The Master of Business Administration is a 40 credit-hour, one-year master’s degree leveraging ACM’s strategic location in Southern Europe to create an immersive expedition across three distinct business and cultural landscapes. In this Mediterranean-based program, students spend the fall semester at ACM’s center in Barcelona, participate in a traveling business-focused J-Term seminar, and spend the spring semester on the ACM Aix-en-Provence, France campus. The program is built on the belief that business is best understood through direct exposure.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
With our principal campus in Aix-en- Provence, France and satellite campuses and programs in Spain and Morocco, ACM is well positioned to prepare students for the many challenges of the global economy today with an emphasis on Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Our MBA students spend their fall semester at the Barcelona center, and their spring semester takes place at the Aix-en-Provence, France campus. The program is a one-of-a-kind journey designed for the future global leader and is an immersive expedition across three distinct business and cultural landscapes. This unparalleled mobility is the gateway to a powerful international network and a profound understanding of global business.
Key Features:
- A Multi-City Curriculum: Study in Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence, and travel to Morocco (Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier), Madrid, and Paris.
- Real-World Consulting: Cap your journey by solving live business challenges in our required Consulting Practicum.
- Build a Continental Network: Forge connections across Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.
ADMISSIONS
At ACM, we are committed to providing a seamless admissions experience for aspiring students of our graduate program. We encourage applicants to showcase their unique backgrounds and aspirations, as we value diversity and innovation in our academic community. Please refer to the application timeline below, and head to our graduate admissions page for more information.
Aug. 3, 2026
Application Available
Jan. 6, 2027
Priority Decision Deadline
May 5, 2027
Regular Decision Deadline
Program-Specific Requirements
GMAT/GRE scores are not required for admittance but can be submitted at the time of application as supplementary documentation.
ACADEMICS
Program Structure
By the end of their graduate degree at the American College of the Mediterranean, MBA students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the economic, social, political, and legal contexts of the global business environment.
- Design and apply innovative thinking to solve business challenges.
- Address complex business problems using both quantitative and qualitative tools.
- Demonstrate leadership and management skills in working with stakeholders in an international setting.
- Uphold ethical principles when confronting complex business dilemmas.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively across cultures and utilize media tools to negotiate in a global business environment.
The MBA program begins with an immersive 1-credit launch orientation in Barcelona, Spain. During the fall semester, students engage in foundational coursework that emphasizes global leadership, intercultural competence, and strategic management. This curriculum is complemented by two core modules focusing on financial management and accounting and operational management. Students also have the opportunity to enhance their language skills or cultural understanding through a tailored Spanish language or culture course, fostering a deeper connection with the local context.
The MBA Traveling Seminar is a unique component designed to enrich students’ understanding of international business landscapes. This seminar includes visits to Morocco, Madrid, and Paris, where students will engage with local businesses, cultural institutions, and industry leaders. Through these experiences, participants will explore various facets of global business operations, including market entry strategies, cultural adaptability, and risk management. The seminar culminates in the development of a personalized action plan for career exploration, informed by insights gained from direct interactions with stakeholders in diverse environments.
Students come to Aix-en-Provence for the spring semester, where they will deepen their expertise in advanced business topics such as strategic comunications, the dynamics of cross-cultural management, and innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition to core courses, students will participate in a hands-on Consulting Practicum, from May through July, working in teams to solve real-world business challenges for international and/or local clients. This practical experience not only solidifies their learning, but also enhances their professional portfolios. Students will also take a French language or culture course, further enriching their understanding of the local business context and culture.
The summer consultancy project offers a practical and student-tailored experience, essential for a comprehensive MBA program yet reflective of our international expertise and world-class faculty. Starting in the fall semester, students will work with their advisor to compose and submit a prospective consultancy project proposal for approval by their committee. During this process, the student’s’ advisor will help determine their track of study depending on the consultancy project’s area of focus. Although ACM guides and supports students in this process, each student is responsible for applying and interviewing for the consultancy. Once the consultancy begins, students will continue to work closely with their advisor, submitting regular reports throughout the consultancy.
Course Highlights
- Financial Management and Accounting Principles
- Strategic Management
- Operations Management
- Global Leadership and Ethics
- Intercultural Understanding
- Sustainable Entrepreneurship
- Global Economics
- Intercultural Management
- International Wine Business
- Strategic Communication and the Power of Stories
- Language and Culture in Spain and in France
- Faculty Coaching Seminar
J-TERM
January Term (J-Term) at the American College of the Mediterranean takes place between the fall and spring semesters and offers a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an intensive 2-3 week traveling seminar with hands-on learning experiences and cultural excursions that complement their studies. To satisfy their J-Term program requirement, MBA students must enroll in the following J-Term program:
International Business & Emerging Markets
The International Business & Emerging Markets Traveling Seminar is designed for students interested in the study of the business environment of various economic systems. The Europe Morocco Business study tour has been designed to give students a unique exposure to the different facets of international business and international economics:
- Study how businesses cope with the challenges specific to these different economies; how they seize the opportunities they offer
- Learn how businesses deal with public policy and regulations at the national level AND the supra-national level
- Meet with policymakers from the individual countries visited
- Engage with top decision makers from the European Union
- Explore and appreciate the diverse cultures of the countries in which we travel – sample tapas in Spain, haggle in the souks of Morocco, wander the winding streets and markets of France, visit historical sites and museums, eat at local restaurants, and meet local residents
TUITION AND AID
We strive to make education accessible and affordable for all students. Our Tuition and Aid section provides comprehensive information on the costs associated with your education, including tuition rates, fees, and available financial aid options. We offer a variety of scholarships and grants to help alleviate the financial burden, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue their academic goals. For detailed information on tuition rates and financial aid applications, please visit our dedicated resources page.
|
MBA 2026-2027 |
Fall 12-18 Units |
Spring 12-18 Units |
Summer 6-Units |
Academic Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $16,500 | $16,500 | $8,200 | $41,200 |
| Student Life Fees | $2,500 | $2,500 | $1,400 | $6,400 |
| Housing | $5,500 | $5,500 | $2,300 | $13,300 |
| Total | $24,500 | $24,500 | $11,900 | $60,900 |
Operational costs are sometimes affected by factors over which ACM has no control. Therefore, the charges and financial aid policies quoted on our website and in the catalog are subject to change without notice.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) offers several scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities to its students each year. ACM strives to keep its published costs low, especially in comparison to many U.S.-based degree-granting institutions. Additional funding is provided for those who qualify for merit, diversity, and need-based awards.
If you are planning to apply for aid, you will need to submit the required materials along with your program application, as ACM reviews both simultaneously on a rolling admissions basis. To be eligible for ACM scholarships and grants, students must be enrolled full-time and abide by all ACM policies and regulations as stated on the policies page. Please contact admissions@acmfrance.org with any questions.
HOUSING
Students in the MBA program will spend their first semester at the ACM-IAU center in Barcelona, Spain, and are required to live in shared ACM student apartments.
CAREER PATHS
Graduates are well-versed in both the practical and theoretical aspects of media studies via field studies, and special topics courses. Moreover, the chance to study across multiple countries, including France, Spain, Morocco, and other locations throughout the Mediterranean, offers students an enriched understanding of intercultural dynamics and a broader perspective on global communication trends, setting them apart in their professional endeavors.
FACULTY
ACM’s faculty is comprised of experts in the fields of international business, accounting, diplomacy, environmental policy, Mediterranean, and European Studies. As academics and professionals, they provide the MBA program with both the academic depth and the real-life experience necessary for a well-rounded global business education.
Aboubakr Jamaï, MBA, MPA
Dean and Professor, The Donna Dillon Manning School of Global Affairs
Based at the Aix-en-Provence Campus
Professor Jamaï’s professional career spans the business sectors of finance, economics, and journalism. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Higher Institute of Commerce and Business Administration in Casablanca, Morocco. He got his MBA from Saïd Business School at Oxford University, and his MPA in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School. As a professor, He teaches Media & Conflict, Contemporary Politics of The Middle East and International Business. He was the Dean of the School of Business and International Relations from 2014 to 2023 and now serves as the Dean of the Donna Dillon Manning School of Global Affairs since 2024. Professor Jamaï began his career in finance, co-founding Morocco’s first independent investment bank in 1993. From 1997 to 2007, Jamaï was the publisher and editor the leading Moroccan newsweekly, Le Journal Hebdomadaire. In 2008, he was a visiting Scholar at the University of San Diego where he taught courses on International Journalism, Political Islam and Politics in The Middle East. He was the MENA regional editor for the Open Society Foundation’s project: Mapping Digital Media. He also worked in Iraq as a consultant with International Media Support (IMS) advising independent Iraqi media on their business strategies. From 2010 to 2013, he was the co-editor of the Moroccan news website lakome.com. He publishes regularly in The New York Times, Time Magazine, El Pais, Le Monde, and Le Monde Diplomatique. Among the many prizes and distinctions he has received, Professor Jamaï won the Committee to Protect Journalists’ International Press Freedom Award in 2003. He was named Harvard University’s Nieman Fellow in 2007 and Mason Fellow in 2008. In 2008, he also received the Tully Center Free Speech Prize, Newhouse School of Communication, Syracuse University. In December 2010, he won the Gebran Tueni Award, the annual prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). In 2014, he won the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) Leaders For Democracy Award. He was a Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Bosch foundation in 2013. Professor Jamaï holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Higher Institute of Commerce and Management in Casablanca, Morocco, a Master of Business Administration from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He speaks Arabic, French, English and Spanish.