About
The ESSEC Global BBA may be the right fit for you if you are looking for an international, broad-based, and hands-on undergraduate business degree at one of Europe’s most renowned business schools. It is a strong option if you want to build solid foundations in management while developing a genuine global outlook, with the flexibility to study in French or English across campuses in Cergy, Singapore, or Rabat.
It is also a programme designed for a rich and varied student experience: between 10 and 16 months of professional experience integrated into the curriculum, over 188 international exchange agreements across 49 countries, and more than 100 student societies and clubs across campuses. The Global BBA is built to combine academic excellence with personal development, within a community representing more than 50 nationalities.
Finally, if you are looking for a state-recognised degree conferring a Bachelor’s-level qualification (4 years, 240 ECTS), from a triple-accredited school (EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA), ranked #1 among 4-year Bachelor programmes in France since 2020, the Global BBA is a leading option well worth exploring.
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ESSEC Business School
The Global BBA at a glance
240 ECTS
4-year undergraduate degree
state-recognised, Bachelor’s level
1975
Programme established since
10 to 16 months
of integrated professional experience
2 languages
In French or English
188+
international exchange agreements
across 49 countries
3 campuses
Cergy, Singapore & Rabat
Admissions
Students holding the French baccalauréat apply through the SÉSAME competitive examination, the main admissions route for French school leavers. The programme is registered on the French national qualifications framework (RNCP, reference RNCP36560, level 6) and carries state recognition conferring the grade of Licence.
Students holding an international secondary school qualification — such as A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate, or a recognised national equivalent — may apply directly through the international admissions pathway to join the Cergy, Singapore, or Rabat campus.
A transfer entry pathway is open to both French and international applicants who have completed at least two years of higher education (equivalent to 120 ECTS) in business, economics, management, or hospitality.
The programme lasts 4 years (240 ECTS) and can be followed in French or English. From the outset, students choose one of five starting pathways: French-taught or English-taught at Cergy, English-taught at Singapore, or French-taught or English-taught at Rabat. In the second cycle (years 3 and 4), two tracks are available: the Exchange track, which includes a semester abroad at a partner university, and the Apprenticeship track, which combines campus study with in-company periods.
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The key figures
#1
Challenges ranking of 4-year Bachelor programmes in France (2024)
188+
International exchange
agreements across 49 countries
50+
Nationalities represented in the student body
10 to 16
Months of professional
experience integrated
into the curriculum
Programme structure
The Global BBA is a 4-year programme combining academic rigour, international immersion, and real-world professional experience. From the first year, students build strong foundations in management, economics, accounting, law, and the social sciences, in a multicultural environment. ESSEC’s educational philosophy is grounded in learning by doing: acquiring knowledge through action, collaboration, and direct engagement with the professional world.
Over the course of the degree, students deepen their knowledge while progressively choosing a direction aligned with their interests. The curriculum includes mandatory internships, projects with partner companies, and an international academic exchange. In the second cycle (years 3 and 4), students choose between the Exchange track and the Apprenticeship track, with semesters split between campus study, a period abroad, and company experience.
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ESSEC Business School
The core pillars of the programme
The first two years of the Global BBA establish broad management foundations: economics, business administration, marketing, accounting, law, and the humanities and social sciences. Students also develop transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, and intercultural teamwork. These years are also the first opportunity to gain professional experience through introductory internships.
In the Exchange track, students complete a strategic internship in year 3, followed by an international exchange semester at one of ESSEC’s 188 partner universities worldwide. Year 4 is spent on the campus of the student’s choice (France, Singapore, or Morocco), completing the degree with a genuinely global perspective.
The Apprenticeship track alternates between taught courses on the Cergy campus and in-company periods from year 3 onwards, followed by an international exchange in year 4 before a final company period. This track is open to EU nationals, or to non-EU students who can demonstrate 12 months of prior residence in France. It provides a strong way to fund studies while gaining substantial professional experience.
Regardless of the track chosen, international mobility is built into the curriculum. ESSEC has a network of over 188 partner universities across 49 countries, covering every continent. Students may also choose to begin their degree directly on the Singapore or Rabat campus for an international experience from year one.
The Global BBA incorporates between 10 and 16 months of professional experience in total, depending on the chosen track. This includes mandatory internships at different stages of the programme, designed to allow students to explore different sectors, test their career interests, and progressively build their professional network, in France or internationally.
Which sectors are open to me after ESSEC Business School?
As a Global BBA graduate, you can target roles in digital marketing, finance, consulting, international trade, and entrepreneurship. The programme opens doors to numerous high-growth sectors through its internationally recognised and professionally-oriented curriculum.
Banking & Insurance · Finance · Marketing & Advertising · Sales & Commerce · Luxury · Consulting · Entrepreneurship
Marketing Manager · Financial Analyst · Strategy Consultant · Business Developer · Product Manager · International Trade Manager
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Global BBA is a state-recognised degree conferring a Bachelor’s-level qualification (4 years, 240 ECTS). It carries the grade of Licence and is registered on the French national qualifications framework under reference RNCP36560, level 6. ESSEC also holds the triple international accreditation.
Students holding the French baccalauréat apply through the SÉSAME competitive examination, the main admissions route for French school leavers. This examination is organised annually and gives access to the Global BBA on the Cergy, Singapore, or Rabat campus depending on the chosen pathway.
The Global BBA has been ranked #1 among 4-year Bachelor programmes in France continuously since 2020, by Parcoursup, Challenges (2024), Le Point (2025), and Le Figaro Étudiant (2025). At the international level, ESSEC is ranked #8 European Business School and #10 Master in Management by the Financial Times (2024).
The Global BBA is available across 3 campuses: Cergy (France), Singapore, and Rabat (Morocco). Students choose their starting campus according to the French-taught or English-taught pathway that suits them, and may move between campuses throughout the programme.
Yes. An Apprenticeship track is available from the second cycle (years 3 and 4). It combines taught courses on the Cergy campus with in-company periods, followed by an international exchange. This track is open to EU nationals, or to non-EU students who can demonstrate 12 months of prior legal residence in France.
Get in touch with
ESSEC Business School
About ESSEC business school
Founded in 1907, ESSEC Business School is a world-renowned management school, ranked #8 European Business School by the Financial Times (2024). With campuses in Paris-Cergy, Paris-La Défense, Singapore, and Rabat, it trains over 7,800 students across programmes ranging from Bachelor to PhD level. ESSEC is one of the few schools worldwide to hold the triple accreditation EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. It is distinguished by an experiential learning approach, a network of over 230 partner universities across 50 countries, and a community of 74,000 graduates active worldwide
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Programmes at ESSEC business school
Undergraduate entry (from secondary school)
Applying from secondary school / after your A-levels or equivalent? Discover ESSEC’s undergraduate programmes.
Global BBA
A 4-year undergraduate business degree, ranked #1 in France, designed for deep immersion in international business across campuses in France, Singapore, and Morocco.
Bachelor ACT
A 3-year interdisciplinary undergraduate degree co-delivered by ESSEC and CY Cergy Paris University, focused on major social, environmental, and economic transitions.
Bachelor ACT
A 3-year interdisciplinary undergraduate degree co-delivered by ESSEC and CY Cergy Paris University, focused on major social, environmental, and economic transitions.