What Students Say
Likes
- Social life (parties, events organised, etc.)
- Extra-curricular activities (lots of free classes and associations to join- there is always something to do)
- Alumni network - with one of the biggest networks in Europe, you will always find a fellow HEC comrade in any company you wish to work for
Dislikes
- It's far from Paris
- Classes are less rigorous than I expected (coming from a quant and math background, I expected a little more rigor)
- Help with jobs- while the events and prep for jobs is good when you're in the college, you're pretty much on your own once you graduate
Course Curriculum
8
- I took the Economics and Finance major and there was a nice variety of courses to choose form. Since I had done economics before, I had the option to waive a few core courses and opt for new courses.
- I decided to opt for more finance courses to learn something new. Most of the faculty was extremely good- they taught well and shared their real-life experiences with us which was really cool.
- The course curriculum was a good balance of theory and practical courses which I liked. We got to see the real life applications of the things that we learnt while also understanding the crux of it.
- The timings depend on your course selection but are not too intense if chosen well. There can be some semesters which are demanding and some that are super chill.
- In my major, there were around 100 people- 60 from the 3 year Master in Management program and 40 from the specialised Master. There were around 5-6 Indian students in our course but the general Indian population in the college is high.
Admission Experience
- LSE (Admitted), HEC (Admitted), FBA- Football Business Academy (Admitted)
- I got confirmed admissions from all three and it was a tough choice - I am passionate about football but decided it was too early to narrow it down this early in my life (I could always go back to it later on)
- I was fortunate to receive confirmed admissions from LSE, HEC, and FBA. Choosing was difficult — I'm passionate about football, but I felt it was too soon to specialize. I wanted a broader academic foundation first, knowing I could always return to football later with stronger skills and perspective.
- I have been in France for 3 years before so I was comfortable with Paris.
- The admission process was submitting GRE & TOEFL scores and 2-3 essay questions on the application portal (why HEC, motivation). Following that, there was one interview with the program manger of the program I applied to and there were only motivation questions (no technical questions).
- Eligibility for the specialised Master in HEC was a bachelor degree, some internship experience (not mandatory) and GRE (above 315/340 is a good score) and TOEFL (above 110/120 is a goo score)
- The overall experience wasn't too difficult given that I came from a good school- I feel like the motivation to join the program is a very important part of the process.
- I applied for the 2023-2024 intake. I was also considering to work after my Bachelors but didn't succeed in finding any jobs and so I applied for a Masters. There were for periods of intake- September, November and January. The earlier you apply the more your chances of getting in. I applied early and the process took around 1-2 months. After applying in November, I received an invitation for the interview in January and heard from them in the beginning of Feb.
Faculty
10
- The ratio was around 1:40- the classes were usually in small groups which was good because there is open interaction with the faculty. Depending on the kind of course, the course structure varied. For more practical courses, we were evaluated on projects and homeworks and had opportunities to present in class.
- Interactions with teachers were valuable as they work in great companies. I have heard some friends get work opportunities through the faculty. I admire my finance professor as he has so much hands-on experience in the field and always taught us using real life examples.
- I also enjoyed the Strategic Consulting course where we were taught the nature of how work in consulting happens and had very interesting exercises and projects throughout the course.
Campus Life
10
- We have one huge campus in the suburb of Paris with all the facilities (except a pool). There is a library, an indoor gym, dance room, football field, tennis court, volleyball court, canteen, church, outdoor gym, doctor and so much more on campus.
- There are multiple events organised by different committees and associations by different cultures. The most popular events are the HEC Gala, the POW (party) that happens every Thursday, the Holi and Diwali party and the tournaments organised by the school.
Part Time Jobs
- Since it is a business school, and a rigorous one, most students don't take up part time positions on or off campus. If anything, it will be people who take remote opportunities or who work on their own startup. There are no other on-campus jobs for students. The course is rigorous and thus is not usually recommended to do. Otherwise there is a supermarket close by for a part-time.
- Most Indian students in France typically work part-time in cafés, restaurants, retail stores, supermarkets (like Carrefour, Monoprix, Franprix), or take on-campus jobs such as research assistance, administrative help, or event support. Some also work in startups or freelance roles depending on their skill set, especially in digital marketing, design, or tutoring. The minimum hourly wage in France (SMIC) is around €11.65 gross as of 2024. After tax deductions, students usually take home around €9-10 per hour. Jobs in restaurants or cafés may also include tips.
Placement
8
- Most of the batch secures some kind of employment within the 6 months of completing graduation. This year it has been tough since the market is not the best. The average salary ranges between 40000-70000 euros per annum.
- After graduation, usually the common sites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed and the HEC Alumni website are places to search for a job. Networking through LinkedIn and alumni networking events also is a leans. Most Investment banks and the Big 4 are companies that take HEC graduates.
Accommodation
Off Campus
6
- I was in campus housing and chose the cheapest apartment without really looking at the pictures. I did not have the best housing (the AP buildings are not the nicest buildings to stay in). Even though I saved up a small amount, the other houses were much more comfortable to stay in. Monthly rent was 560 for the AP buildings and around 670 for the other buildings.
- Housing application was taken care of by the college- we just had to fill a form stating the kind of accommodation we would like. I realised most of my batchmates took accommodation in the better building so the socialising was restricted in my case. Otherwise the campus, classrooms and other buildings were very accessible. Most Indians stay on campus.
Exams
- GRE is good to prepare for as a good GRE score can increase your chances to get in. Make sure to give yourself enough time to prepare for these exams in advance at least 2-4 months.
- Your Bachelor transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores is all you need and you will have to respond to 3-4 essay questions based on the program you apply for. An interview was part of the application and was conducted by the head of department and a professor from the program.
Fees
- The total tuition fee was around 34,000 Euros for the 1.5 years. Hostel accommodation cost about 560 Euros per month, but with a housing subsidy (if applied for) of around 150-200 Euros, the rent came down to roughly 400 Euros. Estimated monthly living expenses were around 200 Euros, depending on lifestyle and personal choices.
- A yearly student Navigo pass to travel in and around Paris is 360 euros per year.
Scholarship
- I did not apply for or receive any scholarship during my course. There were however several scholarships available for different merits and criteria- for merit, or women, for under privileged, etc.
- I am not so sure of how many people receive a scholarship in a year and I am also not aware of the range of amount that can be received for a scholarship.
