Overview

IÉSEG (Institut d'Economie Scientifique Et de Gestion or translated to Scientific Institute of Economics and Management) is a business school in France. It was established in 1964 in Lille as a part of Université Catholique de Lille, the largest private university in France. The school has two campuses, one in Lille and one in Paris.

IÉSEG School of Management is recognized as a member of Grande École. Unlike public schools with high acceptance rates, the Grande Écoles are small to medium sized institutions which are highly selective, provide high quality education and have established networks with related corporates and/or industries. Admission to Grande Écoles is usually based on nation-wide examinations or selection via academic achievements. In accordance to its Grande École title, IÉSEG is one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the country. It is recognised as one of best business schools in France and was ranked 17th by the international Financial Times for its Master of Management programme in 2016. IESEG has been awarded three international accreditations: EQUIS, in 2012, AACSB in 2013 and most recent one, AMBA, in August 2016. This makes IÉSEG School of Management part of an elite group of international business schools (less than 1% in the world) that holds the “triple crown” of international accreditations.

IÉSEG has a total of 4,300 students on the Lille and Paris campus – approximately half of its students are international students coming from different parts of the world. In addition, about 84% of its permanent faculty are recruited internationally, and it has a network of more than 200 partner universities from more than 60 countries.

IESEG’s Main Website | International / Exchange Student Website

Students interested in either the Bachelor or Master Degree at IÉSEG can send in their application between May to June. For Grande École programs, recruitment usually starts in December and students will have to pass the entrance exams.

GPA requirement:

2.75 / 4.0

Language of instruction:

French, English

Most courses for the Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Executive MBA are taught in English.

Courses:

Course descriptions can be found in respective college’s webpage: http://www.ieseg.fr/en/programs/. French language classes are mandatory for non-French speakers as part of the Bachelor’s or Master’s programs.

Flying Chalks’ tip: There will be a placement test on the first week of the semester to evaluate level of proficiency in French. French courses will be included in the credit system. For those of you who do not speak French, fret not as you will be placed in the A0 class and can learn French from the very basics!

Course registration process:

For exchange students, course registration will be done during your mandatory orientation seminar. All exchange students will have access to Bachelor courses. Bachelor students who have completed at least 2 years of studies and Master students will have access to electives from the Master’s programme. You will only be able to check for any overlaps in class slots during the mandatory orientation seminar, with timetables available on their intranet. IÉSEG’s academic advisors will are also available should you need help in organising your timetable. You will have 3 weeks after the orientation week to add and drop courses.

Attendance policy:

Any student who is absent from a course for more than 3 times in the semester will be given an “F” grade regardless of his/her achievements.

Campus map:
http://www.ieseg.fr/en/map-directions/

Virtual campus tour:
https://walkinto.in/tour/bytz02hsVgZJeFGA2nsEl

Selected facilities:

• Library: Libraries are available in both the Lille and Paris campuses. In total, the libraries offer more than 37,000 books, magazines, electronic resources and scientific journals. Students can also participate in linguistic facilitation in the Lille campus every Thursday afternoon with foreign language professors.

• Multimedia Room: All multimedia rooms are equipped with computers and are accessible to students, at no charge. Students will also have 24/7 WiFi access on campus grounds.

Unfortunately, the school does not have a gym for students interested in working out. 

Food on campus:

Lille Campus: The AEU building (5 minutes’ walk from Lille campus) offers a wide variety of meals at very affordable prices. Students can choose from five self-service restaurants (western food, sandwiches, pasta, vegetarian) in the AEU building. IÉSEG campus also has one cafeteria in building A and there are many student restaurants and cafes around campus area.

Paris Campus: There is a Cafeteria located on the Campus of La Défense. Students can also check on University Canteen here.

Flying Chalks’ tip: AEU restaurants will serve 1 main dish + 3 side dishes for only €2.5!

Campus transportation:

The Paris campus has 3 buildings, all located in the business district of La Défense, while the Lille campus has 5 buildings, all located in Rue De La Digue. Students can easily travel around campus on foot.

IÉSEG actively fosters an international environment and multinational spirit. Lille is recognized for its youthful vitality since it is one of the largest French cities in terms of students, universities, institutes, schools and Grandes Écoles (the elite higher-education centers of France). Lille is also known for its affordable living standards (which includes housing, food, amenities).

If you are new to Paris, you don’t have to worry as it is very tourist-friendly thanks to its reputation as a major European city and tourist destination. Many institutions and organizations, such as Erasmus and CROUS, have extended their support to international students.

Orientation program:

You will be welcomed to the school through a mandatory one-week orientation program. Orientation week is extremely important for foreign students because there will be a briefing for CAF (government support on housing), Social Security and OFII (residence permit). Apart from the usual academic and administrative briefings, fun games will also be played!

Buddy Program:

The Multicultural Project team aims to promote intercultural understanding between French students and international students through culture sharing sessions. Buddy program are one of the initiatives organised by the multicultural project team. Buddy programs pair foreign students with local French students so that both parties can benefit from cultural and language exchange. The programs are not compulsory but international students are highly encouraged to participate!

The multicultural project team also arranges many cultural activities, such as “Dance of the World”, “Music from Around the World”, “Preparing for Diwali”, and “Gastronomie”, where students are invited to cook local dishes from their home countries for their fellow participants!

Student clubs:

There are many student clubs in both the Lille and Paris campuses that cater to a wide variety of interests. Below are a select few that may be of interest to international students like you!

1. Club International (Lille and Paris)

Club International offers support to international students coming to IÉSEG by arranging many events and field trips so that students can have a wonderful time in France!

• European Trip

Club International will arrange numerous trips to major cities in Europe at very affordable prices. There will be trips to Disneyland Paris, Amsterdam – where you can visit Heineken museum and Anne Frank’s house. There will also be trips to Strasbourg - where you can experience wine-making and wine tasting.

• Amazing Night

Prepare for a wild night and we hope you remain sober during its pub crawl and beer pong! For only 10 Euros, you’ll get a free drink in each pub and further drinks will be available at special prices. There are 8 teams going from one place to another, allowing you to make new friends at each bar and play numerous games.

• International Gala

The International Gala is intended to welcome or bid farewell to international students. There will be cocktails and performances from international students. Parents, IÉSEG Staff and students are all welcome to attend the Gala.

• Movie Night

Club International will arrange movie nights for moviegoers. French or international movies will be played monthly for free in the campus area. Sports fans also can join to watch soccer games like UEFA Europa League for a very affordable prices!

Club International Contact Information

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IESEGInternationalClubLille or https://www.facebook.com/internationalclub.ieseg/

1. TEDx IÉSEG

For over 25 years, the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conferences have been bringing together the brightest minds from various field. Attend TED conferences to discover pioneering men and women of the 21st century. They are all experts in their field and are driven by a passion and desire to convey their ideas. Speakers will cover many topics, such as medicine, new technologies and sports.

University events:

Thanks to IÉSEG’s strong partnership with many international companies and its established alumni network, IÉSEG students have a unique opportunity to get extensive career coaching in the TALENT program. The TALENT program has many activities and students can definitely find one that suit their needs. Throughout the year, students can participate in one-on-one coaching, mock interviews, career fairs, business challenge, corporate talks and meet numerous companies.

• Corporate Talks: These events aim to help students discover new careers, sectors, companies or job market issues, drawing upon the experience of professional experts. Events will be held every Tuesday evening in both the Lille and Paris campuses, and are based on themes of students’ majors (i.e. Finance Corporate Talks, Marketing Corporate Talks, etc).

For more information on IÉSEG Career Services, click here. 

France is known as a source of culture, history, fashion, food, and more. With 5 European capitals within a 250-km radius, Lille and Paris are strategic cross-roads in Northern Europe. From Lille, high-speed trains will take you to Paris in 1 hour, to London in 1.5 hours and to Brussels in 35 minutes.

For food:

France is famous for its pastries and wine. While in Lille, don’t forget to try Lille’s specialty pastry, Aux Merveilleux (meringue), and Lille’s specialty dish, Moules Frites (mussels and fries), in the Grand Palais area. You can also participate in fancy wine tasting in Paris at reasonable prices, accompanied by traditional French dishes near the Eiffel Tower area.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: There are a lot of pocket-friendly fast-food joints around Lille campus area! One popular joint is the Kebab & Co. which offers set menus from €6.50.

For entertainment:

The Lille campus is located a 5-minute walk from Citadel – an open park area with a small lake where you can go cycling or picnicking. With your student card, you can also enjoy free entry to many museums, city tours and zoos all over France.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• Parc zoologique de Lille, located in the Citadel area, has free admission and has a unique collection of birds, mammals & reptiles in themed areas.

• From the Paris campus, the Louis Vuitton Foundation, Tour Eiffel, Musée du Louvre, Grand Palais, Pont Alexandre III and Notre Dame are all less than 30 minutes away by Metro.

For nightlife and entertainment:

You can easily find bars, pubs, and international clubs within a stone’s throw from both the Paris and Lille campuses.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• The Grand Palais area in Lille has many bars, pubs and restaurants that open past midnight. You can also find more pocket-friendly bars and nightclubs along Solferino Street. One of the favorites among students is the Tcha-tcha bar.

• For students in Paris, there is a bar which is literally named “Student Bar” in Rue Mouffetard, and it is a 45 minutes metro ride from La Défense. There are also many other student bars along the street as many universities are located in this area.

For daily necessities and groceries:

It is very convenient to buy your groceries in France. You can find anything you need in “Carrefour”, “Cora”, “Lidl” or “Match” supermarkets, and they have numerous branches throughout the city. Students from the Lille campus can get to a Match supermarket in 10 minutes on foot.

Flying Chalks’ tips:

• For students in Lille, you can apply for an “Étudiant Card” in Match Supermarché to get an additional 10% discount!

• For students in Lille who are craving for Asian food, you can visit the wet market in Wazemmes. It opens every Sunday, from morning till the afternoon. You can find many Asian and exotic food there. Bear in mind that the market here will not entertain any price haggling ;)

For shopping:

Life in France is not complete without shopping. After all, this is the birthplace of luxurious brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Longchamp, and countless other haute couture brands. You can shop for luxury products free of taxes (in most cases). You can find almost all high fashion brands in the Galerie Lafayette Paris Haussmann or Champs-Élysées area.

For more basic clothing and shoes, you can check out the Grand Palais area or Euralille shopping center in Lille which have countless outlets and retail shops!

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Pharmacies and drugstores are highly popular in France and you can find them almost everywhere! You can shop for French skincare brands such as Bioderma, Avène, or La Roche-Posay at a cheaper price in France compared to your home country!

Both Lille and Paris campus are located in the heart of the city. Students can easily access the campus with various modes of transportation.

Getting from Charles de Gaulle airport to IÉSEG Campus (Lille):

• By train

The most common method from Paris to Lille is by train. There is a train station connected to Charles de Gaulle Aéroport near terminal 3 (Roissypole). The travel duration is 1-2 hours, and the cost can vary based on passenger classes. A rough estimation for the cost of a one-way trip from CDG to Lille by SNCF train is around €30. Get off at Gare de Lille Europe. From there, you can take Transpole metro (line 2) to the Cormontaigne station (15 minutes’ walk to IÉSEG campus).

http://www.sncf.com/

• By bus

Travelling by bus will be cheaper but takes a longer time. The price for a one-way ticket is usually half of the train fare, which is €15 per trip. Travelling time is about 3 hours from Paris to Lille, and you can find the bus station near terminal 3 of Charles de Gaulle Aéroport (Roissypole). As with the train, get off at Gare de Lille Europe. You can book tickets online here.

Getting from Lille airport to IÉSEG Campus (Lille):

Although most international students will come to Lille via transit at CDG Airport in Paris, there is also an airport in Lille which you can fly into. From Lille airport, you can get to IÉSEG by car in about 20 minutes. You can also book a taxi or Uber and the trip will cost you anywhere from €10 to €20.

Getting from Charles de Gaulle airport to IÉSEG Campus (Paris):

• By Metro

You can take RER B train in Charles de Gaulle airport. Directions can be tricky: If you’re landing at Terminal 1 you will have to take a shuttle train called CDGVAL to Terminal 3 (Roissypole) in order to catch the RER train. The name of this station is “Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1“. Don’t mistake the “1” in the train station name as meaning “Terminal 1”, it is simply the first of the two train stations at CDG Airport.  Just follow the signs for the CDGVAL tram within Terminal 1 and transfer to Terminal 3/ Roissypole to catch the RER B train to Paris.

If you’re landing at Terminal 2, keep in mind that there are 7 sub-terminals and you must make your way to the train station which is located between sub-terminals 2E and 2F.  There will be numerous signs through the terminals pointing towards the Paris RER train.

To go to La Défense, you need to transfer at Paris Chatelet/ Les Hales station (2 stops from CDG station) and continue to La Grande Arche de La Défense station. This entire trip will set you back around €15.

Flying Chalks’ tip: RER train departs every 10 minutes. The earliest train departs at 4:56am while the latest train departs at 11:56pm. To buy Paris train tickets, you can either use the machine (but be sure to use the Paris Ile-de-France box machines and not the yellow SNCF TGV vending machines), or ask SNCF employees in the ticket window.

• By Taxi

The fare to La Défense by taxi will cost around 50 Euros.

You can also book a taxi online at: https://www.g7.fr/en/

Flying Chalks’ tip: Be extra cautious. Never accept people who are posing as taxi drivers when you are leaving the baggage claim area.

For more information, visit: http://www.parisaeroport.fr/passagers/acces/