“We were started in 1881 as a standalone business school… I think it’s what makes us special in all that we produce. We have a history of educating business leaders so they can do business abroad. So, diversity is really at the heart and core of the business school.”

Sara Vanos, Executive Director of Marketing & Admissions for MBA Programs at HEC Paris, discusses what makes the HEC Paris MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more.

Topics

• Introduction to HEC Paris MBA and Sara Vanos (0:00)
• Program Highlights – What Makes the HEC Paris MBA Unique? (3:20)
• HEC Paris MBA Admissions & Scholarships – How to Improve Your Chances? (29:15)
• Career Opportunities after HEC Paris – What to Know & How to Prepare (52:50)

HEC Paris Full-time MBA Highlights

(last updated October 2024)

• Length, Intake, Size: 12 or 16-months, January & September intakes, max 300 students/cohort
• Typical Class
  • 6 years average work experience
  • 95% international (~50 countries)
  • GPA average: not available
  • GMAT average: 690
  • GMAT Focus average: 635
• Curriculum:
  • Academic Core:
    • 16 core courses during 8-month fundamental phase
    • Choose from elective courses (7 specializations available), international exchanges, internships, and in-depth learning projects during 8-month customized phase
  • Specializations: Strategic Marketing, Strategy, Data & AI for Business Transformation, Sustainable & Disruptive Innovation, Advanced Management, Finance, Entrepreneurship
  • Study Abroad: around 40-50 students/year participate in exchanges with 30 school partners
  • MBA Degrees: Full-time MBA (12 or 16 months) with 10 double degrees available, Executive MBA (18-months) and Trium Global EMBA with LSE & NYU Stern (18 months)
  • Faculty: 140+ professors from over 25 nationalities
  • Student Clubs: 30+ profession and social clubs, student council
  • Campus: 340-acre residential campus in French village of Jouy-en-Josas, with 8,000 square meters of sports fields
• Admissions: 
  • Application requirements:
    • First academic degree (Bachelor or equivalent)
    • Must be at least 22 years old and have 2 years of post-graduate work experience
    • GMAT / GMAT Focus / GMAC EA / GRE
      • GMAT takers strongly encouraged to score above 60% for the quantitative and verbal sections. On GMAT Focus, this equates to a performance in the 83% under each format.
      • GRE takers strongly encouraged to score at or above 65% for quantitative and verbal sections
      • EA takers encouraged to submit an EA score upwards of 150
    • Evidence of English ability (if necessary) – TOEFL (min 100 internet, 600 paper), TOEIC (340 speaking & writing, 850 listening & reading), IELTS (7 with min 6.5 on each part), PTE (min 72), Cambridge English (185 with min 176 on each party), DuoLingo (min 135)
    • Transcripts
    • Resume
    • 5 Essays (2000-3500 characters each)
    • 2 recommendations
    • 2 interviews with HEC Paris MBA alumni – each one consists of a 10-minute oral presentation on topic of your choice, followed by discussion of your application
  • Admissions is looking for:
    • Academic accomplishment, professional experience and career progression, leadership potential, international exposure, mba motivation and career objectives, interpersonal skills and personality
    • Team players who inspire colleagues to do best work
    • Motivated individuals who want to make a positive and lasting contribution to the any organization they serve
  • Application rounds: 12 application rounds between August and July for September start; 4 application rounds between August and November for January startn
• Scholarships: 10 types of scholarships available. Applicants are automatically considered for Excellence and Diversity scholarships up to 50% of tuition. Essays for Forte and L’Oreal scholarships must be submitted at time of application. HEC Paris awards 1,000,000€ in scholarship aid each year to MBA applicants. 60% of MBAs received scholarships and the average amount awarded was 15,000€.
• Careers:
  • Average Salary, Class of 2023: $123,911 ($24,321 avg signing bonus)
  • Placement, Class of 2023: 91% employed w/in 3 months of graduation
  • Top Destinations, Class of 2023: 36% Europe, 23% France, 13% Africa & Middle East, 11% Asia, 9% North America, 8% Latin America; 68% secured employment outside home country
  • Top Industries, Class of 2023: 37% consulting, 20% technology, 17% finance, 6% manufacturing, 4% energy; 67% changed sector
  • Top Functions, Class of 2023: 38% consulting, 19% finance, 14% marketing/sales, 11% general management, 6% operations/logistics; 64% changed function
  • Companies: 165 recruited HEC Paris MBA students for jobs or internships last year
  • Visa: French student visa allows graduates to stay in France for 1-year to job search; after receiving an offer, your visa changes into a work visa
• Rankings: #12 worldwide and #2 in France by Financial Times (2024)
• Alumni:  80,000 HEC Paris MBA Alumni in 150+ countries; 80 international chapters, 60 professional clubs, 1,000 alumni events organized every year; 4,000 alumni are CEOs/CFOs or have started their own company
• Tuition: 99,000€; application fee 200€; estimated living costs 24,825€ for 16 months (~1,500€/month)
• Accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA, RNCP, Bienvenue en France Level 3 for welcoming international students

About Our Guest

Sara Vanos is Executive Director of Marketing & Admissions for MBA Programs at HEC Paris, where she has been for over 10 years. Previously, Sara worked in the careers office for the University of Toronto Rotman. Sara got her EMBA from HEC Paris and her undergraduate degree from Ryerson University.

Show Notes

• HEC Paris Full-time MBA
• HEC Paris MBA GMAT/GRE Requirements

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