A RECOGNIZED HOSPITALITY BRAND
Avis de ilovejpg.co - Programme MBA (Directeur d'Hôtellerie Internationale) - Vatel
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Quel est, selon vous, le principal atout de ce programme ?
The key advantage of this program is the international awareness of the Vatel brand in the hospitality business. Although my experience at Vatel Nîmes was not totally pleasant, I still believe that the Vatel name might be an asset for students who wish to have a career in hospitality. Another positive aspect is the international student environment, which provided opportunities to meet peers from different backgrounds, engage on group projects and create important relationships.
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Quelle est, selon vous, la principale faiblesse de ce programme ?
In my opinion, the primary shortcoming of this program is the mismatch between the advertised and real student experience. There were a number of things about the program that were not as advertised. For example, the program was marketed as including both French and English yet in the last two years our courses were simply run in English with no actual French language support. In the second year, the school website also said that MBA students could choose three specialisation subjects, but in fact we were not allowed to choose and had to study all specialisation subjects. Another important shortcoming is the absence of clear communication and organisation. Important information about tests, internships, schedules, academic prerequisites and administrative procedures was sometimes unclear or delayed. A severe deficit is also the assistance for internships. The prospects discussed with students were mostly operational and not associated with administrative, managerial or strategic duties at the MBA level. Students have worries regarding internship misalignment but the help was not solid enough. The program is also not supportive enough for international students, particularly regarding their preparation of French language, professional networking and employment chances in France. Overall, the key problems include the deceptive communication, poor management, minimal internship support, limited help for international students, and lack of alignment with what the program promised and students experienced.
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Commentaires généraux
I think Vatel as a brand has international recognition and importance in the hotel sector, however my personal experience on this site did not match the entire standards and image promoted by the institution. A major problem was the difference between the advertising and what the students actually went through. The curriculum was advertised as being both French and English, but for the last two years, our courses have been exclusively in English, with no genuine French language support. Also the website said that second year MBA students can select three specialisation subjects, however we were not given the option to select. There also were several issues with communication, organization, and transparency. Information about tests, internships, timetables, academic expectations, administrative documentation and final-year plans was sometimes confusing or not coming through quickly. The final year was also structured in a confusing way, as students had to return to school for final exams, thesis defence and graduation, then return again to finish the internship. Another big issue was internship support. Most of the options discussed with students were operational and not up to the standards at MBA level. When the questions were made about internship not being a good fit, the assistance was not tangible and it seemed like the school’s reputation was more important than the student’s position and professional growth. I think the school has to strengthen the support for overseas students as well. There were a lot of prospects in France but they were only for students who already spoke fluent French and we weren’t properly prepared in the French language.” This disadvantages international students and is not consistent with the worldwide image the institution portrays. In spite of these problems, I have learned to be independent, resilient and to gather experience from difficult situations. I really liked the friendships I made with my classmates and the support in the cohort. Nevertheless, I think Vatel Nimes still has a lot to do in terms of communication, transparency, organization, internship monitoring and foreign student support.
Évaluation générale - Programme MBA (Directeur d'Hôtellerie Internationale) à Vatel
Moyenne générale
Pédagogie du programme
International
Vie étudiante
Réseau et insertion professionnelle
Retour sur investissement
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1.810
Contenu académique du programme
I am not fully satisfied with the academic content and structure of the program, especially during the second year/final year of the MBA. The organization of the final year feels confusing and poorly planned. Students are required to complete their internship, but at the same time we must return to school around 29 June 2026 for final exams, thesis defense, and the graduation ceremony, before going back again to continue the same internship. This structure does not feel logical or practical, especially for students who are placed far from Nîmes or in another city or country. It creates unnecessary stress, extra travel costs and confusion about the purpose of the internship after exams and graduation. If students are already taking final exams, defending their thesis, and attending graduation, it is difficult to understand why the internship must still continue afterwards as part of the same academic year. Overall, I believe the academic calendar and final-year structure should be better planned, more coherent, and more adapted to the reality of students completing internships.
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210
Moyens pédagogiques (bibliothèque, WIFI, locaux)
One of the main issues was the quality of the Internet connection, which was often unreliable and not suitable for students who need to work on research, online platforms, presentations, and academic projects. In addition, I was disappointed by the lack of clear access to proper library resources. The school presents educational resources such as a library as part of the student experience, but in reality, it was not clearly available or visible to students. This creates another gap between what is advertised and what students actually experience. For an MBA program, especially for international students who need strong academic support, the school should provide reliable Internet access, proper study spaces, and clear access to research and library resources. Overall, the educational resources need serious improvement.
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110
Qualité des professeurs permanents
I am not fully satisfied with the teaching staff/faculty. While some lecturers were helpful and professional, the overall teaching quality was inconsistent. Many classes were taught by external professionals rather than full-time academic teachers. I understand that industry experience can be valuable in hospitality education, but it was not always effective when the lecturer did not have strong teaching methods, clear structure, or deep understanding of hotel management at MBA level. For a hospitality management program, especially at Master’s level, I believe the teaching staff should have both professional industry experience and the ability to teach clearly, guide students, and connect the content to real hotel management situations. In some classes, the lessons felt too general, unclear, or not sufficiently connected to the expectations of an MBA program. Overall, I believe the school should improve the selection and training of teaching staff to ensure more consistent, structured, and relevant academic delivery.
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510
Qualité des intervenants professionnels extérieurs
I understand that inviting professionals from the industry can be valuable, as they can bring real-life experience and practical examples to students. However, the quality was inconsistent. Some external lecturers were helpful and shared useful professional insights, but others lacked structure, clear explanations, and effective teaching methods. In some cases, the classes felt more like general discussions rather than well-prepared MBA-level lessons. For external professional lecturers to be truly beneficial, they should not only have industry experience, but also the ability to teach clearly, organize their content properly, and connect their professional knowledge to hospitality management and strategic decision-making. Overall, I believe the school should better select, brief, and evaluate external lecturers to ensure their classes are relevant, structured, and adapted to Master’s-level students.
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110
Contrôle des connaissances, volume et répartition des cours, travail personnel
With the number of lecture hours and the way they were divided during the school year. In my opinion, the distribution of hours between subjects was not always balanced or logical. For example, during the first year of the MBA, there were many hours dedicated to Human Resources. While HR is important, the amount of time spent on this subject felt excessive compared to other subjects that could have been more useful for our academic and professional development. In the second year, we also had a significant number of hours in Hospitality Management. However, this subject was not included in the final exam, which made the distribution of lecture hours feel unclear and not fully aligned with the academic assessment. Instead, I believe more hours should have been dedicated to subjects such as Computer Science, Power BI, data analysis, finance, or other practical tools that are more relevant for today’s hospitality industry and for our final evaluations. Overall, the program would benefit from a more balanced and transparent distribution of lecture hours, with stronger alignment between the subjects taught, the final exams, and the skills students actually need for their future careers.
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610
Reconnaissance internationale du programme
I believe that Vatel as a school has good international recognition in the hospitality industry. The brand itself is known and can be valuable for students who want to build a career in hospitality. In my opinion, the reality of the program at this campus did not fully reflect the international image and standards associated with the Vatel name. While the Vatel brand may be recognized internationally, the support, communication, organization, career opportunities, and international student experience at Vatel Nîmes need serious improvement in order to match the reputation of the wider Vatel network.
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310
Accompagnement/aide si départ à l'étranger
In my experience, administrative support was often slow, especially when students needed important documents for internships, visa procedures, or international mobility. For example, when I requested a document, it took a long time to be prepared. This creates unnecessary stress for students, because going abroad usually requires strict deadlines, official documents, and clear communication. Delays from the school can affect students’ internship preparation and administrative procedures. For international mobility, the school should provide faster responses, clearer guidance, and more organized support. Students should not have to repeatedly follow up for documents or basic administrative help. Overall, I believe the support for students preparing to go abroad needs serious improvement in terms of efficiency, communication and reliability.
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510
Services aux étudiants (orientation, projet pro., scolarité, etc.)
The help was not always clear, proactive or effective. For example, when students had questions about internships, professional projects, academic preparation, administrative paperwork, etc., the answers were often slow or not precise enough. “Students need proper guidance especially at MBA level where internship and career development is very important. Also I think the professional project support could be more personal and powerful. Instead of just giving basic guidance, students need practical help in aligning their internship, professional ambitions, and academic expectations. Student services generally need substantial improvement in communication, attentiveness, follow up and genuine support. A school has to not only offer academic courses but also appropriately advise the students in their professional and academic career.
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9.510
Ambiance, cohésion dans la promo (projets, entraide, loisirs, associations)
The relationship between classmates was one of the most positive aspects of the program. Even during stressful periods such as exams, projects, internship searches, and deadlines, there was mutual support within the cohort.
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110
Ville étudiante, logement (coût, accès, situation)
I am not satisfied with the housing conditions and related student services. During my first year, I stayed in the school dormitory, but I found the cost to be too expensive compared to housing options outside the school. In my second year, I was able to save more money by renting an apartment outside and closer to the city center. This made me feel that the school accommodation was not good value for money, especially considering the overall cost and conditions. I was also not satisfied with the canteen. The cost was high compared to the quality of the food provided, and I do not feel that it offered good value for students. Overall, I believe the school should reconsider the pricing and quality of its student accommodation and canteen services, as they are important parts of the student experience
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110
Réseau des anciens, contacts professionnels
I am only partially satisfied with the network contacts I was able to build through the program. The most valuable connections I gained were mainly with my classmates, as we supported each other, shared experiences, and built meaningful personal and professional relationships. However, in terms of professional networking provided by the school, I was not fully satisfied. I did not feel that the school created enough strong opportunities to connect students with industry professionals, alumni, companies, or hospitality leaders in a structured and useful way. I appreciate the relationships I built with my classmates, I believe the school should do more to create real professional networking opportunities for students, especially international students.
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110
Qualité du directeur de programme et notoriété de la formation
One of the main issues is the lack of clear and consistent communication from the administration. Important information regarding exams, internship expectations, schedules, academic requirements, and general procedures was often unclear, delayed, or not properly communicated. I also found the accessibility of the administration disappointing. As students, we often needed support or clarification, but it sometimes felt difficult to reach the right person or receive a clear answer. Having to make an appointment for issues that require urgent or simple clarification can make students feel unsupported, especially when the situation is already stressful. In my opinion, a program director or manager should ensure that students are properly informed, guided, and supported throughout the program. This is especially important for international students, who may already face additional challenges with language, administration, internships. Overall, I believe the program management needs serious improvement in communication, accessibility, transparency, and student support. These issues also affect the reputation of the program, because students’ experiences do not always match the professional image promoted by the school.
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110
Stages et aide à l'insertion professionnelle
I am not satisfied with the resources and support made available during my search for an internship or employment. During the first year, the administration did share some internship opportunities, but many of them were not aligned with the level or expectations of an MBA program. Most of the opportunities seemed to focus mainly on operational tasks rather than administrative, managerial, or strategic responsibilities. We expected internship opportunities that would help us develop management skills. In addition, when I raised concerns about my internship situation and explained that the tasks were not aligned with my MBA level or the role expected, I did not feel properly supported. Instead of receiving concrete help, follow-up, or real solutions, I was mainly encouraged to continue. At times, it felt as if the priority was to avoid damaging the school’s reputation rather than seriously addressing the student’s professional development and well-being. This created a clear gap between what the program represents and what was actually offered or supported. Internship support should not only consist of sending opportunities, but also ensuring that placements are relevant, monitored and aligned with the academic level and career objectives of Master’s students. Overall, I believe the school should provide more relevant internship and employment resources, stronger follow-up, and genuine support when students face problems during their internship, especially international MBA students who are looking for real management exposure.
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110
Êtes-vous globalement satisfait de votre formation ?
I am generally dissatisfied with the program. Firstly, I believe the information from the school before and during the program was misleading. They advertised that the MBA students would be taught in French and English, but in reality in the last two years our courses were entirely in English and there were no actual French classes that were a part of the curriculum. This is really frustrating especially as living and studying in France, aid in French language is essential necessary for international students. Secondly, the school website stated that students could choose three speciality subjects for the second year of the MBA. But the truth is we never had a choice. We had to go in for all the specialisation subjects without any real option and without any clear explanation. No. This was not in line with what was advertised and led to uncertainty about the structure and aim of the program. I am a student of International MBA and was expecting a more structured, transparent and international experience. However, much of the program seemed haphazard and confused, particularly on the themes of tests, internship expectations and timetables and academic requirements. The institution is supposed to be worldwide, yet many professional and internship opportunities are still reserved for students who already speak the language fluently. This is a serious drawback for overseas students, especially if the institution does not give appropriate preparation in the French language. But I have become independent and resilient and have learned vital lessons from difficult experiences. But I think the program needs to be seriously overhauled in terms of transparency, structure, communication and true support for overseas students.
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1.610
Referiez-vous le même choix de formation aujourd’hui ?
Yes I would still decide to study for an MBA in Hospitality Management since I think that the profession itself is intriguing and important for my future job. But if I had to pick now, I would not choose to undertake the same program at Vatel Nîmes. I’m not unhappy with the hospitality management, but the way the program was organised and presented. The experience was disappointing due to the lack of transparency, lack of clear communication, incorrect information about the program structure and minimal support for overseas students. So I would still choose this topic of study but I would choose a different institution or campus that provides better organization, clearer communication, stronger academic structure and real assistance for international students.
