Excelia Business School (reviews)

I decided to join Excelia for my final year of my Master’s degree, and the school was fantastic. The professors, the teaching, and the overall atmosphere lived up to the expectations of a top business school. This year allowed me to strengthen my knowledge of the B2B business world.

I would rate my programme 8/10. The Master’s in Audit and Management Control provides strong knowledge in accounting, auditing, finance, and management. It prepares students well for professional challenges, although some courses could include more practical case studies
I like the international environment and the diversity of the students. I also appreciate the quality of the courses and the fact that the programme combines theory with practical business applications.
Sometimes the timetable changes at short notice, which can make it difficult to organize personal and professional commitments. I also think that some administrative processes could be faster and more efficient.
The programme provides strong academic knowledge and prepares students for careers in audit, finance, and management through relevant courses and practical projects.
Excelia offers an international learning environment with students from many different countries, which helps develop communication skills, teamwork, and a global perspective.

I wholeheartedly recommend Excelia, not only for the quality of its teaching and the relevance of its programs, but also for its student support. The academic guidance, the close relationships with instructors, the career opportunities, and the strength of the alumni network are, in my opinion, real assets for building a career plan and successfully entering the job market.

Excellent school. The staff is always available to support students. The school offers a very high level of training with programs well-suited for their students’ professional integration. The only slight drawback is the somewhat high cost of studies.

Excelia Highlights: Courses taught by professionals in the industry, case studies, many group work projects with oral presentations for each, going abroad for professional internships and studies, option for a fully English-taught BA and you also get taught 2 extra languages (I did Italian and Chinese, but you can do French, Spanish, Russian, German..). You can also do your BA fully in French. Every week is different, some modules continue longer but it isn’t a set schedule with the same courses every week. You get a lot of CV, Linkedin, cover letter help and interview prep and can get a professional coach to help you even more – for free. You get to pass some certifications in design thinking and sustainability, for example.

The La Rochelle campus is very international, it’s lovely to meet lots of people from different backgrounds and being close to the sea in a mid-sized town is really nice. There are many activities and events. You can be an international buddy for a classmate which is great for cultural exchange. The Tours campus has a lot more french people, but the city is still nice.

Since Excelia is an “École de Commerce” – Business School, even in the BA in Tourism and Hospitality management you will have recurring topics like Marketing & communication, Business, Sustainability and some accounting and finances – but related to the industry.

I also did a 6-month fast-track business program (Bachelor first year) which gave me 60 ECTS (like a 1 year one), and I gained a very good business foundation. We did a lot of business games, and some real world projects like a communication strategy for 2 non-profits, and also worked on imaginary/simulation projects.

Strengths: you get to study abroad at least once (I studied in Bangkok for 5-months as Srinakharinwirot University International College for Sustainability studies. It was amazing: Thai people are the nicest and I got to participate in and help organise many events, for a project I worked in luxury hotels and we also had enriching field trips in rural Thailand).

Then for internships at excelia: you get 1-3 months professional internship mandatory in 1st year and 5 months mandatory in 3rd year. You also have to complete a mandatory 2 months volunteering internship in the social sector (Humacité) and another mandatory one in the environmental sector (Climacité).
You do have to find your internships by yourself but you have a list of where people are and where they went, and can ask your teachers or alumni if they know of internships.

You do get some field trips in companies (mostly in the more business bachelors), but I think there has been some development for the BA in Tourism and Hospitality management.

Grading: you are graded mostly based on group presentations, individual term exams and the completion of your internships with their reports, and in the final year you have to pass a “Grand Oral” – presenting what you learned during your time at excelia, soft and hard skills and wether you are ready to tackle the job market.

Courses examples: Global Code of ethics, HACCP, sustainability development, Mice Industry, consumer behaviour in Tourism, marketing and sales in hospitality…

Weaknesses: We had a lot of 2-4 days of intensive courses, so topics mostly stayed surface level and not extremely detailed. But basic important concepts are well underlined. We also didn’t get any software courses, it would have been nice to get CRM or reservation software skills for the hospitality or event industry. You don’t always get detailed comments regarding your grades. Almost every 6-months you have to prepare the logistics for a new internship (visa, accommodation, travel), it can get a bit tiring and overwhelming – but you learn a lot.

What I enjoyed the most at excelia: having international friends, courses in English, going abroad, doing internships, and getting to know the main concepts and trends in the tourism and hospitality industry.

I spent 4 years at Excelia : 2 in tourism and 2 in business.
Most of the courses and professors were very interesting. I learned a lot by being in this school either with normal classes or experiences (internships, work-and-study, humanitarian and ecological missions…)
Life in the campus is getting better every year. They’re always trying to improve the services and doing there best for students.

My experience at Excelia was very positive. I found the university to be professional, well organised and truly international. What I appreciated the most was the academic environment: the classes were dynamic, interactive and based on dialogue, exchange of ideas and active participation.

I attended courses in Brand Management and I found them very stimulating. They allowed me to discover a field that I had not explored deeply before, but that I found extremely interesting, especially because it combines strategy, creativity, communication and consumer behaviour.

Another aspect I really appreciated was the quality and diversity of the professors. The presence of international faculty and visiting professors from different countries made the courses more engaging and gave students the opportunity to learn from different perspectives, teaching styles and professional experiences.

Excelia also offers a very welcoming environment for Erasmus and international students. I felt supported and listened to, and there were many opportunities to meet people, take part in activities and feel integrated into student life.

I also loved La Rochelle as a city. It is beautiful, safe, liveable and perfect for students, which made the whole experience even better.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Excelia to students who are looking for an international, professional and inspiring academic experience, especially in fields such as marketing, business and brand management.

For me, Excelia is truly an amazing school where I met incredible people. You do a lot of teamwork, and if you don’t understand something, the teachers are always ready to help. At Excelia, there are countless opportunities, from diverse student associations and exhibitions to school activities like DALS.
Excelia is more than just a school, it’s a place to learn, discover yourself, and share unforgettable moments with others. The experience is one you will never forget: you can follow courses entirely in English, participate in business games and practical case studies, meet professionals in various fields, and even have the chance to travel while studying.
All of this makes Excelia a school where you truly want to be and where you feel at home.

My experience at Excelia in the Bachelor in Business program has been generally positive. The courses are interesting and relevant, and most professors are supportive and knowledgeable. The international environment is a real advantage and adds a lot to the student experience.
Some administrative processes could be better organized, but overall it is a good program. I would recommend Excelia to motivated students interested in business and international studies.