DIfference between different Insead campuses

Question

Hi everyone, 
I had a few questions regarding INSEAD. Would love to know the answers to those!

1) What's the difference between the INSEAD Singapore and INSEAD France campus? Is one better than the other? Is the ranking different for the both campuses and companies look which campus I went to?
2) For an international student what's the scope of job and visa opportunities from both? Is it hard to get work visa in Singapore or is it hard in France post graduations?
3) Do we get job better from one campus compared to the other based on the ROI?
4) How much hectic is the course work compared to both and how much free time can a student get in a day? (for basic stuff like calling at home, cooking meals, exercise, etc)

Thank you for your time!

MBAGuide · Answer

Peterparker2 Hi, INSEAD Alumna here. Happy to answer your questions

1) What's the difference between the INSEAD Singapore and INSEAD France campus? Is one better than the other? Is the ranking different for the both campuses and companies look which campus I went to?

If you are asking about campus life, INSEAD's Singapore campus is relatively small (very small, actually!) and has a more urban setup right in the heart of the city. Most students live close by in housing societies or communities, and getting around is easy because of Singapore’s efficient public transport. The setup in Fontainebleau is quite similar when it comes to student living, except that the campus itself is much bigger and the overall vibe of the forest town is a lot more laid-back. Student housing is spread across Fontainebleau, and depending on where you stay, distances can be long and many people use bicycles to get around. In many ways, the town exists largely to support the INSEAD community, and it really feels like everything revolves around the school.

I would say the choice of campus comes down to personal preference and the geography you want to explore opportunities in after the MBA. Both campuses follow the same curriculum, they are not ranked separately, and professors keep rotating based on their teaching schedules. A lot of students also choose to switch campuses midway through the program, so you can get a flavour of both if you want to.

2) For an international student what's the scope of job and visa opportunities from both? Is it hard to get work visa in Singapore or is it hard in France post graduations?

Getting visas for international students in either Singapore or France is not easy. The Singapore job market is pretty saturated, and the competition is tough. For France, realistically, securing opportunities will require certain localised skills like strong language proficiency and relevant experience in the country. That said, most job opportunities that come to INSEAD are global in nature, not just restricted to these two regions. As long as MNCs have openings and you meet the criteria, you will be able to recruit, no matter the campus.

3) Do we get job better from one campus compared to the other based on the ROI?

The ROI does not depend on the campus. Many students recruit into the EU/UK and the US, even from Singapore, and similarly, some from Fonty will find opportunities in APAC and Australia. Every person's situation will be different. The INSEAD office however, believes that people are more successful in getting off-campus recruiting opportunities if they personally connect with the companies they want to recruit for, knowing well where their major offices are situated.

4) How much hectic is the course work compared to both and how much free time can a student get in a day? (for basic stuff like calling at home, cooking meals, exercise, etc)

Great question! I would say that finding the right balance between academics, socialising, and personal time at INSEAD is one of the biggest challenges. No matter how well you plan, it will often feel like you are constantly playing catch-up in one area while barely keeping pace in the others. That is why students must set their own boundaries early. Define what balance looks like for you and stick to it, even when peer pressure or FOMO kicks in! Otherwise, you may find yourself not just overwhelmed, but also financially stretched, with back-to-back meals out and endless networking events leaving you little time, or energy for yourself.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

Peterparker2

Hi everyone,
I had a few questions regarding INSEAD. Would love to know the answers to those!

1) What's the difference between the INSEAD Singapore and INSEAD France campus? Is one better than the other? Is the ranking different for the both campuses and companies look which campus I went to?
2) For an international student what's the scope of job and visa opportunities from both? Is it hard to get work visa in Singapore or is it hard in France post graduations?
3) Do we get job better from one campus compared to the other based on the ROI?
4) How much hectic is the course work compared to both and how much free time can a student get in a day? (for basic stuff like calling at home, cooking meals, exercise, etc)

Thank you for your time!

Peterparker2 · Answer

Thank you for answering! This was very insightful!

MBAandBeyond · Answer

INSEAD SG vs France (including ROI):
  
No difference at all. All  MNCs  float their job roles on  "On Campus Recruitment Portal"  and is open for both campuses. But if you are looking to settle down in  Asia , then  SG  is better because to get jobs in startups, your location is important. But for MNCs, it is not.

ROI  does not just depend on campus but where you get job.  SG  has lesser taxes compared to majority of  European countries . A lot of students also prefer working in Middle East  (irrespective of campus)  to pay off the debt sooner.

Work Visa:
 I have worked both in SG and Europe, post INSEAD. Work visa is not an issue at both the places. Companies can easily get you sponsored. It is not like US. In Europe, opportunities are more in  UK, Germany (Berlin, Munich), Netherlands (Amsterdam)  than in France. As international student, your chances to get a job in English speaking cities/ countries is more than in France.

Free time and hectic coursework:
 Well, you are going for a 10 month course instead of 24 months. It is fast paced. At INSEAD, we have  3 S'   (Sleep, Study and Socialise)  and you can only practice 2 out of 3. And every week, at least my friends and I decided, to pick which one to leave behind.

So, during exams, we would definitely prefer Study and choose between Sleep and Socializing. And there are times when you prefer Study and Socializing. Sleep only happens between Period breaks. Haha

Hope you get my point @ Peterparker2

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
 Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Stay Tuned:   YouTube  |  Coffee Session  |  Success Stories  |  Blogs  |  LinkedIn

Join our Exclusive Coffee Chat with Successful Applicants (4-Month Strategy for Round 1)

Peterparker2 · Answer

Thank you for this!

Peterparker2 · Answer

I had a few more questions:
1) Is the third language requirement compulsory now for INSEAD? I heard they dropped it now.
2) Is INSEAD a good college if I want to break into tech and product manager roles? I've heard it's only good for consulting.
 MBAandBeyond   MBAGuide

MBAGuide · Answer

Peterparker2

1. Yes that has been an unexpected update - MBA LanGUAGE POLICY
I think they finally saw through the futility of making people slog through extra classes just to barely scrape by the bare minimum in third languages. Hopefully, that is good news for you!

2. So yes, INSEAD is not typically known as a tech school, but beyond consulting, people branch out in all kinds of directions, and Product Management roles are among the most common and sought-after. I would say that most folks who break into Big Tech usually do so by hustling hard through their own networking efforts. I have personally known people in my circle who made that leap, and I firmly believe active networking played a huge, role in making that transition happen. But that said, moving into more generic PM roles is not all that tough, as long as the market has room. The bigger question, though, is whether now is even the right time to make that pivot to PM.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

Peterparker2

I had a few more questions:
1) Is the third language requirement compulsory now for INSEAD? I heard they dropped it now.
2) Is INSEAD a good college if I want to break into tech and product manager roles? I've heard it's only good for consulting.
MBAandBeyond MBAGuide

Peterparker2 · Answer

1. So the brochure says "NB: This Language Policy applies to applicants of the 26J and 26D MBA Classes. For all other MBA Classes, please use this document as a reference only and be sure to contact the MBA Admissions Office for confirmation." So it's not applicable for other classes?

2. What do you mean by "The bigger question, though, is whether now is even the right time to make that pivot to PM."

An additional question, which are the right b-schools focussing on tech and PM roles?

GyanOne · Answer

Campus Differences : There is no difference in academic quality, curriculum, or employer perception between INSEAD Singapore and France (Fontainebleau). Both award identical degrees with the same global recognition. The main differences are location-based advantages: France offers better access to European consulting/luxury markets, while Singapore connects you to Asia-Pacific tech and emerging industries. 
  Visa & Job Opportunities :
 
 France: Graduates qualify for a 5-year "Alumni Visa" allowing unrestricted work in France and Schengen Area.  
 Singapore: Requires employer-sponsored Employment Passes post-graduation with salary thresholds (≥S$5,000 monthly).   
 
  ROI Comparison : Tuition is identical (€99,500 for 2024-25). Median base salary in France is €109,600 with €28,500 sign-on bonus. Singapore's median salary is around S$189,010 with S$25,100 bonus. ROI differences depend on your target geography rather than campus choice. 
  Workload : Both campuses have identical rigorous schedules with 12-14 hour days. Students typically prioritize between academics and recruitment activities, with many skipping non-core lectures for career prep. Weekend blocks (4-6 hours) are generally preserved for personal tasks.  
Your campus choice should align with your post-MBA geographic and career sector goals rather than perceived differences in program quality.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

1) You don't need to know 3 languages to be eligible for the program.

2) Apart from MNCs such as Amazon, Microsoft and others, you will have to leverage INSEAD's network to find connections and apply for jobs. I got two product management jobs post-INSEAD.

Cheers!
Shantanu

DIfference between different Insead campuses

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards