Describe your degree without reducing it to the country where you study
Prepare a factual description: the exact degree name, awarding institution, country, program length, listed credits, and expected graduation date. Include any institutions attended through an exchange or dual-degree program. This lets you ask a precise question without deciding equivalency yourself; the program must assess it.
Campus location, your passport, and the language of instruction are not necessarily the same thing. A French student may earn a foreign degree; an international student may pursue a French degree. A semester on exchange alone does not establish which institution awards the final degree. Track these details separately.
Look for current requirements rather than an outdated process name
Page URLs and application-route names can change. ESSEC currently presents MiM applications on a shared “admission with degree” page, with requirements that distinguish certain degree profiles. Read the requirements instead of inferring a rule from an old process name or page URL.
For an English-language waiver for the MiM, ESSEC requires, among other things, an international degree and at least three years of full-time higher education taught entirely in English at an accredited institution. An authenticated document stating the language of instruction is required. The waiver applies to English; the management test remains a separate requirement. Review all requirements that apply to your application.
Turn uncertainty into a question the school can answer
In the cases below, the goal is not to improvise a classification. It is to assemble enough precise facts to get a useful answer. Attach only documents requested by admissions and save the response with the relevant application cycle.
| Situation | Missing information | Useful question |
|---|---|---|
| French bachelor’s degree with an exchange program in English | Does the rule apply to the full degree or only a period of study? | Does this background meet the published waiver criteria? |
| French campus of a foreign institution | The degree-awarding institution and its recognition. | Which application route applies to this exact degree? |
| Dual degree with one credential still in progress | The credential used to apply and its award date. | Which degree and supporting document should be declared by this deadline? |
The pitfall
The pitfall is substituting your nationality for the degree requirement
Do not select a “French” or “international” route based only on your passport, campus, or the language of the page. The program defines the route. If the form and public page seem to use different terms, ask what they mean before submitting your application.
Do not assume that an English-language waiver removes the management test. They are separate requirements. Proof of language of instruction does not automatically establish academic eligibility, and eligibility does not mean you qualify for a waiver.
Book once your application plan is specific enough
Your final record should include the program, application route, degree submitted, accepted tests, and any waiver documentation. If you are unsure about a test version, ask admissions in the same exchange. An answer about another program or year does not resolve your case.
Then compare tests that work for all your priority applications. If confirmation comes late, continue useful prerequisite and language work, but do not treat a booking as proof that you chose correctly. Preparation is easier when you know exactly which requirement each exam addresses.
Key takeaways
- Distinguish nationality, place of study, language, and degree awarded.
- One page may list different requirements for different degrees.
- Ask the institution to clarify ambiguous situations before choosing tests.