Masters in Accounting in France — Big 4 internships, ACCA exemptions, Paris corporate hub
Masters in Accounting · France

Big 4 Capital.
ACCA Aligned.
World-Class
Accounting Schools.

Paris hosts all Big 4 headquarters in Europe. ESCP, EDHEC, and SKEMA offer ACCA-aligned MSc Accounting programmes with mandatory audit internships — and up to 9 ACCA paper exemptions.

Overview

What is a Masters in
Accounting in France?

A Masters in Accounting (MSc Accounting) is a specialised postgraduate degree that prepares you for careers in statutory audit, tax advisory, financial control, management accounting, and forensic accounting — across Europe and the world.

Unlike a professional certification like ACCA or CPA (which focuses on passing exams), the MSc Accounting provides a comprehensive academic foundation in IFRS, corporate governance, audit methodology, and data-driven financial analysis — while also granting significant ACCA exemptions.

France is uniquely positioned for this degree. Paris — home to Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, Mazars, and Grant Thornton — is the corporate capital of continental Europe with 29 Fortune 500 headquarters. French business schools operate in an IFRS-native environment, meaning your accounting skills are directly transferable to 140+ countries.

All Masters in France

Quick Comparison

MSc Accounting vs ACCA vs CPA vs DSCG

Type
Master's Degree
Professional Cert.
US Certification
French Diploma
Best for
Fresh graduates
Global accountants
US-focused roles
French practice
Duration
1 – 2 years
2 – 4 years
1 – 2 years
2 years
Cost in France
₹11 – 38 L
₹2 – 4 L
₹3 – 5 L
₹1 – 3 L
MSc Acc
ACCA
CPA
DSCG
Institutions

Top Universities in France
for Masters in Accounting

ESCP Business School — Masters in Accounting France
5 Campuses

ESCP Business School

EDHEC Business School — Masters in Accounting France
Top 5 Finance

EDHEC Business School

SKEMA Business School — Masters in Accounting France
3 Continents

SKEMA Business School

Audencia Business School — Masters in Accounting France
Triple Crown

Audencia Business School

NEOMA Business School — Masters in Accounting France
Grande École

NEOMA Business School

Grenoble Ecole de Management — Masters in Accounting France
AAA Rated

Grenoble Ecole de Management

KEDGE Business School — Masters in Accounting France
Dual City

KEDGE Business School

ICN Business School — Masters in Accounting France
Grande École

ICN Business School

Burgundy School of Business — Masters in Accounting France
Niche

Burgundy School of Business

TBS Education — Masters in Accounting France
Toulouse

TBS Education

Rennes School of Business — Masters in Accounting France
EQUIS

Rennes School of Business

EM Normandie — Masters in Accounting France
Growing

EM Normandie

Excelia Business School — Masters in Accounting France
Coastal

Excelia Business School

Montpellier Business School — Masters in Accounting France
AACSB

Montpellier Business School

IESEG School of Management — Masters in Accounting France
Global Network

IESEG School of Management

Why France

6 Reasons France
Is the Best Place to
Study Accounting

Paris is Europe's corporate capital. France's business schools deliver ACCA-aligned, IFRS-native accounting education with mandatory Big 4 internships. Here is what makes studying MSc Accounting in France a categorically better decision.

01

Paris = Europe's Corporate Capital

Paris hosts 29 Fortune 500 headquarters — more than any other European city. All Big 4 firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) have their European or global operations centred here, creating unmatched opportunities for accounting graduates.

02

ACCA & CPA Pathway Integration

French MSc Accounting programmes are designed to align with ACCA and CPA curricula. Graduates from SKEMA, EDHEC, and ESCP can claim up to 9 ACCA paper exemptions — fast-tracking your path to the world's most recognised accounting qualification.

03

Mandatory Big 4 Internships

Every top MSc Accounting programme in France mandates a 4–6 month internship. Students are placed at Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, Mazars, and Grant Thornton — you graduate with real European audit and advisory experience.

04

IFRS Native Environment

France uses IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) — the global standard adopted by 140+ countries. Studying accounting in an IFRS-native environment means your skills are directly transferable to India, the EU, Australia, and beyond.

05

Affordable vs UK/US

A Masters in Accounting in France costs ₹12–35 lakhs total — compared to ₹40–80 lakhs for equivalent programmes in the UK or US. Yet the Big 4 placement outcomes are identical, and France offers a 2-year post-study work visa that neither the UK nor US can match.

06

2-Year Post-Study Work Visa

France's APS permit gives you the right to live and work in France after graduation, with full Schengen zone access — a direct path to European accounting careers and residency.

Programs

Accounting Programs in France
— by School

Select a school to explore its accounting programs and USPs. Also browse related programs: Masters in Finance, Economics, Business Analytics, Management and MBA in France.

ESCP

5 Campuses

3 Programs Available

Programs Offered

MSc Accounts, Finance & Management
Master in Management — Accounting Track
MSc Finance (Audit Specialisation)

Why ESCP

Founded in 1819 — world's first business school
Study accounting across Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Turin
MSc Accounts Finance & Management ranks globally for audit & control
Strong Big 4 placement record — Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG recruit on campus

Ready to apply to ESCP?

Eligibility

What Indian Students
Need to Qualify

These are baseline criteria. Our counsellors assess your profile individually and tell you exactly where you stand.

01

Academic Score & Accepted Degrees

Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) — BCom, BBA, B.Tech with accounting/finance subjects preferred. ESCP and EDHEC expect 70–80%+. SKEMA, Audencia, and NEOMA accept 60–65%+. Accounting or finance background is preferred but not mandatory — strong quantitative skills from any discipline are accepted.

02

English Proficiency

IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5) or TOEFL iBT 80–90. All top accounting programmes are taught entirely in English — no French language requirement. Students from English-medium Indian colleges often qualify for waivers.

03

GMAT / GRE (Recommended)

Recommended for ESCP and EDHEC — GMAT 600+ or GRE 310+ preferred. Not required at SKEMA, Audencia, NEOMA, and most mid-tier schools. A strong GMAT score unlocks 10%–50% merit scholarships at most institutions.

04

Work Experience

Not required for most MSc Accounting programmes — they are designed for fresh graduates with 0–2 years of experience. However, ACCA partial qualification or CA Inter completion is viewed very favourably and can compensate for a slightly lower academic score.

05

Documents Required

Statement of Purpose (1–2 pages — demonstrate your interest in accounting, audit, or tax advisory and your career goals), 2 Letters of Recommendation (1 academic + 1 professional preferred), updated CV, all academic transcripts, passport copy, and ACCA/CA certificates if applicable. SOPs are checked for plagiarism — always write your own.

Not sure if you qualify? Our counsellors do a profile analysis and tell you which accounting schools you can get into — and what it takes to strengthen your application.

Cost

Masters in Accounting in France
— Tuition Fees

Part-time work (20 hrs/week permitted) significantly offsets living costs of €800–€1,100/month.

UniversityTotal Tuition (Approx.)
ESCP Business School₹25 – 35 lakhs
EDHEC Business School₹28 – 38 lakhs
SKEMA Business School₹14 – 18 lakhs
Audencia Business School₹15 – 18 lakhs
NEOMA Business School₹15 – 19 lakhs
Grenoble Ecole de Management₹15 – 22 lakhs
KEDGE Business School₹14 – 17 lakhs
ICN Business School₹12 – 15 lakhs
Burgundy School of Business₹12 – 16 lakhs
TBS Education₹13 – 16 lakhs
Rennes School of Business₹13 – 15 lakhs
EM Normandie₹11 – 15 lakhs
Excelia Business School₹12 – 15 lakhs
Montpellier Business School₹11 – 14 lakhs
IESEG School of Management₹16 – 24 lakhs

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Total Budget Estimate

Tuition (avg.)₹15 – 30 L
Living (1.5 yrs)₹12 – 20 L
Visa & Travel₹0.5 – 1 L
Part-time offset–₹5 – 10 L
Net Estimate₹15 – 41 L

Scholarship Tip

ACCA partial qualification or CA Inter completion can unlock dedicated professional scholarships at SKEMA and EDHEC — saving up to ₹10 lakhs.

*Fees are approximate and change each intake. Contact our counsellors for current, scholarship-adjusted figures.

Funding

Scholarships for MSc Accounting in France

All Scholarships in France
Excellence Eiffel Scholarship
Government

Excellence Eiffel Scholarship

Charpak Masters Scholarship
For Indians

Charpak Masters Scholarship

School Merit Scholarships
University

School Merit Scholarships

ACCA-Linked Scholarships
Professional

ACCA-Linked Scholarships

Early Bird Scholarship
University

Early Bird Scholarship

Corporate / Big 4 Scholarships
Corporate

Corporate / Big 4 Scholarships

Scholarship availability changes each intake cycle. Our team tracks these in real-time — speak to us before you apply.

Careers

Career Prospects After
MSc Accounting in France

90%
Hired within 3 months
French accounting graduates
€45K+
Avg. starting salary
Audit & advisory roles
75%
Placed before graduating
Through mandatory internships

Paris is home to all Big 4 firms — Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG — along with Mazars and Grant Thornton. These firms recruit directly from French business schools, offering structured graduate programmes in audit, tax, and advisory.

The average starting salary for MSc Accounting graduates from top French schools ranges €38,000–€60,000 per year (₹35–55 lakhs), with financial controller and forensic accounting roles often exceeding €70,000 within 3–5 years.

The 2-year APS visa creates a powerful window for Indian students: gain European accounting experience before deciding your long-term path. StudyFrance alumni have built accounting and audit careers in Paris, London, Frankfurt, and Dubai.

Job RoleAnnual Salary
Statutory Auditor€40,000 – €60,000
Financial Controller€42,000 – €65,000
Tax Consultant€38,000 – €55,000
Management Accountant€36,000 – €52,000
Internal Auditor€40,000 – €58,000
Forensic Accountant€45,000 – €70,000
CFO / Finance Director (5+ yrs)€70,000 – €120,000

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Why StudyFrance.in

We've lived this
journey.
We walk it with you.

We've stood where you are — uncertain, hopeful, and afraid of getting it wrong.

What began as our own journey to France became a promise to guide others with honesty, not pressure. Our founders and partners don't just know about France — they live in Europe. Our co-founder pursued her Masters in France and calls Paris home today.

She didn't read about the experience online. She lived it. That means when you talk to us, you get reality — not a sales pitch built on brochures. We tell you what university interviews feel like. What the visa process actually requires. What Paris costs in January. What you'll miss about India, and what you'll love about France.

"We are always there to help or guide you — anytime — from India to France, forever."

— StudyFrance Founders & Co-owner, Paris

Our End-to-End Services

University Selection & Shortlisting

We match you with the right accounting schools based on your profile, budget, and career goals — not what's easiest to sell.

Application & SOP Crafting

Our team has reviewed hundreds of successful applications to ESCP, EDHEC, SKEMA, Audencia, and more. We know what works.

Scholarship Guidance

We track all scholarship cycles and help you apply for every opportunity you qualify for — government and school-level.

Visa Support — Zero Guesswork

France visa applications can be complex. We guide you through every document, every step, with zero confusion.

Pre-Departure & Settlement Support

From accommodation hunting in Paris to setting up your French bank account — before and after you land.

Ongoing Mentorship — Always

Our co-owner in Paris and our France alumni network are always a WhatsApp message away, for as long as you need us.

FAQs

Your Accounting Questions,
Answered Honestly.

Everything Indian students ask us before deciding to study Masters in Accounting in France.

Absolutely. France is home to Europe's corporate capital (Paris), with 29 Fortune 500 headquarters and all Big 4 firms operating major offices here. French business schools like ESCP, EDHEC, and SKEMA offer ACCA-aligned MSc Accounting programmes with mandatory Big 4 internships — giving you real European audit experience before you even graduate.

Free. Honest. No Pressure.

Ready to Begin Your
Accounting Career in Europe?

Whether you're just exploring or ready to apply — our Paris-based team walks every step with you. From India. To France. Forever.