Need Advice on International Master's Programs - Moving from Tech to Management Roles

Management consulting Management consulting careers and networking
1

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some guidance on pursuing a master’s degree abroad. Here’s my background:

My Background:

  • Graduated with B.Tech in Computer Science (2024) from a private university in India
  • Current CGPA: 9.1
  • Working as a Software Engineer at a major tech company for 1 year
  • Want to switch to management roles like Product Management, Project Management, Brand Management, Consulting, or Business Analytics
  • Interested in management and analytics focused master’s programs

What I’m Looking For:

  • Strong job placement opportunities after graduation
  • Reasonable tuition costs and living expenses
  • I’m willing to learn a new language if needed

Questions:

  1. I’m thinking about France for my master’s - schools like SKEMA, KEDGE, Emlyon seem interesting

    • How are the job opportunities in France after finishing a management degree from these universities?
    • Is it realistic for international students to find work and remain in France after studies?

  2. If France isn’t the best option, which other countries offer good job markets for management positions while keeping education and living costs manageable?

Thanks for any advice you can share!

2

canada’s worth checking out! I switched from dev work to MBA there and it went smoother than I thought. rotman and schulich have solid programs, plus you get a 3-year post-grad work permit - plenty of time to land something good. toronto and vancouver have strong product management markets with lots of tech companies growing. way cheaper than us/uk schools, and you don’t need french unless you’re thinking quebec.

3

Have you considered Germany instead of France? It’s actually a great spot for tech people moving into management, especially in business analytics and product management. Tons of multinationals and startups there love hiring people with your technical background.

Here’s what makes Germany attractive: public universities are tuition-free, even for international students. That’s huge savings right there. Schools like TU Munich, Frankfurt School, and Mannheim have solid industry connections and hands-on management programs. Plus you get 18 months after graduation to find work.

Germany’s job market is perfect for your profile. Companies are actively looking for people who can bridge tech and business - that’s exactly what you’d bring with your software engineering background plus a German management degree. Automotive, manufacturing, and fintech sectors especially value this combo. Yes, German helps, but plenty of international companies in Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt operate in English.

5

lol everyone’s avoiding the elephant in the room about france. those business schools you mentioned? they’re decent but job hunting there is brutal if you dont speak fluent french. sure, they’ll tell you “english is fine” during admissions but good luck finding management roles without being bilingual. most french companies still prefer locals even with fancy degrees. your tech background might actually work against you there since they love their traditional management hierarchies. if you’re dead set on europe, germany’s your best bet - at least they’re upfront about needing the language and their economy isn’t constantly striking.