Hi there,
I am currently a student at ESCP-EAP and maybe I can help clear somethings up.
ESCP-EAP does not award a Msc. However, if you do either the Madrid
stream (London-Madrid-Paris) or the Berlin stream
(Paris-London-Berlin) you will get a Msc from City University in
London. The Berlin stream also get a Diplom Kauffmann from a German
University. There are talks about a joint degree program with
Universidad Carlos III as well for the Madrid stream.
Entrance:
The french normally apply through the competitive Classe Prepa exams
where approx the top 1% or so are admitted. The entrance exams at the
international campuses are tough, but not impossible. I think 2 out 5
applicants is a reasonable estimate. Normally they are over 2 days.
One day with written tests and one day with oral tests. Expect to be
exhausted after the written tests. Go to bed early the nigh before!
Classes:
The classes are ok. Some lectures are genius, some are definetly not.
The common denominator is that the lecturers are not teachers. Most of
them are proffesionals. Sometimes that's a plus, sometimes it's a
minus. The best businessmen might not always make the best teachers.
My conclusion is, yes it is an elite school, but it is the students
who are elite, not the teachers. You will learn a great deal after
three years in a class made out of 60-70 students from more than 20
countries (approx 40 - 50 % french, 30% german, 20-30% "other").
Workload:
The workload really depends on your language skills. If you speak all
three languages fluently you'll work a lot less than if you have to
take 10 - 15 hours of language classes a week. If you do the Madrid
stream and you are at an intermediate level in spanish and beginners
level in french you will most likely have two days a week filled with
language courses during your year in London (during which the other
students have time to see Big Ben etc). In any case, expect to have
periods of extremely high workloads. The best advice here is to always
get started right away. Another advice is to get to know students from
the previous year (this might be dificult since they are in a
different city, in another country). In London, expect to have classes
from 9:30 to 17:30 or 18:00 every day, and to spend addional time
working on group projects and individual work. Another point is that
you will have no time to prepare for the exams!!! It is essential not
to fall behind in any subject, because if you do you will never have
time to catch up!!!!
Grades:
Grades are given in the system of the country the campus is in. In
London it is 0 - 100%, in Madrid 0 - 10 points. The grades are then
translated to the french system 0 - 20. Lowest passing grade is 50%
(UK), 5 (Sp) and 10 (Fr). Grades are also translated to the ECTS
scale, A-F. If you fail, and have to do a resit they will give you an
E as a maximum... or 50%...or 5.0...or 10.00.
Misc:
There is a "student council" that has meetings with staff. How this
works is that the student council will mention problems and suggest
solutions to faculty staff who will subsequently take 10 minutes from
a class and explain why there will be no changes.
Strengths:
There are better schools out there no doubt. On the other hand, how
many other schools gives you the chance to know three European cities
like this? Ok, one tiny minus is that each campus is like a little
island in each country. In my opinion, the cultural experience would
have been greater if students shared classes with f.ex. City
University students in the UK, and students from Carlos III in Madrid.
That way you get to see the natives in their natural habitat.
The other strength is the school's relations with the business
community. Students get internship offers from Societe Generale,
Lehrman Brothers, DaimlerChrysler, Warner Music, Commerzbank,
Accenture, Arthur D Little, Earnst & Young....
What you really learn, I think, is how to make your own opportunities,
no matter where you might be. Some of the students with the best
internships found these opportunities by themselves. If you create
your own opportunities first in London, then in Madrid and last but
not least in Paris, you will realize that the method for creating your
own opportunities in each country has its similarities and
differences. Having done this in three countries, you will create your
own opportunities in the fourth country much easier!
Finally, the Masters in Management is reasonably priced. At approx
6600 euros a year you will get a lot for your money compared to US and
UK business schools.... just don't expect a french bureaucracy that
spans five campuses in five countries to work smoothly at all times!!
I reckon the entrance exams are up in about a week and a half, so good
luck. Remember to smile alot at the interviews, and to be a playful
leader, but not bossy during the group interviews!
Ciao |
