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Join a School in France | Application Process and Eligibility for 2025

Oct 16, 2024

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What is the Join a School in France Application?

If you're planning to join a school in France for a Master’s in Management, this application process makes it much easier. With the Join a School in France program, you don’t need to apply to each business school separately. Instead, you can apply once and be considered for five top French business schools: HEC Paris, ESCP Business School, emlyon business school, SKEMA Business School, and Audencia Business School. It’s a simple and smart way to save time while applying to some of the best MiM programs in France.


Join a School in France vs. Direct Application: Which is Better?

Criteria

Join a School in France (SAI)

Direct Application to Individual Schools

Number of Schools Applied To

One application for five schools: HEC Paris, ESCP Business School, emlyon business school, SKEMA Business School, and Audencia Business School.

Separate applications to each school individually.

Application Fee

€220 total for all five schools.

Varies by school; typically around €100–€150 per school.

Number of Essays Required

Four short essays (approximately 500 characters each).

Up to eight long essays per school, depending on individual requirements.

Interview Process

One interview applicable to all five schools.

Separate interviews for each school, if shortlisted.

Application Platform

Single, centralized online portal.

Individual application portals for each school.

Eligibility Criteria

Non-French undergraduate degree holders with at least three years of higher education completed outside France.

Varies by school; generally similar but may have specific requirements.

Flexibility in School Selection

Apply to all five schools simultaneously; cannot choose specific schools within the SAI application.

Full control to choose and apply to specific schools of interest.

Essay Customization

General essays reviewed by all five schools; limited opportunity to tailor responses to individual schools.

Ability to customize essays and applications to align closely with each school's values and programs.

Time and Effort

Streamlined process saves time with a single application and interview.

More time-consuming due to multiple applications, essays, and interviews.

Application Outcome

Potential offers from multiple schools through one process; candidates choose their preferred offer upon acceptance.

Independent outcomes from each school; candidates may receive multiple offers and choose accordingly.


Admission Process for the Join a School in France Application


Application Deadlines for Join a School in France


Application deadline for the September 2025 intake are already open. Below is the Join a School in France's admissions application calendar:


Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Application Deadlines

October 10th, 2024

January 3rd, 2024

February 28th, 2025

April 17th, 2025

June 4th, 2025

Admissibility Results 

October 28th, 2024

January 23rd, 2024

March 20th, 2025

May 13th, 2025

June 13th, 2025

Interviews Periods

November 4th-13th, 2024

January 14th – February 7th, 2025

March 25th – April 4th, 2025

May 13th – 23rd, 2025

June 17th - 20th, 2025

Final Admissions Results

November 22nd, 2024

February 19th, 2025

April 17th, 2025

June 6th, 2025

July 4th, 2025


Eligibility Requirements for Join a School in France


1. Educational Qualification

  • You must hold a non-French undergraduate degree that represents at least three years of study (such as a Bachelor’s, Licence, Benke, etc.) from a nationally recognized institution outside of France

  • Students currently in the final year of their undergraduate program are also eligible to apply, as long as they provide valid proof of enrollment

  • There are no restrictions on your field of study—this program is open to candidates from all academic backgrounds


2. Diploma Verification

  • Only non-French undergraduate diplomas are accepted for admission through Join a School in France

  • If you haven’t graduated yet, you can still be admitted, but you must submit your official diploma showing at least three years of undergraduate study by December 31st of your intake year


3. Document Authenticity

  • All applicants must confirm that the information and documents they submit are true and accurate

  • Your documents, including diplomas and certifications, may be verified by one of the five participating schools (HEC Paris, ESCP, Emlyon, SKEMA, or Audencia) or by a third-party verification service)


Application Requirements for Join a School in France


To apply for a Master in Management through Join a School in France, you need to submit the following 10 documents. All documents must be in English or French and carefully prepared.


Required Documents for Join a School in France (10 Total)


  1. Academic transcripts from all undergraduate years

  2. Diploma or certificate of school enrollment for your final year

  3. Management test scores (GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE, Shorter GRE, TAGE MAGE, or CAT)

  4. English language test results (TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, or Cambridge exams)

  5. Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional)

  6. A recent ID-style photo (headshot)

  7. CV or resumé outlining your academic and professional experience

  8. Copy of your passport or national ID card

  9. Payment receipt for the €220 application fee

  10. All submitted documents will be verified by the admissions team (especially test scores like GMAT, GRE, or TAGE MAGE)


Make sure every document is clear, accurate, and authentic. Incomplete or false submissions may lead to disqualification from the application process

Let me know if you want this styled into a downloadable PDF or checklist for your readers!


Application Essay Questions for Join a School


The SAI MiM application includes four questions for 500 characters. These questions are crucial for evaluating your application, so thoughtful and well-written responses are essential. The questions are:

  1. Describe your proudest accomplishment?

  2. Describe a time you faced failure, and what lessons you learned from it?

  3. Have you participated in any extracurricular activities (hobbies, sports, volunteering)?

  4. How does your application benefit the 5 member schools? Please specify, if you have a preferred choice among our members schools and why?

Interview Process – Join a School in France


Once applications are reviewed by the member schools, candidates will be informed whether they are invited to the interview stage


Interview Invitation


  • Applicants will receive an email from Join a School in France with links to each school’s website where admissibility results are posted

  • Candidates must check each school's webpage to see their admissibility status

  • If an applicant is eligible for at least one school, they will be invited to an interview

  • If eligible for multiple schools, only one interview is required for all of them

  • The date and time of the interview will be provided in the official email invitation


Interview Centres


  • Interviews are held around the world at official Join a School in France partner centres

  • Applicants select their preferred interview location during the online application

  • If a selected centre cannot open, alternative options will be provided by the admissions team

  • In special cases, new interview centres may be created

  • To request a change in interview location, applicants must email the admissions team before the application deadline


Interview Format


  • Interviews last between 20 to 30 minutes

  • They are conducted in English

  • There is no fixed format – interviewers may include alumni, business professionals, or diplomatic representatives

  • The interview focuses on your motivation, personality, and argumentation skills

  • A valid ID must be presented at the time of the interview


Interview Questions for Join a School

These are rated on a scale of 1 to 4.

Questions you may be asked during the interview include:

  • Why do you want to pursue a MiM?

  • How proficient are you in French?

  • Why do you want to study in France, and what do you know about it?

  • What are your future career plans?

  • How will a degree from our school help you achieve your goals?

  • What do you hope to gain from this degree?

  • Do you have any questions for us?

If you pass the interview, you will receive an offer letter via email. You will need to make a non-refundable payment to secure your place in the program.



Conclusion

In summary, the SAI application provides an efficient way to apply to multiple prestigious French business schools for a Master in Management program, simplifying the process and saving both time and money. Preparing well for both the essays and the interview will be key to a successful application.

FAQ's


What program do I apply for through Join a School in France?

Join a School in France is a selection process that allows you to apply to our 5 member schools (Audencia Business School, emlyon business school, ESCP Business School, HEC Paris, SKEMA Business School) for the Master’s in Management program only

Should I have studied particular courses to be able to participate in Join a School in France?

No, the selection is opened to all applicants whatever their degree as long as they meet the application requirements.

Can I apply to several rounds?

Application to several rounds is not allowed. You can apply to only one round per year. However, you may ask to transfer to another round. In order to do that, you have to send an email to Join a School in France (joinaschoolinfrance@cci-paris-idf.fr) with your full name, your application number and the round for which you wish to transfer to.

What GMAT score is taken into account if I have several scores?

They will take into account your best GMAT score, as long as it is received before the application deadline.



Oct 16, 2024

5 min read

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