ESSEC Business School Real Estate
- Acceptance Rate
- 65.0%
- SAT Range
- 1050–1250
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.25
- Size
- N/A
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- N/A
- Setting
- N/A
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Retention Rate
- N/A
- Tuition (In-State)
- N/A
- Tuition (Int'l)
- N/A
Student Life & Environment
Student life at ESSEC divides between the main campus at Cergy-Pontoise and activities in central Paris, where ESSEC maintains facilities and where many industry activities occur. The Cergy campus provides modern facilities in a purpose-built environment approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Paris. The campus offers student housing, athletic facilities, and green spaces that contrast with urban Paris locations. The student body combines French students entering through the Grande Ecole admission process with international students joining master's programs directly. This mix creates French-international integration while maintaining the distinctive French business school culture. Student associations address professional interests, including active real estate clubs that organize industry visits, speaker events, and networking activities. The proximity to Paris provides access to the cultural and professional offerings of one of the world's great cities while the Cergy campus offers focused academic environment and more affordable living costs. Students balance time between campus-based activities and Paris exploration, professional networking, and cultural experiences. Housing options include on-campus residences at Cergy and apartments in surrounding areas or in Paris for those preferring urban living despite longer commutes. Living costs at Cergy are substantially lower than in central Paris, allowing student budgets to stretch further. The RER A train connects Cergy to central Paris in approximately 40 minutes.
Location & Surroundings
ESSEC's main campus at Cergy-Pontoise occupies a purpose-built business school facility in a new town developed since the 1960s as part of Paris suburban expansion. The location provides modern infrastructure and campus amenities within reach of Paris but distinctly separate from the capital's urban density. The surrounding area includes other educational institutions, business parks, and residential developments characteristic of planned new town development. Paris, accessible by RER train, provides the cultural, professional, and social offerings of a global city. The French capital's real estate market includes some of Europe's most valuable properties, ongoing urban transformation projects, and major institutional investors, all relevant to real estate education. Industry events, company visits, and networking typically occur in Paris proper. Climate features the mild, changeable weather typical of the Paris Basin, with cool winters, warm summers, and rain possible throughout the year. The seasons are distinct but without the extremes of more continental climates. The campus setting provides green space increasingly appreciated as environmental values gain prominence. Transportation to Cergy relies primarily on the RER A train, with service to central Paris requiring approximately 40 minutes from the Cergy stations. Within Cergy, buses serve different neighborhoods and the campus. Paris provides extensive additional transportation including metro, bus, and connections to airports at Charles de Gaulle and Orly.
Costs & Career Outcomes
Tuition for ESSEC programs varies by program type, with the MSc in Real Estate costing approximately EUR 25,000-30,000 for the full program. The Grande Ecole program, spanning three years, involves higher total costs but spreads payment over a longer period. Living costs at Cergy run approximately EUR 800-1,000 monthly, lower than central Paris while still accessing the Paris metropolitan area. Scholarship support exists for exceptional candidates, with awards based on academic merit, professional potential, and sometimes financial need. French students may access government-subsidized student loans. International students should plan for full costs absent confirmed funding. Career outcomes for ESSEC real estate graduates reflect the program's strong industry connections and the school's reputation. Graduates join development firms, investment managers, REITs, real estate advisory practices, and corporate real estate functions at major companies. Starting salaries in the French market typically range from EUR 40,000-55,000, with higher compensation in London, Luxembourg, and other financial centers. Career services support includes dedicated real estate recruiting events, alumni network access, and internship placement assistance. The concentration of ESSEC alumni in French real estate creates mentorship and opportunity networks throughout careers. International placement is possible, particularly within global firms recruiting from European business schools.
Campus Location
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