International University of Monaco - IUM (reviews)

It is a great university located in one of the most amazing places in the world, and this give you access to many opportunities that you cannot find/experience anywhere else. The university and professor are very well connected with entrepreneurs in the principals, and this may result in guest lectures, visits to offices or participation to exclusive events. Another plus is that is a very diverse and multicultural university, here you can literally find people coming from all around the world and it is amazing!

I chose IUM because I was attracted to the idea of studying business in Monaco. As an international student, I was prepared to make a significant financial commitment and paid five figures in tuition. I expected a professional institution with strong administrative support, meaningful connections to Monaco’s business community, and proper assistance for international students.
Unfortunately, my experience was very different.
The biggest issue for me was the administration and communication.
Whenever I needed a clear answer, I often found myself contacting different people or departments without actually getting a straightforward solution. Emails could result in another contact being given to me rather than an answer to the original question. When you’re dealing with five figures of tuition and planning an international move, this becomes extremely stressful.
My biggest advice to prospective students is:
Get everything in writing. Keep every email. Keep every receipt. Ask for confirmation of everything.
Do not rely on verbal assurances or assume that something has been handled simply because someone tells you it has.
Housing support
I was also disappointed by the level of housing assistance.
As an international student moving to Monaco from abroad, I expected the university to have a well-developed system for helping students with accommodation. When I encountered problems with my housing, I did not feel that there was meaningful university support available to help me navigate the situation.
You are essentially responsible for figuring out a lot of it yourself.
That is something I would want to know before paying tuition and relocating internationally.
The size of the university
IUM is very small.
I knew it was a small institution, but the actual scale surprised me. The campus and overall university infrastructure felt much smaller than I had imagined when I initially associated the school with studying in Monaco.
There is nothing inherently wrong with a small university, but prospective students should understand that the Monaco location can create an impression of a much larger business-school ecosystem than what you may actually experience on campus.
Connections to Monaco’s business community
I was also expecting the location to translate into substantial professional opportunities.
Studying business in Monaco sounds like it should naturally provide extensive exposure to Monaco-based companies and professionals. However, based on my experience, I would not enroll assuming that simply being an IUM student automatically gives you a significant Monaco business network.
I would specifically ask admissions to provide concrete, current examples of company partnerships, internships, student placements, and career opportunities, rather than relying on general statements about being located in Monaco.
Tuition and withdrawal
I eventually decided to withdraw before beginning my studies.
The tuition refund process was stressful. I was given different timelines and had to repeatedly follow up regarding the status of my money and the documentation needed to trace the international transfer.
The tuition was eventually returned, which I want to acknowledge.
However, the process was much more stressful than I believe it needed to be.
When a student has paid five figures and is waiting for a substantial international transfer, clear communication and proper documentation should be standard.
Final thoughts
My experience ultimately changed my perception of the university.
I went in expecting a business education in Monaco with a strong international environment and access to a meaningful professional network. Instead, I found the institution much smaller and the administrative support much less developed than I expected.
The Monaco location is attractive, but the location itself should not be confused with the quality or size of the institution.
If you are considering IUM, I would recommend visiting before committing, speaking directly with current students and recent graduates, asking for specific evidence of company partnerships and career outcomes, and getting every important financial and administrative matter documented in writing.
For me, the experience was not what I expected from an institution to which I was prepared to commit five figures.
Do your research beyond the marketing.