Audencia Nantes School of Business is located in the ancient capital of Brittany, handy for vineyards, the Atlantic coast and – two hours by train – Paris. It has partnerships with business schools in 39 countries, including South Korea, India and the USA. The school wants its graduates to become well-rounded, cultured people, not simply managers.

Vital statistics. Audencia’s international MBA is a 12-month programme that is taught entirely in English. Applicants need at least three years’ work experience and an average GMAT score of 580. Students begin the course by studying a number of core modules, including legal environment, accounting, and strategic management; this is followed by specialist courses that allow students to concentrate in an area such as supply chain management, innovation or venture capital; the final part of the programme is a thesis or a consulting project. Alongside these subjects students attend seminars in ethics, team building and leadership. The course beginning in September 2008 costs €19,000 (£13,750) plus an application fee of €95.

Rankings. Audencia is 78th in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Which MBA? guide for 2007 and 90th in the Aspen Institute’s Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking, which assesses MBA programmes on their commitment to social and environmental issues.

International experience. Participants can spend their final semester at one of Audencia’s partner schools, such as Ohio State University, the University of Ottawa or Tongji School of Economics and Management in Shanghai.

Work experience. Students can choose to undertake a consulting project as the final part of their course. They are also encouraged to participate in business simulation games.

Application deadline: there is a rolling deadline – see website for details

Sources: www.audencia.com; mba.eiu.com; beyondgreypinstripes.org

Next week: the School of Business and Management at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology