Admission to post-baccalaureate business schools: ESCE’s Grande École program
Post-bac business school admissions: would you like to join an international business school from year 1ʳᵉ? ESCE offers you the opportunity to join its Grande École Program via Parcoursup and the SESAME Competition.
Prepare for admission with comprehensive support to help you pass your written and oral exams, and start your international career of excellence.
Admission to post-baccalaureate business schools: procedures and the SESAME competition
Admission to ESCE’s post-baccalaureate Grande Ecole program is open to candidates who hold or are in the process of obtaining their baccalauréat, or an equivalent foreign diploma. Applications are made exclusively on Parcoursup, by selecting the SESAME competition (1 wish, unlimited sub-wishes).
The SESAME competition is based on :
- written tests assessing academic and linguistic skills;
- an oral interview, focusing on the candidate’s motivation, project and potential.
This process enables us to select profiles capable of succeeding in an international academic and professional environment.
Key steps to admission to ESCE post-baccalaureate business school
Discover all the steps involved in admission to ESCE’s post-baccalaureate business schools on Parcoursup and mySESAME!
The SESAME competitive entrance exam is made up of stages according to its own timetable, but also and above all according to the stages of the Parcoursup timetable. To be a candidate for the SESAME competitive entrance exam, you need to follow these key dates carefully, so that you’re ready before, during and after the exam.
Step 1: Preparing for the SESAME exam
Preparation for the SESAME exam runs from October to April.
During this period, candidates are encouraged to practice regularly using the prepaSESAME website and the Concours SESAME mobile application.
Between mid-January and mid-March, candidates must activate their personal account on mySESAME. This space enables them to :
- swap language choices for written tests;
- download official documents (time arrangements, convocation, etc.) ;
- consult the summary of applications for SESAME schools and programs ;
- access marks for written tests, portfolio and orals ;
- reserve slots for oral tests.
Between March and April, it is imperative to download and print the convocation from mySESAME. Finally, at the end of March, all candidates must take the compulsory pre-requisite test on TestWe.
Step 2: Discover Parcoursup
From December 17, Parcoursup will be making its updated search engine available.
This phase will enable you to discover the full range of post-baccalaureate courses and identify the business schools accessible via the SESAME competition, including ESCE.
Step 3: Register on Parcoursup
Between January 19 and March 12, applicants must formulate their wishes on Parcoursup.
To enter ESCE, you need to select the SESAME competitive entrance exam, then the ESCE International Business School.
You can choose one or more courses, at no extra cost:
- International Management
- International Political Science
- International Management IA & Data
These courses are offered on the Paris and/or Lyon campuses.
After entering their wishes on Parcoursup, candidates must activate their mySESAME account and regularly consult the official SESAME Competition website.
Step 4: Confirm your wishes
By Wednesday April 1, you must confirm your SESAME Competition wishes and ESCE sub-wishes on Parcoursup.
Without this confirmation, your application will not be considered.
Step 5: Mandatory preparatory session
⚠️ Compulsory preparatory session on Saturday March 14, 2026 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm for all candidates who have formulated the SESAME wish on Parcoursup, on their reserved mySESAME space.
- Candidates will receive an e-mail with login details a few days before the test.
- SESAME’s goal is to have as many candidates as possible take the test simultaneously on March 14, 2026.
- Candidates who have not passed the compulsory preparatory session will not be called for the written tests.
Step 6: Taking the written tests
The SESAME written exams take place on a single day, remotely, on April 8 for all candidates, regardless of their place of residence.
Important: there are no make-up sessions, whatever the reason for absence.
The day is organized into three sequences:
Morning – “Understanding” session (8:30am – 10:00am)
- Contemporary issues: 40 questions (30 min)
- Mathematics: 20 exercises (40 min)
- Digital skills: 20 questions (20 min)
Morning – “Communicating” session (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
- French: 40 questions (30 min)
- English (compulsory): 40 questions (30 min)
- Other foreign language: 40 questions (30 min)
Afternoon – “Analyze” session (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
Documentary analysis with 20 questions :
- 6 locating questions
- 6 analysis questions
- 8 summary questions
Step 7: Eligibility results
Eligibility results are published on April 23 at 6pm on mySESAME.
Between April 23 at 8pm and April 26, eligible candidates must log on to mySESAME to reserve their oral exam slot at ESCE.
Step 8: Take the admission exams
Oral tests take place from April 25 to May 18.
Candidates can choose to take their oral :
- on the Paris or Lyon campus;
- only if they live outside mainland France.
The oral exam takes the form of an individual interview to assess motivation and personality.
Step 9: Admission results
Admission results are announced in early June on Parcoursup.
Detailed marks are available on mySESAME.
Step 10: Choosing ESCE
As soon as admission is announced on Parcoursup, the applicant can choose ESCE.
A link is sent within 24 hours to finalize the administrative registration and confirm entry to the school by payment of the deposit.
SESAME written and oral exams
Written tests
The written exams for the SESAME competition are held on a single day. For the 2026 session, this day will be April 8, 2026, for all candidates regardless of their place of residence (metropolitan France, outside metropolitan France and international).
Please note: the competition does not offer a make-up session, regardless of the nature of the candidate’s absence.
The 1-day course
The day is divided into 2 parts:
- Morning
- 8:30am – 10:00am: Sequence 1 – “Understanding“, max. duration 1:30 hours
– Contemporary issues: 40 questions – max. duration 30 min.
– Mathematics: 20 exercises – max. duration 40 min.
– Digital skills: 20 questions – max. duration 20 min.
- 10.30am – 12.00pm: Sequence 2 – “Communicating“, max. duration 1h30
– French: 40 questions – max. duration 30 min.
– English * : 40 questions – max. duration 30 min.
– Other foreign language: 40 questions – max. duration 30 min.
* compulsory among 2 foreign languages
- Afternoon
- 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Sequence 3 – “Analysing“, max. duration 2 hours
Documentary analysis – 20 questions :
– 6 identification questions
– 6 analysis questions
– 8 synthesis questions
Remote written tests
SESAME exams are taken remotely from the candidate’s home. Semi-offline mode enables all candidates to take their tests even if there is a connection failure during one or more tests. Data (copies) are stored on a server, enabling data recovery if necessary.
The software solution used by candidates to take the written tests remotely includes a monitoring system, so the computer must be equipped with an internal or external camera and microphone.
Candidates must follow the instructions given in the guides available on prepa-sesame.net and mySESAME (open from January) toavoid being suspected of attempted fraud and liable to sanctions.
Equipment needed on the day of the event
- A computer with an Internet connection:
- Personal computer PC (Windows versions Windows 10 and higher) or Mac (Mac OS X versions 10.13 and higher)
- Minimum 4GB RAM (8 recommended)
- 1GB free hard disk space
- Built-in or external webcam
- Built-in or external microphone
- Wired or WIFI Internet connection
- Equipment not authorized :
- Dictionary
- Connected object: watch, etc.
Your cell phone must be switched off throughout the tests and kept out of reach.
To do before the tests :
- Technical prerequisites:
Before taking the tests for the grande école program, you must complete the technical prerequisites to ensure that your equipment is working properly and is compatible with the specifications described above. An e-mail containing a download link for the application used to take the tests will be sent to you a few days beforehand.
- Print test invitation
To take the SESAME written exams, you need to download and print out your invitation to the exam from your mySESAME reserved area, where your personal details are recorded.
This document includes :
- Your contact details and candidate number
- Timetable for each event
- The day before the tests, check that you have the following items:
- identity papers (ID card, passport or driving license)
- your invitation
- an unconnected watch (your cell phone must be switched off and out of range)
To be done on the day of the tests:
On the day of the tests, you must isolate yourself in a closed room (bedroom, office), and your workspace must be free of all documents, with the exception of a valid identity card.
You must be logged in one hour before the time indicated on your invitation to check that your equipment and connection are working properly.
Find out more about the golden rules for written tests here
If you have any further questions, please consult our FAQ or contact us.
Prepare to speak
ESCE uses the oral exam (coefficient 35) to get to know you, your background and your career plans. The oral exams take place from April 25 to May 18, on our campuses for candidates living in mainland France, including Corsica, and remotely for other candidates.
Read the following instructions carefully:
20 minutes preparation time
You will have 20 minutes to prepare before your oral.
Set aside 10 minutes to fill in your personal file, which will be used to present yourself to the jury: your background, experience, passions, career plans…
Use the remaining 10 minutes to organize your ideas on the international current affairs topic you’ve chosen. International economic, geopolitical or environmental news. We don’t expect you to do a powerpoint or memorized presentation, but rather to have thought about a current international topic and to be able to discuss it with the jury.
20-minute individual interview
The interview takes place before a two-person jury: a jury chairman (a teacher or member of the management team) and a graduate of the school or a professional from a partner company. The interview is conducted in French.
Then, in just a few minutes, you’ll present your ideas on your chosen topic of international current affairs (economic, geopolitical, environmental). The jury will discuss your ideas with you.
Jury members want to understand what motivates you to join ESCE Paris or Lyon. It’s important to have thought beforehand about the experiences that highlight your personality, your project, your tastes and your aspirations. Think about a career plan that is consistent with the school, your experience and your ambitions.
Set aside 10 minutes to fill in your personal file, which will be used to present yourself to the jury: your background, experience, passions, career plans…
Use the remaining 10 minutes to organize your ideas on the international current affairs topic you have chosen. International economic, geopolitical or environmental news. We don’t expect a powerpoint or a presentation you’ve memorized, but rather that you’ve given some thought to a current international topic, and that you can discuss it with the jury.
Take part in ESCE’s Open Days and meet our teachers, administrative teams and Grande école students.
Don’t forget to mention it on the day of the interview, as it will demonstrate your commitment and motivation to join the school.
Find out about the school’s programs and how they can help you achieve your goals.
Don’t forget to prepare your international news topic in advance.
preparing for the competition
ESCE helps all applicants maximize their chances of admission to post-baccalaureate business schools. We help you prepare for your written and oral exams, with free in-class or distance learning preparation sessions.
How to pass your written exams? Preparation tip: practice and test yourself on SESAME exam-type exercises.
Register on prepa-sesame.net (100 euros credited when you pay the €315 registration fee on Parcoursup in January).
a question?
NADJET MENNEQUIN, Post-Bac Grande École Program Admissions Manager (📞 +33 1 81 51 15 69 / +33 6 07 68 15 28 / 📧 nadjet.mennequin@esce.fr).
Personalized online appointment available
For international applications, please contact: 📧 internationaladmissions@omneseducation.com
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