European Business School launches the Foundation Year Program.

Introduction

Switching paths or joining a business school mid-year usually means losing a full year. European Business School addresses this with the Foundation Year Program, an intake that complements the September start: an intensive semester that lets students move directly into the second year of the Grande École Program or an accelerated 18-month Master, starting in February 2027.

Why a February Intake Exists

Every year, two types of students run into the same problem with the standard business school calendar. Some are already enrolled in a program that no longer fits, often a preparatory class or a university degree, and want to switch to management without waiting for September. Others are international students who discover the French system too late in the year to apply through the usual deadlines.

In both cases, the default fix is usually to wait an entire extra year. The Foundation Year Program exists specifically to avoid that delay.

How the Foundation Year Program Works

A Six-Month Intensive Semester

The program runs from February 1 to June 25, 2027. It combines management fundamentals, professional English, and a group project, bringing every student up to the level of the cohort they will join the following term.

Two Possible Paths

At the end of the semester, two doors open.

• Entry into the second year of the Grande École Program in September 2027, choosing between the French Track and the European Track, leading to a Grande École degree (Master’s level) after five years.
• Entry into an 18-month Master instead of 24: an M1 deepening year from September 2027 to June 2028, then an M2 specialization year combined with a work-study placement, through to graduation in April 2029.The Master track opens onto 11 specializations, including several dual degrees built with the group’s partners: École 89 et Ferrières

Timeline and Application

• Online application
• Applications close on December 15
• A 30-minute admission interview, by video call or on campus
• Final decision, with confirmation due within 7 days
• Condensed semester starts February 1

What European Business School Offers

Two Tracks for the Rest of the Journey

Students joining the Grande École Program choose between the French Track, taught in French with mandatory international exposure, and the European Track, taught entirely in English, with an international cohort and a dual European campus.

Support Built to Catch Students Up

The Foundation Year Program relies on a small cohort and individual mentoring, giving each student a level of support tailored to their situation rather than a one-size-fits-all catch-up plan.

Direct Access to Work-Study in the Master

In the Master track, the work-study placement and specialization choice both start in the second year, letting Foundation Year students catch up to the standard work-study pace without further delay.

Good to Know
The Foundation Year Program is built for two profiles: students reorienting from another French program, and international students who arrived outside the standard September calendar.
It is not designed for applicants who would simply prefer to wait for the next intake.

Two Paths That Did Not Wait for September

Originally from Lebanon, Joëlle Daher joined European Business School through reorientation. She says the program “opened everything up” for her, including a scholarship from the school’s endowment fund. She is now in her second year of a Master’s, on a work-study placement.
Fadel Zehri left his engineering preparatory class in his second year to join the Bachelor through a mid-year intake. He describes a switch to a path closer to his ambitions, in an environment he considers stimulating.

Apply Before December 2026

The Foundation Year Program is now open for applications for the February 2027 cohort. Applications must be submitted before December 15, 2026.