CEFAM
History
In 1986, we had a vision. Our founders, Roger Serre and Jean-Michel Perrenot, who still serve as CEO and President today, set out to create something entirely new in France. Instead of following the traditional lecture-based model of French higher education, we imagined a school where students learned differently, through debate, participation, critical thinking, and real-world application. Inspired by the American way of learning and its Liberal Arts philosophy, we founded CEFAM, a business school offering a U.S. style curriculum, 100% in English, focused on Management, and designed for a world becoming more global and interconnected.
From the very beginning, building international bridges was at the heart of our mission. Northeastern University and Temple University became our first American partners, sharing our commitment to experiential learning, academic excellence, and global opportunity. These partnerships were more than simple exchange programs; they opened life-changing pathways, allowing our students to study in the United States or Canada and graduate with a North American degree.
Over the years, our network of partner universities has grown to include many prestigious institutions across North America. These partnerships are the foundation of our Dual Degree, MBA, and Study Abroad programs. Today, we are proud to guarantee all our students the opportunity to earn two degrees simultaneously, one French and one North American. With more than 1,500 alumni living and working in over 70 countries, our vision continues to shape global leaders.
In 2025, we wrote a new chapter in our international story with the launch of our International Relations program. This program brings the same American-style education, interactive learning, open discussion, case studies, teamwork, and global perspectives into the fields of diplomacy, international cooperation, and global policy.
Through this evolution, we remain true to who we are: a school that educates globally minded leaders, capable of understanding the world not just from books, but through experience, dialogue, and the freedom to think and question, the American way.

Mission Statement

Ready to learn differently? Start here.
At CEFAM, you don’t just study for exams —
you take part, you create, you build. Classes aren’t silent;
they’re alive with discussion and ideas.
From day one, everything is 100% in English,
with professors who know your name, your goals, your ambition.
You’re guaranteed the chance to study in the U.S. or Canada —
no waiting until the final year to dream big.
Here, you don’t have to choose between theory and practice.
You get both.
You don’t fit into a mold. You stand out.
CEFAM opens the world to you: a personalized,
student-focused approach, an American degree
and a French degree, a career without borders.
And above all, you join a real community:
the CEFAMILY — united, driven, inspiring.
Want to live, learn, and grow the American way?
You’re in the right place.
Word from the Dean
“For nearly 40 years, CEFAM has offered a unique path: a student-centered school, resolutely international, built on the American university model.
Here, students design an ambitious, practical, bilingual journey—without waiting until the final year to speak English, study abroad, or envision an international career.
This approach—active, participative, personalized—is not an abstract promise. It is grounded in real standards and a shared commitment: to train open-minded, confident professionals, ready to thrive in any environment.
We believe in an education that frees as much as it structures. An intercultural education that inspires students to dare, to act, to engage.
Welcome to CEFAM.”
KARINE CHAUX
DEAN

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