MBA Admissions in France: Deadlines for Round 1, 2, 3, 4, Interviews, Decisions, Requirements

France is home to some of the top B-schools in France like HEC Paris, INSEAD Business School and ESSEC Business School. MBA admissions in France are available across various semesters to international students looking to get into these colleges. A MBA in France takes 1 or 2 years to complete and the French business schools typically operate in Spring and Fall semesters.

The admission process for MBA takes place 6-7 months before the targeted session or year so that candidates get the necessary time for completing any requirements. The admissions for most B-schools open in August and extend up to January. International applicants looking to get admission into MBA degrees must have scores of exams to Study in France prepared before round 1 of applications.

MBA in France Admissions Timeline

The admission deadlines and timeline for colleges for MBA in France admissions are given below.

MBA in France Admission Deadlines

MBA intakes in France take place in two months- January and September and each session intake has 4 rounds combined with interview rounds. To get considered for a round, an applicant must complete and submit the application within 23:59 pm French time on the day of the deadline.

The online application opens approximately 2-3 months before the application deadline and to gather all admission documents within the required time frame, international candidates are advised to start applying right away.

The Round 1 deadlines for the top 15 business schools in France are summarized below in a table format.

*Note- Reviewed from September 23, 2021

MBA in France Admission Round 2

Round 2 admission deadlines for MBA in France are summarized below in a table format.

MBA in France Admission Round 3

The admission deadlines for round 3 of popular MBA programs in France are given below.

MBA in France Admission Round 4

The admission deadlines for the most popular colleges for round 4 in MBA in France admissions are noted below.

ESCP Europe Paris Campus offers upto 8 admission rounds, upto 5 May 2022 for Indian applicants.

MBA in France Admission: Entrance Exams

International aspirants who wish to get enrolled in a business school in France must mandatorily provide GMAT or GRE scores, though the requirements have changed in certain colleges due to the upsurge of the pandemic COVID 19.

Though some colleges in France accept the unofficial scores at first, before admission, the official score is always required. The official scores are declared 3 weeks after the submission of the test and they contain scores of all the 4 sections written by the student. At the time of registration, upto five institutes can be chosen which will get the GMAT score after taking the test.

Also check: GMAT Registration 2021!

GMAT Score Requirement for MBA Admissions in France

In top colleges for MBA in France, candidates should aim to secure at least 600 or more to maximize their chances at admission.

• EDHEC Business School requires a GMAT score of about 550-650.
• The most attendees at INSEAD Business School have a GMAT score of 700 or above. English proficiency tests are also required since most colleges have their medium of instruction as English.
• Most popular colleges have an IELTS requirement of 6.5 while the top colleges like INSEAD or HEC Paris do not require an English proficiency test for MBA programs. In the case of GRE, 300 or above should be targeted. Renowned business schools like INSEAD and HEC require 320 or above in GRE.

MBA in France Admissions: Entrance Exam Schedule

There are no specific dates for GMAT exams since the exam is conducted throughout the year on various dates and can be selected by the applicant according to their preference. It is usually advisable for students to register for the test 3 months before they will sit for the exam.

Students who want to apply for the GMAT online exam should book a test slot 24 hours before the test timing and they can take the exam based on space availability. The student can also register 6 months prior to their preferred test date, if they want to. To schedule the exam properly so that they can receive scores before MBA college admissions in France, students should go through the GMAT exam test dates in advance.

MBA in France Admission Eligibility Requirements

Applying for an MBA in France admissions requires a lot of planning and inclusion of important documents. There are several requirements which must be noted and kept in mind of international students before applying. The following are the primary requirements for admission to MBA colleges in France.

• The candidate should hold a 3 or 4 year bachelor’s degree equivalent to French baccalaureate from an accredited institution in their home country. The minimum educational qualification is required.
• Standardized test scores in France like GMAT/GRE are required for admission to MBA colleges.
• English proficiency must be demonstrated through tests like TOEFL scores /IELTS scores /PTE scores since most MBA programs in France are taught in English.
• French proficiency is not required but strongly recommended to interact better with peers.
• Leadership skills, appreciable personality traits and communication must be displayed for a better edge in the competition.
• A few minimum years of work experience is required. Attendees in top MBA colleges have a work experience of more than 5 years.

Documents for MBA Admission in France

Apart from the requirements stated above, there are documents that are needed for admission to MBA in French colleges. The documents which are essential are noted below.

• A valid passport.
• Passport size photos must be recent.
• The complete application form with all the relevant details.
• Official, original academic transcripts from all schools, colleges/universities formerly attended with their notarized english translations.
• Financial documents showing availability of funds in the form of bank statements or financial affidavit of a sponsor.
• An updated CV/Resume.
• Letters of recommendation for MBA from academic teachers.
• If applicable, loan documents.
• Essays, as directed and if required.
• Statement of purpose, if required.
• Some MBA programs ask for interviews online or through phone.
• Additional documents as required by the selected universities.

Some MBA programs require additional requirements like essays about specific topics, professional teaching or work experience for a specified time period, etc. Each university’s website should be checked thoroughly to ensure all the documents needed for MBA admissions.

MBA in France Admission Process

The process for MBA in France admission can be generalised step by step but each college has its own requirements and procedures to follow. Potential candidates are advised to go through each business school’s website to understand in depth about the process and start applying accordingly. However, some common steps which apply to all business schools in France can be noted down as follows.

• Students should visit the particular college’s website and read all the instructions regarding the application process. Deadlines, application documents, additional processes should all be thoroughly checked.
• Almost every French university has an application portal on their website. The student should start filling in the application form with all the necessary details.
• The information entered should be verified and all other admission requirements like academic transcripts, standardized test scores, essays, recommendations, SOP for MBA, financial details should be provided.
• Some colleges ask for an application fee, which must be given.
• The submission deadlines for the intended rounds should be checked and the candidate must submit everything way before the deadline, so as to not leave anything till the last moment.
• Based on the application forms and submissions, the university will conduct an interview with the shortlisted candidates through phone or any other electronic means of communication.
• Video interviews or introduction of the student through a video might be required in some college admissions.
• The student visa should be applied for as soon as possible so that the student can join the university or college upon confirmation.

MBA in France Admission Interviews

The interview round is the final stage which determines a student’s entry into a top MBA program in France at the targeted institute. The student’s communication skills, leadership qualities and personality traits are judged at the interview. The candidates should be well equipped and prepared for attending the interview since it is a very important indicator of their interest in studying MBA in France. The following are the most common questions that are asked in an MBA interview.

• If the student can explain their resume better and in their own words. A CV/Resume is one of the most important and required documents and the candidate should add details verbally to the interview panel.
• Reasons for choosing to do an MBA. MBA requires a lot of preparation and early thinking, and can be quite different from the candidate’s past courses or selected programs. So the reason for opting it is important for the panel.
• Reasons for opting for MBA at that time and at that particular institute. Why the candidate has made those decisions gives a peek into their intended future goals.
• Long term MBA related goals. Whether the student wants to study further after doing an MBA, or look for employment, or anything else.
• Strengths and weaknesses. They give an insight into the candidate’s mind and their own perception about themselves.
• What separates the candidate from other applicants and how will the admissions office respond to their application, according to the applicant. The panel wants to know what will make the candidate stand out compared to others.
• What will the candidate contribute to the MBA program once they are enrolled and how will they advance in the class?
• Lastly, the interviewer will ask if the candidate has any questions for the panel.

Also check: How to Write a Great CV with No-work Experience?

Questions related to past achievements, work experience, leadership, ethics and extracurricular activities participated in by the applicant can also be asked and the candidate should be prepared accordingly.

MBA in France Admission Decisions

After the interview round, the admissions office takes about 2 to 3 weeks to evaluate and confirm the admission decisions to the student. After the application deadline, the admission decisions come in approximately a month’s time. While accepting applications, the college takes into account all the submissions made by the student.

The duration of work experience and participation in non-academic feats also determine the chances of a student being accepted into the program. The following tips will help a candidate in being accepted into the program:

• The student should check and double-check if they have provided all the documents required for the MBA program.
• They should have a noticeable personality and address issues correctly and perfectly.
• They should have a proper international outlook and interesting ideas to develop diversity enrichment.
• They should not underplay their achievements but should not boast about them either, all past achievements should be mentioned as facts.
• They should have the required experience in professional life as well as academically to boost their chances at selection.
• They should have a strong mindset and display that in the MBA interview.
• They should have leadership skills and an appreciable approach to business related aspects.
• They should be able to engage in teamwork and interact with people with their communication skills.

MBA in France Admission: Tips and Tricks

To get selected for an MBA in France, good academics coupled with personality is a primary requirement. Every year, a lot of students from all over the globe apply to French business schools because of the outstanding reputation of the business related courses and universities in the country.

However, only a handful get selected to the most popular institutes owing to the intense competition. There are some tips and tricks that can help an applicant get an edge over others while applying for an MBA at a French institute. They are discussed below.

• The candidate should be well prepared for GMAT/GRE and try to attain the maximum score possible, since most popular institutes accept only a score of 600 or above on GMAT.
• The essays should be crisp and to the point, and should highlight not only the candidate’s writing skills but also their understanding of the topic.
• If necessary, the candidate should take re-tests for GMAT and GRE since they are allowed to sit for the exams multiple times. Improvement in scores can be a big factor while applying to colleges.
• Virtual information sessions should be attended as well as webinars to learn more about the application process and ways through which the application can be improved.
• The candidate should be honest and open about their achievements, work experiences and non-academic skills since they also help with getting selected for admissions.
• Relevant industry experience should be noted and talked about to make the application stand out significantly.
• Perfecting the interview technique is an icing on the cake. Dressing formally, using good vocabulary and answering quickly with relevant information can be very helpful.
• Questions and blanks in the application form, essays and other important documents should be checked and filled in if applicable.
• Attention should be paid to every detail in the application and altered if necessary in case of errors.

Being confident is the key factor to getting selected for an MBA in business schools in France. Along with academic prosperity, doing an MBA in France can improve a candidate’s global perspective, make them more receptive to foreign culture and prepare them for employment in other countries.