How to Get into HEC Paris MBA?

HEC Paris is located in Jouy-en-Josas, 27.1 km from the main town of Paris. The 140 years old prestigious grandes école (A specialized university separated from the French public university framework) is situated on a vast 340-acre campus, which is ideal for both studying and indulging in various activities.

Paris has the largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in Europe. Therefore, HEC Paris MBA students can have a natural advantage in building the right network and connections. The B-school is also at the forefront of research and education in management sciences.

Students love the HEC MBA program’s Saint Cyr’s Outdoor Leadership Event, run by military veterans. The outdoor program helps students understand how the best teams prevail and the reason behind the failure of some teams. The B-school’s ultimate motto is to churn out sensible leaders who can impact businesses and society as a whole.

HEC Paris MBA Ranking

HEC Paris has consistently scored high on the international business school ranking list of reputed publications. Following is the HEC Paris MBA ranking of its full-time program in 2022.

Types of HEC MBA Programs

There are three types of HEC Paris MBA programs; full-time, executive, and TRIUM Global Executive MBA programs. Like most European countries, HEC MBA programs are 16 -18 months in duration. All these MBA programs are well acclaimed and are designed for different groups of professionals.

However, we’ll deeply explore the full-time MBA program in this article. It has two admission cycles in an academic year- January and September intake. The 16-month-long rigorous program is one of the best MBA courses in the world. The program is designed to encourage critical thinking and develop entrepreneurial spirit among the students.

HEC Paris MBA Class Profile

A B-school’s class profile can provide valuable insights into what a typical class looks like in that school. So, it can help you compare your profile strength with the average student profile. Besides, you can also get an idea about the class diversity and the general standard of the students.

For instance, Lan Phuong Nguyen worked in Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia as a Senior Manager at L’Oréal before she came to HEC Paris. American Jessy Shajan joined the HEC Class of 2022 after her stint in New York Times as Finance manager. Italian Luca Marini is an accomplished civil engineer. The man has maintained high grades throughout his undergrads. You can see that the HEC Paris MBA class profile indicates a class filled with high-achievers of diverse nationalities.

Following is the latest HEC Paris MBA class profile for your reference.

HEC Paris Acceptance Rate

According to Poets&Quants, the full-time MBA program of HEC Paris had an acceptance rate of 22.4% for its class of 2022. With a marginal increase in student intake, the HEC Paris acceptance rate for the class of 2023 can be expected to be similar to the previous year.

When you’re competing for a seat in HEC Paris, one of the leading business schools in Europe, the acceptance rate of 1 in 5 applicants is not unexpected. However, you should consider the HEC Paris acceptance rate along with its latest class profile to gauge your chances of securing admission.

HEC Paris Application Deadline

HEC Paris receives a large number of applications from all over the world throughout the year. Therefore, each admission cycle of an HEC Paris MBA program has multiple application deadlines. Following are the HEC Paris deadline dates for the September 2023 intake.

Disclaimer:-  The above dates may be subject to change. Keep visiting HEC’s official site to stay updated about deadlines.

HEC Paris MBA Fees

Following is the approximate HEC Paris MBA fees for the September 2023 intake.

Disclaimer:- The above fee structure is meant to give you a fair idea of the cost involved. Actual costs may vary depending on the admission cycle. Check HEC’s official website for the latest fee details.

HEC Paris Scholarships

Evidently, the MBA cost can be quite high for many applicants, especially international students. For instance, the HEC Paris MBA fees for Indian students can be over 89 lakhs INR, a substantial amount for many students. However, you can avail of various HEC Paris scholarships to bring down the MBA cost.

HEC Paris MBA has a variety of internal scholarships that automatically consider every candidate for a scholarship grant at the time of application. You can also apply for special scholarships that may require essay submission.

The scholarship committee determines the amount of aid considering various aspects of your application, such as your HEC Paris GMAT score, professional experience, essays, and interviews. The deadlines for HEC Paris scholarships are the same as the HEC Paris application deadlines. Following are some renowned scholarships that can be offered to deserving HEC MBA students. HEC Paris MBA scholarship for diversity

• HEC Paris MBA scholarship for excellence
• Forté scholarship for women candidates

HEC Paris MBA Requirements For Admission

One of the HEC Paris MBA requirements is to must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university to be eligible for the full-time MBA program. However, HEC Paris admissions to the full-time MBA program are possible even without an undergraduate degree if

• You have completed secondary education. You have a minimum of 5 years of work experience, with at least 3 years in a managerial position.
• You have represented your country internationally as an athlete, such as Olympics, Asian Games, etc. 

HEC Paris Admission Process

The HEC Paris admission process can be categorized into five steps, as described below.

Step 1: Connect with HEC Paris MBA Community

You can use a dedicated online form to connect with HEC MBA before starting the application process. The form can help HEC MBA to know you better and provide honest feedback on your HEC Paris MBA potential. Moreover, you can get more information about the program during this stage.

Remember, the information provided in this online form for connection will not affect your formal application.

Step 2: Complete the Application Process

Use the online application system to submit your HEC MBA application. Following is the entire checklist of the application process. Application Checklist

• • Completed Application Form

    Complete the online application form. You can edit and save your application multiple times before finally submitting the form. 

  • Admission Essays

    You must submit five essays, most of which are short answer questions with a word limit of 250 words. HEC Paris essay questions provide ample storytelling opportunities to the applicants. You can convey your uniqueness and distinguish your profile from other applicants through these essays.  Take this opportunity to showcase how authentic and creative you are. Moreover, the admission committee would like to know how clear you are about your long-term and short-term career goals. 

  • Letters of Recommendation

    You’ll have to submit two letters of recommendation from different recommenders. Your recommender should be someone well aware of your career trajectory and professional milestones. Consider your immediate superior or former boss as your recommender.

  • Professional Resume

    Your professional resume should provide a snapshot of your academic and professional accomplishments. Try to keep the resume brief and limited to one page. It should have a tonality similar to that of a job resume.

  • Photograph

    Keep a scanned copy of your passport-style photograph ready. You may have to upload the photo in the form. 

  • Academic Transcripts

    Upload transcripts from all the post-secondary institutions you attended. Post-secondary education can be any degree or diploma program attended after completing higher secondary education. 

  • Copy of Passport

  Upload a scanned copy of your passport. You can submit your birth certificate if your passport is not ready during the application process.

  • GMAT Score

  Submit a valid GMAT score (less than five years old). While there is no minimum GMAT requirement, it is recommended to submit a strong GMAT/GRE score to improve your chances of getting admitted. The HEC Paris GMAT score is also considered while awarding scholarships. The HEC Paris average GMAT score for the full-time MBA program hovers around 690-700. 

  • English Language Proficiency Test

  Non-native English speakers with a university degree from a university where English is not the teaching language must complete the English language proficiency test. HEC Paris MBA program accepts TOEFL, IELTS

, 

Cambridge English Exams, or PTE test scores as proof of English proficiency.

• Application Deposit

A non-refundable application fee of  200 Euros is required to complete the application process.

Step 3: Pre-Selection Jury

The admission committee will meet for a Pre-Selection Jury to examine your application in detail. The jury will consider every aspect of your application, including your background, professional experience, global exposure, quality of your recommendation letters and essays, etc.

Step 4: Interviews With HEC MBA Alumni

You will be invited for two separate interviews on successfully clearing the Pre-Selection Jury. HEC Paris MBA alums will be the interviewers. The interview is an excellent opportunity to showcase your communication skills, leadership potential, and values. Each interview will begin with a 10-minute oral presentation on your chosen topic, followed by a detailed discussion of your application.

Step 5: Final Application Review and Admission Notification

Each admission jury member will review your application and your performance in the interviews separately. Then, if you’re selected for the program, a jury member will notify you about the same.

Apart from Management education, the HEC MBA program is a startup magnet. The recently launched Creative Destruction Lab-Paris is a successful initiative dedicated to climate change. The program attracts some of the most innovative startups. If you want to be a part of a dynamic study environment with countless opportunities to grow your career, consider exploring the HEC Paris MBA program as a viable option.

FAQs related to HEC Paris MBA Program

1. Do I need to know the French language to get into HEC Paris?

Knowledge of the French language is not required as the general communication medium is English. However, HEC Paris MBA programs encourage students to learn languages like Russian, Portuguese, French, etc.

2. Is there any age limit at HEC Paris MBA?

HEC Paris MBA programs don’t have any age limit. Therefore, you can apply at any age as long as you have a strong application.

3. By what time can I know whether I am admitted to the HEC MBA program or not?

The HEC Paris MBA admission process typically takes five weeks to complete after the application deadline. By that time, you’ll know if you’re selected for HEC Paris admission.

4. How can I learn more about HEC Paris MBA programs?

You can access some recorded clips of HEC webinars on the b-school’s website. Additionally, you can register for a virtual 1-to-1 meeting with one of HEC’s regional marketing and recruitment managers to discuss the MBA program or the application process.

5. Can I re-apply for the September 2023 HEC Paris MBA intake after being rejected for January 2023 intake?

Once rejected, you can’t re-apply during the same academic year. So, if you get rejected for January 2023 intake, you can’t re-apply before January 2024 intake.

6. How can I know whether I received any HEC Paris scholarship or not?

If selected for an HEC Paris scholarship, you’ll be notified of the same during admission.