ENPC – School of International Management, Paris

Age: 24

History: The school began offering undergraduate, MBA and executive education programmes in 1987. It is part of the world's oldest school of civil engineering, the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, founded in 1747 by King Louis XV. ENPC expanded its reach beyond engineering, and is now known for its scientific research into economics, finance, technology, innovation and the management of environmental resources.

Address: On the Parisian Right Bank, beside the symbolic and famous Place de la République.

Ambience: The ENPC MBA is taught in La Maison des Ponts, rue de la Fontaine au Roi, in the 11th district. The area is bustling with shops, cafés and restaurants, next to the Quai de Jemmapes, its barges and famous “Hotel du Nord”.

Vital statistics: Each intake is no larger than 60, and 85 per cent of students are from outside France. Four programmes are offered: full-time and part-time MBAs in international business and technology and entrepreneurship; a full-time “tri-continent” MBA (taught in Paris, Philadelphia and Tokyo); and an Executive MBA, a dual-degree programme taught at weekends. MBA students are mainly taught by visiting professors and all programmes are in English. No housing is provided, but you can apply for university accommodation.

Added value: You choose two thirds of your programme “à la carte” with the help of an academic advisor. The school runs three sister programmes at institutions in Morocco, Scotland and China, and study trips are available as part of the curriculum.

Easy to get into? You'll need a degree and three years' work experience. An internal test can be taken instead of the GMAT and TOEFL qualifications.

Glittering alumni: Bertrand Moulet, vice-president, Lazard; Heike Frohnöfer, CEO, Rheno Plastiques & Papiers SA; Jennifer O'Neill-Mardokh, director, Arjil & Associates; Laurent Cassin, director, IXIS Corporate & Investment Bank; Nicolas Notebaert, director, Vinci Airports.

International connections: Links with schools in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, UK, and USA.

Gurus: Dr Tawfik Jelassi, dean of the school, e-business and IT; Professors Baruch Lev, Stern School of Business, NYU; Benoît Leleux, finance and entrepreneurship; Chris Marsden, corporate citizenship; Dermot McAleese, director of the Central Bank of Ireland; and Michael Page, dean of RSM Erasmus University.

Student profile: The average age on the MBA is 30, and most students have accumulated six years of work experience. The age range is 24 to 45.

Cost: The full-time MBA is €32,500, the two yaer part-time option is €38,000 and the executive MBA is €39,500 payable in five parts.

Return on investment: A salary hike of between 20 and 40 per cent.

Who's the boss? Dr Tawfik Jelassi is the dean.

Prospectus: +(33) 1 44 58 28 52; www.enpcmbaparis.com/