internships do students complete?
How many hours of coursework are to be expected in the 1st year of study?
How many hours of language classes?
Are mathematics refresher courses available to literature applicants?
Are students who are accepted on consideration of their records alone required to take extra courses?
Can students do all coursework in English?
Can students receive a dual-degree?
Can students carry out apprenticeships?
Does the school have a campus?
Are cultural lectures held?
Does the school provide career counsellors?
All Audencia students spend a total of 12 to 22 months on internships throughout the course of study: 3 mandatory internships, plus 2 optional internships.
- The first internship, "Corporate Initiation" (minimum of 6 weeks) is completed at the close of the first year of study, with the goal of learning about companies in general and applying lessons learned in coursework.
- An "Individual Project Year" (API) can also be selected as an optional internship. The API serves as an opportunity to carry out an individual project. Possibilities include humanitarian missions or studying languages and civilizations at a university abroad.
- The in-company gap year (AIPM) is mandatory. This year is completed before the specialization period of your coursework. It provides the opportunity to confirm or change your choice of majors. Above all, however, this year serves to build skills in management and technical areas.
- The "Practices Analysis" internship (6 to 10 weeks) is optional, and takes place at the close of the specialization portion of your coursework. The internship is an opportunity to hone your knowledge and career plan in a specific area of expertise.
- The "Corporate Action", internship is a capstone to your studies, with 4 months of direct application of the full range of knowledge acquired in coursework. The internship places you in a pre-professional stance.
A commitment of 25 to 30 hours per week should be expected.
If you begin studies at Audencia in 1st year, you can complete a full year of specialization studies abroad and/or obtain a dual-degree (MSc, MBA or Diplom-Kaufmann). All students must study a third modern foreign language.
Yes, literature track students must begin coursework with the same level of education as others. Audencia has therefore implemented a system for providing students from parallel admissions tracks with the necessary foundations. This includes a refresher course of approximately ten hours focusing on statistics, modelling and optimization.
If you are accepted to the Masters programme directly (unless by waiver), you will attend refresher courses centred on the following technical subjects:
- Accounting/Management Control
- Finance
- Marketing
- Law/Taxes
These background courses include practical application components, with corporate case studies and portfolios. They are taught early in the Masters programme, alongside intensive management courses.
You can take a track of English courses once you begin the Masters programme. The courses for 3 specialization majors are taught exclusively in English. Some marketing and finance electives are taught in Spanish. Many international students study at Audencia, via international programmes and the Erasmus programme. This provides an excellent context for perfecting your language skills and immersing yourself in a multicultural environment.
A dual-track curriculum for engineer/managers exists. In 18 months of study, engineering students can obtain a degree recognized by the world's largest international corporations.
Current economic conditions have required companies to confront two main challenges. The first relates to the multicultural imperatives of corporate internationalization. The second stems from the complexity and diversity of trades these businesses each handle.
Aware of these corporate needs, Audencia sees itself as innovative in preparing future executives to rise to this dual challenge.
The dynamics of the "engineer/manager" programme involve cooperation between Audencia, the Ecole Centrale de Nantes and other engineering schools that have signed dual-degree cooperative agreements.
The academic track blends theoretical components and hands-on experiences. Because the programme has such a strong international focus, most classes are taught in English, in Nantes and North America.
At Audencia, you can opt for the Grande Ecole apprenticeship programme. This initiative is part of a larger programme to foster diversity. The programme's advantages are multiple, and include: 36 months of work experience and solid management training funded in its entirety by the sponsoring company, which compensates the student as well.
The apprenticeship stretches over a period of 3 years, divided into 6 alternating periods of work and studies at Audencia.
Audencia is located at the heart of a campus equipped with athletic and cultural facilities alike. These include a pool and theatre, as well as student rental facilities, dorms and university restaurants.
The campus is nestled in a natural, wooded setting. A student centre was recently added to the courtyard abutting the Faculty of Arts and includes a full array of student facilities such as cafeteria, multipurpose room and association offices. The public space is accessible and welcoming.
The campus is accessible via public transportation (tramway and bus lines), and can also be accessed by car. Student parking lots are available.
Yes, culture is a key component of Audencia, and constitutes one of the school's core values. Culture lies at the heart of the academic programme. Consequently, the Bureau des Arts association implemented a series of cultural lectures that are held throughout the year. These Iségoria lectures provide the public the opportunity to meet and exchange with participating intellectuals, writers, philosophers and sociologists sharing their view of the world.
Previous speakers include: Jean-Marie Colombani, Jean-François Kahn, Alain Finkielkraut, Luc Ferry, Philippe Sollers, Amélie Nothomb, Bernard Stiegler.
Audencia opened its career services department in partnership with the Réseaudencia alumni association. The department aims to provide personalized and collective support services. As such, a team of 3 Audencia Nantes career counsellors offer:
- Individual appointments
- Tools for monitoring the job market and salaries
- Career workshops run by consultants from partnering consulting firms.
The skills portfolio and workshops organized by Career Counsellors help students fashion their career path and better define their goals.
