What is a Staggered Intake ?
The Staggered Intake is a unique opportunity for students wishing to reorient themselves or change career paths without losing an academic year. Accessible from January and February 2025, it enables students to enter certain ESCE programs directly, with an adapted timetable, while guaranteeing the same content as the classic start of the academic year.
How does it work? This new academic year is based on an intensive model, with all teaching concentrated in one semester. Students follow a fast-paced, immersive program that enables them to make rapid progress while benefiting from rigorous training. This format, designed to be effective, meets the needs of those who wish to pursue their academic and professional goals without waiting for the next academic year.
Why choose ESCE’sstaggered intake ? This offers you the opportunity to join an international business school with a global outlook, foreign language training and the chance to specialize in a variety of fields, such as finance, marketing, entrepreneurship or international business. Thanks to partnerships with 190 universities and a network of companies, you can take advantage of internships, international exchanges and work-study programs from 3rd year onwards, to prepare for your international career.
What are the advantages of a staggered intake ?
- Don’t lose an academic year: It is ideal for those who want to change direction or resume their studies without waiting for the start of the new academic year in September. You enter the program directly in January or February, without losing an academic year, and continue your studies on an ongoing basis.
- An intensive program: The program remains identical to that of the classic school year, but is condensed into an intensive semester. This means that you can take all the courses, while maximizing your learning in the shortest possible time, for an accelerated course.
- Greater flexibility: Perfectly suited to students who are reorienting their studies or facing administrative constraints, the staggered start of the academic year offers great flexibility. It allows students to adapt to a variety of personal situations, while maintaining academic coherence with the standard ESCE program.
- Internships: ESCE places great emphasis on internships, both in France and abroad. You have the opportunity to gain professional experience right from your first year, strengthening your CV and practical skills, essential for rapid integration into the job market.
- Optimized professional integration: ESCE has a worldwide network of partner companies, facilitating access to international professional opportunities. The staggered start of the academic year allows you to start your academic career while actively preparing for an international career.
Who benefits from a staggered intake ?
The ESCE’s staggered intake is open to a wide range of student and professional profiles, each with different needs but sharing a common desire: to integrate a quality academic program without wasting time. Here are the main profiles involved:
- Reorienting students: This new academic year is ideal for students who are dissatisfied with their current training and wish to reorient themselves. Whether by choice or necessity, they can join an ESCE program directly from January or February.
- International students: For students from abroad who have not been able to obtain their administrative documents in time for the start of the school year in September, the “rentrée décalée” is an excellent alternative.
- Students on internships, work-study programs or stays abroad: If you were on an internship, work-study program or stay abroad during the September term and were unable to join the program at that time, the staggered start offers you the opportunity to resume your studies in January or February, without losing any time in your studies.
- Retrained professionals: The “rentrée décalée” option is also open to professionals wishing to reorient themselves and acquire new skills. Whether you’re retraining for a new career or looking to add to your existing qualifications, this option enables you to follow a high-quality course while adapting your schedule.
Our Back-to-School programs
Post-Bac: Staggered intake – 1st year
Start date: February 17, 2025
The staggered start 1st year program is specially designed for students wishing to change career direction without losing a year. The courses are intensive and cover essential subjects such as International Business Practices and Techniques, Management and Marketing. Students attend classes on the Paris La Défense campus from February to June, followed by a compulsory internship in France or abroad from June to August. At the end of the first year, students can choose to continue with the Grande École Program or the 2nd year of the International Bachelor’s Program.
Bac+2: Staggered intake – 3rd year Bachelor’s programme
Start date: February 3, 2025
Designed for students with 2 years’ higher education, this program enables them to enter directly into the 3rd year of the International Bachelor’s Program. The Organizational Management specialization prepares students for international management roles. The program offers a generalist approach, with courses in international management, entrepreneurship, digital marketing and finance. Students develop strategic management skills and graduate at the end of the condensed semester, with the option of entering the job market directly or continuing on to a Master’s degree.
Bac+3/+4 : Staggered intake – Master of Science
Start date: January 20, 2025
The Master of Science program is aimed at students with 3 or 4 years’ higher education in Management or Business Sciences. This intensive program, offered in M1 or M2 (Fast Track), enables students to deepen their skills in leadership and management of complex projects. Thanks to a condensed semester, students acquire sector-specific expertise in international business, while being trained for high-level international management positions. This staggered start to the academic year is ideal for those who want to move quickly into a dynamic international environment.
The Back-to-School admissions process
There are two simple and effective steps to admission to ESCE.
Step 1: Apply online
The first step is to put together an online application. This must include several essential documents: a copy of your ID, a copy of your most recent diploma, transcripts of your last two years’ marks, a CV and a covering letter. A €70 application fee is also required.
Step 2: Motivational interview
Once your application has been submitted, we organize a motivational interview with our teaching team. This interview enables us to assess your career plans, your motivation and the coherence of your career path with ESCE’s programs.
Please note: A special procedure has been set up for international students. It applies to applicants who are not French nationals and who reside outside France. Detailed information will be provided to assist you in this process.
Preparing for your admission interview: 5 steps to success
1. Find out about the school
Find out more about the course and the program. The idea is to be able to show during the interview that you are interested in ESCE. Make the connection between the school, your choice of training and your career plans.
2. Preparing an introduction
In addition to a formal presentation (who you are, what you’ve done before, why you want to go to school), the introduction should focus the conversation on what you want to talk about. The aim of the oral is to get to know you better.
3. Highlight your extracurricular projects and hobbies
These are the elements that will make the difference. If you’re passionate about an author or musician, say so. Similarly, highlight your projects outside the school. ESCE values enterprising and committed candidates.
4. Keep up to date
Current affairs questions are a way of testing a candidate’s openness to the world. You need to pay close attention to economic, social and political news, and above all international current affairs.
5. Taking care of your non-verbal communication
Look your interviewers in the eye, stand up straight, smile… in short, pay attention to the image you project during the interview. Professional attire is recommended.
