With the growth in class size, HEC Paris MBA is an example of a countertrend to declining interest from the ‘middle’ of the application pool towards a full-time MBA program. The introduction of electives that addresses the increased integration of AI into consumer and business processes with topics like AI in Strategy and AI in Management was balanced with electives on Sustainability and Leadership that remain evergreen in modern management.
In this in-depth analysis of HEC Paris MBA, we cover:
- HEC Paris MBA Class Profile
- HEC Paris MBA - Total Cost
- HEC Paris Full-time MBA Curriculum
- HEC Paris Full-time MBA Scholarships and Financial Aid
- HEC Paris Full-time MBA Salary by Industry (2021)
- HEC Paris Full-time MBA Salary by Function (2021)
- HEC Paris Full-time MBA Salary by Location (2021)
HEC Paris MBA Class Profile
The class size has grown from 281 students in 2021 to 348 for the 2023 graduating class, an increase of 24%. Women’s representation is lower than that in top US MBA programs, which usually is around the 42%-44% mark. At HEC Paris, it is only 33%. International diversity is high, with 95% of the class comprising international students from 67 nationalities for the class of 2023.
The average age is higher at 30 than 28 or 29, typical for top US programs.
The average GMAT score is only 690, much lower than the top US B-schools.
| HEC Paris MBA | 2023 Class |
|---|---|
| Class Size | 348 |
| Women Representation | 33% |
| International Students | 95% (67 nationalities) |
| Average Age | 30 |
| Average GMAT | 690 |
| Average Work Experience | 6 years |
HEC Paris MBA – Total Cost
Tuition fees have risen to €87,000 for September 2023 entry which is USD PPP $120,000. Monthly accommodation costs range between €650 to €1,000. Additional costs such as books (€1,000), meals (€6,000), miscellaneous/personal expenses (€3,200), and transportation (€4,700) need to be budgeted for (over a 16-month duration). Health insurance costs €40 per month. A new laptop is estimated to be €1,500, and global travel a further €2,700. This brings the total annual cost of living to approximately €32,000/ USD PPP $44,120.
HEC Paris MBA Curriculum
HEC Paris’ core curriculum fast-tracks the candidate into the core skills required by the industry for an MBA, especially data science, leadership, and decision-making. The Negosim Business Simulation, played by small teams, involves finance, strategy, innovation, and production/sales management, exposing students to experiential learning methods.
The 14 core courses cover both hard and soft skills in the core curriculum at HEC Paris. Finance, Strategy, Accounting, Operations, Organizational Behavior, Sustainability, Statistics, Analytics, and Marketing form the primary subject areas. The soft skills curriculum emphasizes communication, ethics, and creating effective feedback loops with multiple stakeholders.
HEC Paris offers 46 electives themed around entrepreneurship, private equity, venture capital, corporate finance, general management & leadership, marketing, strategy, and sustainability.
In 2022, 12 new elective courses were added - Organizational Crisis Management, Financial Analysis & Asset Management, Venture Capital Investing, Customer-Centric Marketing Strategies & Tactics, Artificial Intelligence in Strategy, The Myth and Reality of Leadership, Power and Influence in Organizations, Artificial Intelligence in Management, Multilateralism & International Organizations, Sustainable Operations Management, Sports and Sustainability, Coaching skills for managers, and Sustainability in Practice: Leadership and Change.
The 7 specializations offered are enhanced by faculty and research partnerships in the diverse subject areas of Entrepreneurship, Finance, Advanced Management, Strategic Marketing, Strategy, Digital Innovation, and Sustainable & Disruptive Innovation.
Leadership is the main theme of experiential learning opportunities offered at HEC Paris. However, the varying context, whether working on real-world problems or mentored by alumni, 4,000 of whom are CEOs, CFOs, or founders, provides HEC Paris MBA with unparalleled insights and knowledge.
| HEC Paris MBA Curriculum | Course Names |
|---|---|
| Core Courses: 14 Courses | Introductory courses: Business Concepts, Data Science Camp, Math Camp, Negosim Business Simulation |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting | |
| Financial Markets | |
| Giving and Receiving Feedback | |
| Managerial Economics | |
| Managing Customer Value through Marketing | |
| Problem Solving and Communications | |
| Statistics and Business Analytics | |
| Corporate Finance | |
| Ethics and Sustainability | |
| Macro-economics for Business | |
| Management Accounting and Control | |
| Operations Management | |
| Organizational Behavior | |
| Strategic Management | |
| The Sigma Challenge Simulation | |
| Elective Courses: 46 Electives | Managing in Organizations |
| (* marks electives added in 2022) | Diversity and inclusion strategy |
| Leading with Savoir-Relier | |
| Fundamentals of Negotiations | |
| Leading and designing the Entrepreneurial Organization | |
| Positive Psychology for Managers | |
| The Entertainment Industry | |
| Globalization & Corporate Social Action | |
| Organizational Crisis Management* | |
| Management Buyouts | |
| Private Equity Buy Out | |
| Start-ups, scales-ups, and venture capital | |
| Mergers and Acquisitions | |
| Managing Publicly Listed Companies | |
| Sustainable Development and Systemic Shocks | |
| Entrepreneurial Finance & Venture Capital | |
| Fixed Income and Money Markets | |
| Financial Analysis and Asset Management* | |
| Venture Capital Investing* | |
| Consumer understanding for business action | |
| Luxury - How to Build and Manage long-term Brand Value | |
| Customer Centric Marketing Strategies & Tactics* | |
| Design and Management of Service Organizations | |
| Creating Value from Emotions | |
| Ethics and performance | |
| Strategize Your Life with Simple Rules | |
| Business Simulation | |
| Fusions-Acquisitions | |
| Strategy implementation: making it happen | |
| Responsible leadership | |
| Artificial Intelligence in Strategy* | |
| Strategic Challenges in Creative Industries | |
| Technology and Innovation Strategy | |
| Shaping Strategy in a Digital World | |
| The Future of Retail in Digital World | |
| Risks Management in Energy Business | |
| The Myth and Reality of Leadership* | |
| Power and Influence in Organizations* | |
| Artificial Intelligence in Management* | |
| Multilateralism & International Organizations* | |
| Data Privacy: The Legal and Ethical Use Of Human Data | |
| Sustainable Operations Management: the challenging transformation from linear to circular value chains | |
| Sports and Sustainability* | |
| Coaching skills for managers* | |
| Sustainability in Practice: Leadership and Change* | |
| Shape your Leadership Style | |
| Specializations: 7 Specializations | Entrepreneurship |
| Finance | |
| Advanced Management | |
| Strategic Marketing | |
| Strategy | |
| Digital Innovation | |
| Sustainable & Disruptive Innovation | |
| Experiential Learning: 5 Opportunities | MBA Tournament |
| Outdoor Leadership Seminar (2 days) | |
| Leadership Beyond Business | |
| Alumni Reunion Project | |
| The Executive Committee on Campus (Mentorship & Business Leadership Program) |
Exchange Programs
HEC Paris offers an exchange program with most MBA programs in the US, usually in the top 20 rankings, including Chicago Booth, Wharton, Columbia, NYU Stern, , Yale, and the network of 39 schools across Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe. Students can either opt for the international exchange in their third or fourth term, depending on the intake they choose at the cost of choosing a specialization. Only 40-50 places are available on an annual basis, making international exchanges highly competitive.
Joint Degrees
HEC Paris offers the widest range of joint degrees, giving its MBA students the opportunity to receive two degrees as well as be part of two schools’ alumni networks.
• Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)- MBA
• SEM - Tsinghua University Beijing - MBA
• National University of Singapore (NUS) - MBA
• Keio Business School (KBS) – MBA
• London School of Economics – MBA/MPA
• Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University - Master's
• Stern School of Business, New York University - MBA
• Yale, School of Management - Master of Advanced Management
• Georgetown University Law Center, Georgetown University – LLM
• Universidad Torcuato di Tella (UTDT)- MBA
• Fundaçao Getulio Vargas (FGV) - MBA
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC)- MBA
HEC Paris MBA Application Process
HEC Paris has a pre-selection jury that selects candidates based on academic merit, professional experience, international exposure, essays, and letters of recommendation. The candidate’s motives and suitability for the program are critical for selection to the next round of admissions.
Interview: Upon being selected, candidates are then invited to an interview to be assessed on their communication skills, values, and leadership potential by two HEC Paris alumni. In addition to discussing the candidate’s application, the candidate is required to talk about a topic for 10 minutes on a topic.
Following the clearance of this interview, the admission jury will make the final assessment and decision on the candidate’s application.
Essays
The first 500-word essay is oriented towards the motivation of the candidate’s career choice with objectives and the reasoning behind why the HEC Paris MBA will be instrumental in helping the candidate achieve the stated objectives.
The second 250-word essay requires the candidate to describe a significant life achievement. The narrative should link clearly to career objectives and aspirations tied with their HEC Paris MBA application.
The third 250-word essay is themed on leadership and ethics, requiring the candidate to express an instance when they have faced an ethical issue and taken advantage of their leadership skills to reach a resolution. The impact of the experience on the candidate’s values needs to be expressed clearly.
The fourth 250-word essay is regarding an alternative life from the one they are currently leading. The description within the essay will reflect the candidate’s perspective on their life while utilizing their creative, critical thinking skills. The candidate might take this opportunity to show their determination to meet their desired career objectives or values through an alternative means.
The fifth 250-word essay offers a choice of three questions, from which one needs to be answered. The first option is the identification of a monument or site that the candidate would recommend to a first-time visitor to their country and the reasoning behind the significance of the choice of the specified site or monument. The second option requires the candidate to choose an example of a book, movie, or play which received undeserved international success based on the candidate’s analysis. The third option requires the candidate to describe an admired figure from any discipline with supported reasoning for their choice.
There is an optional sixth essay for additional information, such as extenuating circumstances the candidate might have faced or any additional evidence not previously mentioned to strengthen their application.
HEC Paris MBA Scholarships and Financial Aid
HEC Paris MBA Scholarships
HEC Paris offers a total of 8 scholarships, out of which two cater to women, and two are regional for Lebanese or French/American nationals. The scholarships range from € 10,000 up to 50 percent of the tuition fees. HEC Paris also supports French veterans by offering a scholarship in partnership with the French armed forces.
| HEC Paris MBA Scholarships (8 Opportunities) | Award Amount | Eligibility | Selection Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Excellence | Up to 50 percent of the tuition fees | All candidates are eligible* | Academic history, selection interviews, and the candidate’s GMAT score |
| Forte Foundation Scholarship for Women | Up to € 26,000 | Women MBA candidates* need to write a 1,500-word essay on why they should be selected as the HEC Paris Forte Foundation Scholar | Women with strong leadership skills, preferably experience in team building, creativity, and academics, with examples that show a deep commitment to women's empowerment through mentorship or community building. |
| 30% Club Scholarship | Up to 50 percent of the tuition fees | Women in Business are eligible for 50% of tuition fees for the first year of studies. This scholarship is offered for both intakes. | Female candidates with strong leadership potential |
| ARD/HEC Paris Scholarship | € 16,000 | French armed forces | |
| CMA CGM Excellence Fund for Lebanon | 50% tuition fees and living cost (average amount awarded is €25,000) | Need-based scholarship for Lebanese nationals with academic merit, outstanding potential, financial need | An essay discussing their eligibility, motivations, and reasoning behind applying for the scholarship |
| L'Oreal Scholarship | € 10,000 | Only admitted candidates can apply for this scholarship | A 1,500-word essay highlighting the style of leadership that maximizes creativity and innovation |
| Paris Saclay Innovation Cluster Scholarship | Up to € 16,000 | Admitted Alumni of Paris Saclay universities and Grandes Ecoles or employees working onsite at the ‘plateau de Saclay'’* | |
| French-American Chamber of Commerce Foundation Serge Bellanger Scholarship | Ten awards of $10,000 each | Merit-based Scholarship for one American national pursuing an MBA in France, or a French national pursuing an MBA in the US | Intention to contribute to the international business community demonstrated in personal motivation statement, letters of recommendation, and acceptance into a qualifying program |
| *Except those who have received more than 50% of government or employer funding |
HEC Paris MBA Loan and Fellowship Options
International students have access to 113 funding opportunities, out of which 10 are multinational. 20 different funding opportunities are available to Indian students. The Aga Khan Foundation provides scholarships to students from multiple countries in Asia. Fundacion Instituto de Empresa provides funding opportunities to Latin American students.
| HEC Paris MBA Loan/Fellowship Providers | 113 Funding Opportunities | 10 Multinational Funding Opportunities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNP Paribas (Multinational) | The Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (Multinational) | Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (Multinational) | Richard Metzler Scholarship by Association of Management Consulting Firms (AMCF) |
| Le Crédit Lyonnais offers (France) | Lendwise (UK, EU and North American nationals) | Prodigy Finance (Multinational) | Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship (Multinational) |
| Société Générale (France) | We Make Scholars (Multinational) | Aga Khan Foundation (Multinational) | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) (Argentina) |
| Spark Finance (Australia) | Austria - 2 funding opportunities | Banque Bruxelles Lambert (Belgium) | Fundacion Instituto de Empresa (Latin American nationals ) |
| Fundacao Estudar (Multinational) | Instituto Ling Fellowship (Bermuda) | Canada - 9 funding opportunities | State Scholarship Program (China) |
| The Bank of China (China) | COLFUTURO (Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia) (Columbia) | Campus France (4 Scholarships for French nationals) | Finland - 4 funding opportunities |
| Germany - 5 funding opportunities | Greece - 2 funding opportunities | The Consulate General of France (Hong Kong/Macau) offers the Alexandre Yersin Scholarship | Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships (Hong Kong) |
| Icelandic Government Student Loan Fund (Iceland) | India - 20 funding opportunities | Sampoerna Foundation Overseas MBA Scholarship (Indonesia) | Chateaubriand Fellowships Program |
| Italian MBA Association | The World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program | Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) scholarship | Liechtenstein State |
| Banque Générale Du Luxembourg | Mexico - 4 funding opportunities | ABN-Amro Bank - Loans and Grants (Dutch nationals) | Instituto para la formacion y aprovechamiento de Recursos Humanos (IFARHU) (Panama) |
| Banco De Credito Del Peru (Peru) | French Embassy in Poland (one or two scholarships for French-speaking Poland nationals) | Portugal - 2 funding opportunities | Singapore - 5 funding opportunities |
| Public Foundation Ad Futura (Slovenia) | Spain - 4 funding opportunities | Sweden - 4 funding opportunities | Taiwanese Government Student Loan (Taiwan) |
| Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme (Turkey) | United Kingdom - 5 funding opportunities | USA - 8 funding opportunities | Fundacion Gran Mariscal Ayacucho Fundacion (Venezuela) |
HEC Paris MBA Salary – By Industry (2021)
The median base salary secured by HEC Paris MBAs in 2021 was $110,217, with a median sign-on bonus of $13,947.
Employment of HEC Paris MBAs in technology (36% of all graduates opted for this sector) was more than finance (17%) and consulting (16%) combined (35%). 32% of women opted for careers in technology. Compared to the previous year, employment in technology increased by 20% at HEC Paris, with graduates securing the highest base median salary and total salary in the sector, $126,553 and $138,970, respectively. However, the mean sign-on bonus was the lowest in this sector in the list of the top 5, at $12,417.
The second highest total salary of $133,462 was secured in the healthcare sector, with the mean sign-on bonus at $35,554, the highest in the list of the top 5 sectors at HEC Paris. Finance had the third highest total salary of $125,554, followed by consulting - $3,000 lower, in fourth place. Finance salaries were much lower than those offered in technology and consulting, but the mean sign-on bonus was the second highest.
HEC Paris Full-time MBA Salary by Function (2021)
Consulting and Marketing/Sales are tied in the first place as the most popular function for HEC Paris MBAs, followed by finance, operations/logistics, and general management. Since no further information on median base salaries or bonuses was provided, we cannot provide deeper insights.
HEC Paris MBA Salary - By Location
42% of all HEC Paris (excluding France) secured employment opportunities in Europe and a further 23% accepted opportunities in France. 18% of HEC Paris MBAs accepted opportunities in Asia and Oceania, and a further 9% in North America. Africa and the Middle East represented 6% of all hires. Latin America represented 2% of all hires.
Career Service Effectiveness
93% of all graduates were employed 3 months after completing their MBA. 68% of HEC Paris MBAs secured employment opportunities through school-facilitated means. 58% of school-facilitated opportunities were on-campus interviews and recruitment events. Only 8% of summer internships converted into full-time employment, compared with 13% of student-facilitated internships that converted to full-time employment. Of the MBA-facilitated opportunities, less than half sought opportunities from online postings, and nearly a third relied on networking and personal contacts.
79% of all students changed sectors, while 67% changed functions. 62% changed locations, 41% changed at least two of the three, and 40% changed sectors, functions, and locations.
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