Applying from
outside France
Languages, visa, housing and the calendar, seen from the side of someone who has to move country to join. What HEC publishes, and what it leaves for you to ask.
Languages: B2 in English and in French
HEC requires a minimum B2 level in both English and French. Neither one is optional.
- English proof
- TOEFL, TOEIC (the full test), IELTS or Cambridge. HEC sets no minimum score. Native speakers and graduates of a fully English‑taught degree are exempt.
- French proof
- Non‑native French speakers must provide proof of French proficiency. HEC does not list which French tests or certificates it accepts. Ask info-masters@hec.fr before you book one.
- Teaching language
- The program's French FAQ says most teaching is in English. The admissions page describes the program as bilingual, with some activities in French.
- The interview
- Held by video, in English and in French. Prepare to answer in both.
Visa
General HEC guidance, not specific to this program
No MSc X‑HEC Entrepreneurs page covers visas. What follows is HEC's general guidance for its master's students, from another program's FAQ:
- EU nationals do not need a visa.
- Everyone else, UK nationals included, needs a student visa.
- Check your situation on France‑Visas, the French government's visa site. In countries covered by the Études en France procedure (Campus France), you go through that procedure.
- HEC cannot apply for the visa on your behalf. You need HEC's enrolment certificate for your application.
HEC publishes nothing on residence permits after arrival. For anything specific to your nationality, ask the French consulate in your country and info-masters@hec.fr.
Housing
- On campus
- Over 1,750 furnished units in 18 residences.
- Rent, 2026‑27
- 593 or 699 EUR for a room with a shared kitchen, 670 to 870 EUR with its own kitchen. Utilities, Wi‑Fi, heating and parking included. Rents may change for 2027‑28.
- Priority
- The program's French FAQ says international students and students from outside the region have priority, subject to availability.
- Off campus
- HEC lists Studapart as a partner, including the Residence TWENTY.
HEC does not state that MSc students are guaranteed a room. Apply for housing as soon as your admission allows it.
How much time each round leaves you
A calculation, not an official figure
HEC has not published the 2027 start date. Phase 1 of the program runs from September to December, and in 2025 the year opened with the ENT'RAID seminar on 2 September. Counting from early September:
- Round 2, results 1 February 2027
- About seven months
- Round 3, results 12 April 2027
- About five months
- Round 4, results 9 June 2027
- About three months
Those months have to cover the deposit, the visa appointment and processing, and finding a place to live.
Which round to aim for
My advice, not an HEC rule
If you are not an EU national, aim for Round 2 or Round 3. Three months between a Round 4 offer and a September start is tight for a student visa and housing in another country.
Sources
Rules last checked against HEC's pages on .
- HEC Paris: MSc X‑HEC Entrepreneurs admissions
- HEC Paris: program FAQ (French)
- HEC Paris: general master's FAQ (visa guidance)
- HEC Paris: campus accommodation
- HEC Paris: course content and phases
Pineurs is an independent guide, not affiliated with HEC Paris or École Polytechnique. Visa rules are set by the French state and can change without HEC updating its pages.