🇫🇷 Admissions · highly competitive
ESSEC Admission Requirements
What ESSEC Business School usually expects from Indian applicants — marks, English scores, tests and documents — and how to plan your application for the 2027 intake.
- 75%+ / 8.0+ CGPA
- IELTS 7.0+
- Intakes: September; some January
- SOP & LOR support
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Quick answer
What do Indian students need to get into ESSEC?
ESSEC is highly competitive for Indian applicants. A typical successful profile has 75%+ / 8.0+ CGPA from a well-known university, IELTS 7.0+ (no band below 6.5) or TOEFL 100+, a focused SOP and two or three LORs. GMAT/GRE is asked by some business schools. Exact requirements are set per program, so always check the program page on essec.edu.
Official sources: ESSEC Business School — admissions (official website)
ESSEC admissions at a glance
- Selectivity (our view)
- highly competitive
- Academic score
- 75%+ / 8.0+ CGPA from a well-known university
- English
- IELTS 7.0+ (no band below 6.5) or TOEFL 100+
- GRE / GMAT
- Often recommended, sometimes required — check your program
- Profile
- Research, internships or strong projects; work experience for business programs
- Intakes
- September; some January
- Accepted English tests
- IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programs; DELF/DALF for French-taught
- Visa
- VLS-TS long-stay student visa
- Apply at
- essec.edu
Expected profile
Typical profile of admitted Indian students
Our counselling guidance from past applications, not official cut-offs — each program sets its own minimums.
Eligibility
Is your degree eligible for ESSEC?
Universities in France assess Indian degrees individually; a 4-year degree in a related subject is the safest route.
For Management, Finance and Business Analytics at ESSEC, expect backgrounds such as any bachelor's degree (0–2 years' experience) and business, engineering or economics most common and prerequisites like bachelor's degree and GMAT/GRE for some schools.
- Degree certificate and semester-wise transcripts
- English test score (IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programs; DELF/DALF for French-taught)
- Statement of purpose (SOP) tailored to the program
- Two or three letters of recommendation
- Updated résumé / CV
- Passport
- Proof of funds
How to apply
Applying to ESSEC step by step
- 01
Pick the program
Compare ESSEC's programs — for example Management and Finance — and check each program's entry requirements and deadline.
- 02
Prepare tests
Book IELTS early; GMAT/GRE is asked by some business schools.
- 03
Write the SOP
Explain why ESSEC and why this program, linking your projects and goals to what it is known for: Grande École business school near Paris.
- 04
Submit online
Apply on the official portal (essec.edu), pay the application fee and upload documents.
- 05
After the offer
Accept, pay any deposit, arrange funds and apply for the VLS-TS long-stay student visa.
Alternatives
Similar universities to apply to alongside ESSEC
Apply to a mix of ambitious, realistic and safe options.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Ask a counsellor directly — we reply on WhatsApp during working hours (Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST).
For a highly competitive university like ESSEC, Indian students usually succeed with 75%+ / 8.0+ CGPA from a well-known university. Some programs ask for more; strong work experience can offset slightly lower marks.
Most programs ask for IELTS 7.0+ (no band below 6.5) or TOEFL 100+. IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programs; DELF/DALF for French-taught are accepted depending on the program.
Often recommended, sometimes required — check your program. GMAT/GRE is asked by some business schools.
It depends on the program; a related 4-year degree is the safest route.
Intakes are September; some January. Apply 6–9 months before the start date; earlier applications have better scholarship chances.
Backlogs hurt at highly competitive universities; explain them honestly and show strong later results.
Explore
Keep exploring
Compare
Admission requirements at similar universities
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