ESCP Business School: Preparation and Coaching Guide for African Candidates

ESCP stands out for its unique pan-European positioning in the global business school landscape.

The six ESCP campuses

Accreditations and rankings

• Triple Crown: AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA
• FT Ranking: Top 10 Masters in Management worldwide
• MBA Ranking: Top 20 Europe

Educational philosophy

ESCP advocates a truly European approach:

• Multi-campus mandatory (2-3 campuses during studies)
• Multilingualism encouraged
• Cultural diversity at the heart of the experience
• Focus on adaptability and agility

Alumni network

• 70,000+ alumni worldwide
• Strong network in France and Europe
• Growing presence in Africa
• Active alumni clubs by sector and geography

ESCP offers a complete range of programs adapted to different profiles and objectives.

1. Grande École Program (Master in Management)

• Duration: 2 years
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's+3 minimum, 0-3 years of experience
• Cost: ~€45,000 total
• Format: Mandatory multi-campus
• Ranking: #7 worldwide (FT 2024)

Typical path:

• Year 1: Paris or another campus
• Year 2: Rotation on 2 campuses + internship
• Specializations available on each campus

2. MBA in International Management

• Duration: 12 months
• Prerequisites: 3+ years of professional experience
• Cost: ~€58,000
• Format: Full-time, multi-campus
• Ranking: Top 20 Europe

3. Executive MBA

• Duration: 18-24 months
• Prerequisites: 10+ years of experience, management position
• Cost: ~€85,000
• Format: Part-time compatible with employment

4. Mastères Spécialisés (MS)

Post-master specialized programs:

• MS Finance
• MS Marketing & Digital
• MS Strategy & Organization Consulting
• MS Hospitality & Tourism Management
• MS Media Management

Duration: 12-15 months

Cost: €20,000-25,000

5. PhD & DBA

For academic profiles or senior executives wishing to contribute to research.

The ESCP admission process varies by program but follows a common structure.

For the Grande École Program (international admissions)

Step 1: Online application

• Detailed CV
• Cover letter
• Academic transcripts
• Test score (GMAT/GRE or ESCP test)
• TOEFL/IELTS if necessary

Step 2: Interviews

• Motivation interview (30 min)
• Sometimes a technical interview depending on the track

Admission calendar

For the MBA

Application components:

1. Professional CV
2. Essays (motivation, leadership, contribution)
3. GMAT/GRE or ESCP test
4. TOEFL/IELTS
5. 2 professional recommendations
6. Interview with admission committee

Evaluation criteria

Accepted tests

• GMAT: Average MBA score ~650
• GRE: Accepted, equivalent ~320
• ESCP Test: Free GMAT alternative
• TOEFL: Minimum 100 iBT
• IELTS: Minimum 7.0

Structured preparation maximizes your chances of admission to ESCP. Here is the recommended strategy.

Standardized test preparation

Option 1: GMAT

• Target MBA score: 650-700
• Recommended preparation: 3-4 months
• Focus: Balanced Quant and Verbal

Option 2: ESCP Test (free)

• GMAT alternative developed by ESCP
• Format: Online MCQ
• Advantage: Free and specific to ESCP
• Disadvantage: Not transferable to other schools

ESCP essay coaching

Essay 1: Motivation

• Why ESCP specifically?
• How do multi-campuses match your objectives?
• Which campus attracts you and why?

Tips:

• Show your knowledge of the school
• Be specific about targeted campuses
• Connect your path to ESCP's European DNA

Essay 2: Leadership and contribution

• Significant leadership experience
• What you will bring to the class
• Vision of your post-ESCP impact

Interview preparation

Typical questions:

• Walk me through your CV
• Why ESCP and not [other school]?
• What will you bring to the class?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• Tell me about a failure and what you learned
• Why this specific campus?

Interview tips:

• Prepare STAR examples (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• Show your interest in Europe
• Demonstrate your multicultural adaptability
• Ask relevant questions about the program

ESCP offers several financing options for international students.

ESCP scholarships

Excellence Scholarships

• Amount: Up to 50% of fees
• Criteria: Academic and professional excellence
• Application: Automatic with application

Diversity Scholarships

• For candidates from underrepresented regions
• African candidates eligible
• Amount: Variable

Women in Leadership

• For women in MBA/EMBA programs
• Encourage gender diversity

External scholarships for ESCP

Student loans

In France:

• State-guaranteed student loans
• Preferential rates for students
• ESCP banking partnerships

International:

• Prodigy Finance
• Brain Capital
• Local loans by country

Estimated ESCP budget

ESCP offers excellent career outcomes thanks to its European and international network.

Exit sectors (MBA/MiM)

Companies recruiting at ESCP

Consulting:

• McKinsey, BCG, Bain
• Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG)
• Strategy& (PwC), Monitor (Deloitte)

Finance:

• Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley
• BNP Paribas, Société Générale, HSBC
• Rothschild, Lazard

Tech:

• Google, Amazon, Microsoft
• European startups
• Corporate tech (L'Oréal Digital, etc.)

Luxury:

• LVMH, Kering, Hermès
• Richemont, Chanel

Employment statistics

• 3-month placement rate: 92%
• Median post-MBA salary: €75,000-95,000
• Median MiM salary: €55,000-65,000

Advantages for European career

• Facilitated visa thanks to multi-country campuses
• Established alumni network across Europe
• Privileged access to French market
• Connections with European companies

Return to Africa

• Active ESCP Africa club
• Connections with multinationals present in Africa
• Entrepreneurship support
• Mentoring by African alumni