Study abroad

Continuing your studies, internship or gap year abroad: all you need to know about studying abroad with ESC Clermont Business School

From the Bachelor’s degree onwards, ESC Clermont Business School students have the opportunity to spend a third year abroad during which they can gain international experience. The school’s International Office supports students in their search for a stay. The School has a network of more than 100 partner universities around the world, facilitating exchanges and access to a double degree. This network is a real asset for the business school’s students, allowing them to acquire new experiences abroad and to continue their studies in institutions providing varied and quality teaching.

What are the advantages of a year abroad?

Whether it’s a further education, an internship or a gap year abroad, there are many advantages to going abroad to gain international experience. Here are a few examples:

• Learning or improving the practice of a foreign language,
• Open up to other cultures and ways of life,
• Meet people from different backgrounds,
• Gaining autonomy,
• To know the world of work abroad and to be able to position oneself more easily in international positions,
• To be enriched by new experiences,
• Access to a varied teaching and working and evaluation methods different from those of our school,
• Improve employability in general,
• Create an international network and enrich its address book,
• Exchanging with students from all countries and building new friendships, etc.

Through the International Office, our business school encourages and supports students in their plans to stay abroad.

Internship or further study?

During their stay abroad, students may have the choice to continue their studies at a partner university or to do one or more internships. The continuation of studies at a partner university is an opportunity for the Bachelor’s or Master’s student to benefit from a variety of courses in the language of the country. As for the internship, it allows the student to benefit from a first international work experience. One or more internships abroad is a considerable advantage for future professional integration.

When to go abroad to study?

At ESC Clermont Business School, we encourage all our students to spend a year or a semester abroad for an internship or to continue their studies. Academic year in a partner university or gap year abroad: it is thus possible to leave at different times during the Bachelor or Master degree. Students who wish to go abroad as part of their university course must complete a number of formalities and provide proof of a sufficient level of language proficiency corresponding to the desired destination. They are accompanied by the School’s International Office at all stages of their application.

International departure procedures generally begin one year beforehand and are the subject of information meetings at the beginning of each semester.

Bachelor students

Summer School in 1st year

The Summer School is a deadline at the end of the first year which allows students to go to university for 2 to 3 weeks to prepare for the TOEFL exam. This departure is open to all students and constitutes a first immersion in one of our 5 partners abroad:

• Universidad Loyola Andalucía – Córdoba in Spain,
• Dublin Business School – Dublin, Ireland,
• Northumbria University – Newcastle in the United Kingdom
• Nottingham Trent University – Nottingham in the UK
• University of Warwick – Coventry in the United Kingdom

TOEFL preparation can also be done, under certain conditions, during an intensive course in France with CAVILAM.

Exchange or Double Diploma in 3rd year

During a Bachelor’s degree course, the full year abroad is only possible within the framework of a Double Diploma. In other cases, the academic exchange with the partner only lasts one semester. In fact, the destinations may vary according to the length and purpose of the stay. For a departure at the beginning of the third year of a Bachelor’s degree, applications open in January of the previous year.

Master’s students

Master Grande Ecole 2nd Year (MGE2)

2nd year Master students can choose to spend the second semester at a partner university or a full year. This one-year stay is only possible if students have previously completed their studies in the ESC Clermont Business School’s Bachelor programme.

Year of gap abroad between MGE2 and MGE3

Students can spend a period of time abroad between the 2nd and 3rd years of the Master Grande Ecole programme. They then choose to spend a semester or a full year abroad at a partner university. These stays are aimed at acquiring a Double Competence or a certificate in other fields such as social sciences, political sciences, international relations, etc.

For students wishing to obtain a Double Degree in the 3rd year, it is essential to complete two 6-month internships during the gap year abroad or in France.

Master Grande Ecole 3rd Year (MGE3)

As in MGE2, students have the possibility of leaving as early as the first semester during the 3rd year of the Master Grande Ecole programme. In order to obtain an International Double Diploma, the full year in a partner university is compulsory. However, it is essential to have completed a gap year abroad or in France beforehand, with two 6-month internships in a company.

As for the Master Grande École, the acquisition of the diploma is conditional on passing the TOIEC test and proof of at least 4 months abroad, as part of an internship or university exchange.

Master of Sciences students (MSc.)

Even after the completion of studies on our campus, MSc students. Project Management and International Commerce and Digital Marketing students have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at a partner university. The aim of this stay is to obtain a double degree from one of the following options:

• MSc. in International Business: at Nottingham Trent University in the UK
• Master in Auditing, Finance and Governance: at Hochschule Aalen in Germany
• Master in International Marketing and Sales: at the Hochschule Aalen in Germany