Master International Strategic Management

“The Master of ISM was created to meet the needs of businesses for managers to lead teams, projects and business operations, in a constantly-changing and competitive international environment.

Strategy is taught in a traditional way, while management decision-making is taught in a way that requires students to apply their learning to real-life situations. The way Master 2 ISM is taught is cross-functional and multicultural, and trains students to manage teams, make decisions, think holistically and master strategic analysis. All these skills are recognised by the businesses that take our students as interns.

Ninety per cent of our students find a job within 6 months after completing their Master’s, and they work in a range of fields: consultancy, management, digital strategy. In addition, our students join a range of types of company, including: multinationals such as Danone, Coca Cola, Alstom, Dassault Systèmes and Sephora; SMEs in innovative sectors; and a few startups.

Innovation is central to the Master of ISM and is given full expression when the students have to create a startup in three months. This experience gives them the opportunity to integrate all that they have learned and put it into practice by tackling tasks such as drawing up a business plan, determining the break-even point, managing the financial aspects, and so on.

The Master of SIM is frequently updated to ensure it remains in step with the world of work. For example, we have put more emphasis on teaching relating to digital transformation, we have organised lectures from company managers, etc.

“Master 2 ISM offers a generalised course and a wide range of knowledge and skills with a strong focus on strategy and internationality.

We fulfil our international commitment in various ways: a part of the teaching is delivered in English by business people currently working in the corporate world. We encourage and support the recruitment of students from every continent: Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia and the United States. Most of the French students who join us have had international experience, either of a personal or professional nature. The result is a tremendously rich multicultural environment.

This year, we have 16 students in the classic route class. The students know one another very well as a result of the projects they have carried out as part of the course (freshers’ week, international dinner, startup creation, etc.). They are in constant contact with former students through the reunions they organise with alumni. The latter continue to participate in the life of the Master’s by making internship and job offers and by contributing to the courses.

"From the beginning of the 2020 academic year, the Master’s in International Strategic Management will open a third course, in addition to the standard and apprenticeship courses.

The special feature of this new “International Strategic Management” course is that it is taught completely in English. It reflects both the ambitions of Paris Nanterre University, which wants to open up its training programmes to international students, and the aspirations of students who are looking for a globally-minded academic, vocational and cultural experience. It is also a response to those companies that view this type of training as proof of the open, agile nature of the new graduates.

The first year of this course takes place in Nanterre. The modules cover all management topics using a cross-cutting approach (management accounting, finance, innovation management, project management with corporate challenge, strategy, law, human resources, supply chain, etc.) and, of course, place great emphasis on international issues. Half of the modules are taught by professors and the other half by professionals.

The second year is devoted to international experience. Students spend 6 months on an Erasmus exchange or with a partner university around the world (Asia, North America, South America, etc.) and 6 months on a work placement in France or abroad.

Students are selected for this Master’s by application via the “e-candidat” platform. As a special feature, the application includes an English language proficiency score (TOEFL or TOEIC). Motivation and logic tests complete the process.

This course is obviously open to foreign students, who make up nearly half of the total number of students on the training programme."

Students from the class of 2016-2017Classic route

One student’s pathway

“I took a Bachelor’s in Management at Nanterre and naturally went for the Master of SIM as this course was a way of achieving my career objectives, and because it could lead to a lot of different jobs.”

One student’s view of the Master’s

“The Master 2 SIM is a course that opens up a wide choice of jobs: in project management, marketing, business consultancy. I have spent much of my life in Angola, and the Master’s international dimension was of fundamental importance for me, as I want to live abroad later, if the opportunity arises. I opted for the classic route as it was better suited to me. I especially like the vibe on this Master’s course, the other students are friendly and open-minded, and I also very much enjoy being part of a multicultural class. When we worked as a team on particular projects, such as organising an international dinner, or the summer-school week when we organised a treasure hunt and a pétanque day when students from both the classic and internship routes joined in, we had some great times that made us a tight-knit group. I recommend this Master’s!”

Internship route

One student’s pathway

“After my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Paris Nanterre and an Erasmus year in Dublin, I became interested in the Master of SIM because it offered several advantages: the internship route, the international dimension, cross-functional teaching and some original subjects.”

One student’s view of the Master’s

“I had no doubts about the internship pathway, for me it was a no-brainer! An internship is a fantastic springboard for the future! In two years, you have enough time to have a really worthwhile experience, to make the company’s culture your own, to hone your skills, to learn to cope with various aspects of the world of work. And also, being paid motivates you and gives you a sense of responsibility.

The international character of the Master of SIM really helps you grow and develop, it’s both a window on the world and a passport to a future career abroad. The cross-functional way the course is taught opens our eyes to a lot of different lines of business, while the more unusual learning experiences – such as the drama workshops – help you to get to know yourself better.”

Classic route

One student’s pathway

“After studying Marketing at the IUT de Sceaux, I wanted to develop my skills further with a course in international management. That’s why I chose to enrol for the Master of SIM at the University of Paris Nanterre.”

One student’s view of the Master of SIM

“The SIM’s international dimension was particularly interesting to me, as were the Management classes, many of which are taught in English and half by external lecturers who work for international companies. Another very positive aspect of Master 2: the number of students and the multicultural classes, mine had 15 people, half of whom were from abroad: Honduras, Egypt, Russia, etc. In the first year mutual support developed between the students, and even more so in the second year, especially on team projects where we had put into practice a lot of what we had learned. My internship at the end of the course was converted to a temporary contract with the Ice Watch company, and this is in turn is leading to a permanent job based in Montreal. Nanterre is a really great campus!”

Internship route

One student’s pathway

“My Bachelor’s course, which I did at the University of Paris Nanterre, gave me the opportunity to do two internships, each of them for six months, in a startup. That experience gave me a real taste of the world of work and made me realise I needed to complete my training with a management course like the one for the Master of SIM.”

One student’s view of the Master of SIM

“The Master of SIM provides high-level training in strategic international management. In a world with a globalised economy, it’s essential to have a solid grounding in international analysis. I especially appreciated the quality of the teaching staff and business lecturers who all had the knack of connecting us to the world of work by combining theory and practice. Another big advantage of this Master’s is its cross-functional nature. By learning about law, management accounting, finance policy, etc., you come to understand and appreciate the specifics of various job roles and are fully equipped to manage teams later on. The internship route was a no-brainer for me, because once you’ve graduated your two years of work experience pay dividends.”

Graduated in 2012, Senior IS Consultant, Aodys Consulting

One student’s pathway

“I did all my studies at Nanterre and I did the Master of Strategic & International Management after my Bachelor’s. When I finished my Master’s in 2012, I was very quickly hired by a consultancy firm specialising in ERP. I work with financial management, mainly in industry. Initially a Junior Consultant, I became a Senior Consultant last year.”

One student’s view of the Master’s

“You emerge from it transformed. I really liked the multicultural environment – in my class there were French students, Russians, Spanish... The course is a generalist one, you do marketing, HR, finance, management accounting… It really broadens our minds and gives us a cross-functional view of a business. All in all, I'm very glad I took this course at the University. It’s a positive option, you’re treated more as an individual, you’re more autonomous, more adaptable, more independent – and businesses love that!”

Graduated in 2016, Business Engineer, SAP

One student’s pathway

“I studied for 5 years at the University of Paris Nanterre. For the Master of Strategic & International Management, I opted for the internship route. Initially, I was Assistant to the Sales Director in the Fleet Services Division of General Electric. Next, I was at SAP, in the Sales Department. At the end of my internship contract, I was immediately hired by SAP for its selective “Sales Academy” programme. This is an international programme in which 100 recent graduates around the world follow a fast-track course in the United States, Spain and France. This enables recent graduates to access senior posts very early on.

One student’s view of the Master’s

“The Master of SIM provides a 360° vision of the various departments in a business: you cover marketing, admin, accounting, and so on. This is important in my current role, as the solutions I propose affect a range of functions; it helps me grasp the issues quickly.

My internship gave me a unique on-the-ground experience. Businesses look for new recruits who are realistic and practical. It was these qualities that won me a place at the ‘SAP Sales Academy’. Also, my internship helped me negotiate a higher salary for my first job… and that’s pretty important!”