admissions GRANDE ÉCOLE PROGRAM 1ST YEAR
To join ESCE in 1st year, you need to go through Parcoursup and register for the SESAME competitive entrance exam, which is common to several grandes écoles de commerce. After creating your file on Parcoursup, select ESCE among your choices and register for the Sésame competitive entrance exam. This competitive entrance exam assesses your skills through written and oral tests. If you pass, you’ll be able to join ESCE and begin your career at our international business school.
PREREQUISITES FOR ADMISSION TO THE 1ST YEAR OF THE GRANDE ÉCOLE PROGRAMME
- Post-Bac admission procedures: Parcoursup, subject to obtaining the baccalauréat or a foreign diploma equivalent to the baccalauréat.
- For international students, follow the international admissions procedure for more information.
What is the SESAME exam?
The SESAME competitive entrance exam is common to several business schools, including ESCE. It is aimed at candidates wishing to enter a post-bac management school. The competitive entrance exam consists of written tests, which assess your skills in logic, reading comprehension, general culture, English and sometimes other languages. It also includes oral tests, often in the form of a motivational interview or an assessment of communication skills. The Sésame competitive entrance exam is designed to identify candidates with the potential to succeed in an international academic and professional environment.
not-to-be-missed stages
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.
Stage1: Preparing for the SESAME exam from Monday, October 1 to Monday, April 15
Prepare for the SESAME exam with prepaSESAME and the Concours SESAME mobile application
- January 17 to March 14: I activate my account on mySESAME
This reserved area allows you to :
– switch their choice of languages for the written tests
-download documents (time arrangements, test invitations, etc.)
-check and obtain a summary of applications to SESAME schools/programs
-consult their marks for the written, portfolio and oral tests
-make their appointments for the oral exams
- March 28 to April 11: download and print your invitation on mySESAME
- Wednesday, March 27: I take the mandatory prerequisite test on TestWe
2nd stage: I discover Parcoursup from December 18, 2023 to January 14, 2025
From December 18, 2024, you can discover all the courses on Parcoursup thanks to the updated search engine.
3rd step: Registration on Parcoursup from January 15 to March 13, 2025
- Formulate your wishes on Parcoursup
- On Parcoursup, choose the Concours SESAME and select ESCE International Business School. You can choose one or more Cursus (no extra fees)
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You can choose these courses in Paris and/or Lyon.
Once you have made your wishes on Parcoursup, activate your mySESAME account and visit the SESAME Competition website.
4th step: Confirmation of wishes until April 2, 2025
- Confirm your SESAME wish list and ESCE sub-wishes on Parcoursup
Step 5: Written tests for Concours SESAME on 15 April 2024
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
Step 6: Eligibility results and appointment booking from 26 April to 28 April 2024
- 26 April 6 p.m.: Log on to the mySESAME website to find out your eligibility results
- 26-28 April: Log on to the mySESAME website to book your appointment for the ESCE oral exam.
Step 7: Admission exams from late April to mid-May
You can take the orals on the Paris or Lyon campus (depending on your choice of campus). It is only possible to take the oral by distance learning if you live outside mainland France.
The oral test consists of an individual personality and motivation interview.
Step 8: Admission results, 30 May
You can log on to the Parcoursup website to find out your results.
Your grades will be shown on mySESAME.
Step 9: Choose ESCE
As soon as your admission to ESCE is announced on the Parcoursup website, choose ESCE, and within 24 hours you will receive a link to finalize your enrolment on the ESCE website and confirm your enrolment by paying the deposit.
Written exams
The SESAME written exams are held on a single day. For the 2024 session, this day is set forMonday April 15, 2024for 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
Distance 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 tests
- A computer with an Internet connection
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- Unauthorized material :
- Dictionary
- Connected object: watch, etc.
Your cell phone must be switched off throughout the tests and kept out of reach.
To be done before the tests :
- Technical prerequisites:
Before taking the tests for the grande école program, you must complete the technical prerequisites on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 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 written tests for the SESAME competitive entrance examination, you need to download and print out your invitation to attend from your mySESAME reserved area (opening January 17, 2024), 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:
- your identity papers (identity 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 for your oral exam
Through the oral exam (coefficient 35), ESCE seeks to get to know you, your background and your career plans.
20 minutes of preparation
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 learn a presentation by heart, but rather to have thought about a current international topic and to be able to discuss it with the jury.
20 minutes individual interview
The interview takes place in front of 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’ve chosen. International economic, geopolitical or environmental news. We don’t expect you to do a powerpoint or learn a presentation by heart, but rather to have thought about a current international topic and to be able to discuss it with the jury.
Take part in ESCE’s Open Days and meet our teachers, administrative teams and Grande école students from the Grande École Programme.
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.
preparing for the competition
ESEC HELPS YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR WRITTEN AND ORAL EXAMS WITH FREE IN-PERSON OR DISTANCE PREPARATION SESSIONS
How to write successfully?
Preparation tip: practice and test yourself on Concours SESAME-type exercises.
Register on prepa-sesame.net (100 euros credited when you pay the 295 euro registration fee on Parcoursup in January).
Compose your own itinerary!
Our innovative tool allows you to create your own customized course. Explore the full range of curricula, programs, languages and international exchanges, and define your own personalized path.
At ESCE, there are as many paths as there are students…
contact
NADJET MENNEQUIN
Post-Bac Grande École Programme Admissions Manager
+33 1 81 51 15 69 / +33 6 07 68 15 28
nadjet.mennequin@esce.fr