Course Content

At HEC Paris, learning mirrors the pace and complexity of real corporate decision-making. You will move between analytical coursework and hands-on challenges, developing the technical precision and interpersonal skills required to thrive in the modern organization.

Business Simulations: Experience decision-making under uncertainty through two immersive simulations focused on strategic leadership and sustainability.   Working in teams over several days, you will compete in dynamic market environments, navigate complex trade-offs, and see the immediate impact of your strategic choices.

Learning Cells & Peer Feedback: Collaborate in diverse teams to solve strategic problems. Through peer feedback and reflection, you strengthen your adaptability, communication skills, self-awareness, and ability to effectively address business problems across different perspectives and working styles.

Case Studies & Strategic Problem Solving: Tackle business problems using the structured thinking methods and analytical frameworks favored by top consulting firms and global organizations.

Professional Workshops & Field Projects: Engage directly with organizations, consultants, and industry experts. These practical workshops and field immersions connect strategy theory with organizational reality.

Business Project: Work on a live strategic challenge faced by an organization under professional conditions.  Working inside an organization for ten weeks, you interact directly with stakeholders, take ownership of analysis, and deliver actionable recommendations to corporate leaders.

Research Paper: Conduct original research under expert supervision. The research paper builds your capacity to identify a relevant research question, synthesize academic literature, design and implement an appropriate research design, and communicate evidence-based implications for theory and practice.  

Analytical Exercises: Build strong foundations in strategic analysis, economics, finance, and organizational thinking through individual and group assessments designed to ensure you master the quantitative and qualitative tools needed for confident, and accurate, decision-making.
 

Our curriculum is designed as a progressive journey. You begin by strengthening key business fundamentals, then you build advanced strategic knowledge through core courses, before tailoring your expertise through a wide choice of electives and a specialized certificate. 
 

Learning Cells are a distinctive collaborative learning format. Across two core courses, you participate in a diverse team and work together on a series of fast-paced case studies and strategic problem solving exercises under time constraints. The experience begins with a dedicated session on teamwork dynamics, collaboration strategies, conflict management, and constructive feedback, and culminates in a 360° peer assessment and a personalized feedback report that helps you to better understand your working style, your strengths, and areas for development.

Why It Matters:

Today’s organizations expect far more than technical expertise alone. They seek professionals who can collaborate effectively across cultures, communicate under pressure, navigate ambiguity, and contribute positively to team dynamics. Learning Cells are specifically designed to develop these interpersonal and relational capabilities, helping you build the adaptability, self-awareness, feedback culture, and collaborative mindset required to thrive in demanding professional environments.
 

You engage in two simulations designed to bring strategic decision-making to life. Working in teams, you navigate complex environments where you must collaborate effectively to make decisions under uncertainty, and balance competitive and sustainability-based trade-offs.

Our first simulation immerses you within the top-management team of a car manufacturer where you explore, understand, and handle the responsibilities of a corporate executive through competing against other teams in a simulated market environment.

Our second simulation allows you to understand how the actions of different kinds of organizations affect the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Throughout the simulations, teams are coached by faculty and participate in debrief sessions to reflect on the impact of your decisions and strategic choices. Together, the simulations help you develop strategic thinking, leadership, and decision-making skills.

Why It Matters:

Strategy is not formulated and executed in stable and predictable environments. The business simulations place you in situations of uncertainty, competition, and resource constraints, requiring you to make decisions quickly, collaboratively, and responsibly. 
 

The Business Project is an experiential learning opportunity that allows you to take on a real strategic challenge within an organization. Over ten weeks, small teams work in a consulting-like setting on a project for a company you have identified, moving from problem diagnosis and strategic analysis to actionable recommendations presented directly to senior management. Each team benefits from dual mentorship provided by both a company tutor and a HEC Paris academic supervisor.

Why It Matters:

The Business Project bridges the gap between academic learning and professional practice. You develop the ability to structure ambiguous problems, manage stakeholder relationships, work collaboratively under professional standards, and deliver strategic recommendations with real organizational impact. You will gain the kind of experience highly valued by top employers in multiple sectors.

 

Professional Workshops are half-day experiences hosted by leading organizations across different industries. You select three workshops aligned with you career interests and professional goals from a curated portfolio. Combining firm presentations, live case-solving , advice from managers, and networking opportunities with professionals and HEC Paris alumni, the workshops provide you with direct exposure to the business realities faced by organizations.

Why It Matters:

Professional Workshops provide far more than company visits. They give you the opportunity to engage directly with recruiters, consultants, managers, and alumni working in their target industries, while gaining practical insight into real business problems and professional expectations. By combining experiential learning with meaningful networking opportunities, these workshops help you build industry connections, refine your career aspirations, and increase your visibility ahead of recruitment season.
 

At the beginning of the program, the entire cohort takes part in a learning expedition to London. Designed as both professional and personal immersion, over several days the trip combines company visits, a networking event with HEC Paris alumni, and shared cohort experiences that help you build strong connections at the start of the year. Through direct exposure to firms across different industries, you gain valuable insights into various career paths, organizational cultures, and recruitment opportunities.

Why It Matters:

The study trip sets the tone for the rest of the program by combining career exploration, professional networking, and community building in an international business environment. Beyond discovering the realities of leading organizations and global industries, you begin to develop the relationships, confidence, and professional aspirations that will shape your experience on the program and beyond.
 

The Research Paper is your opportunity to take a deep dive into exploring a strategic question that interests you. With more than 100 topics proposed each year, you specialize in a topic aligned with your intellectual interests and career aspirations. Supported by a dedicated research methods course and supervised by a HEC Paris instructor whose expertise matches your topic, you learn how to formulate a relevant research question, design appropriate methodology, and build structured, evidence-based strategic recommendations that are relevant for managers.

Why It Matters:

The Research Paper allows you to develop a level of analytical depth and intellectual rigor that differentiates you in a competitive professional environment. Beyond strengthening research and critical thinking skills, it helps you to build a distinctive point of view on a strategic issue, engage directly with world-class HEC Paris research, and demonstrate the ability to tackle complex questions with independence and methodological precision. For those considering an academic career path, the Research Paper is a strong foundation for future doctoral studies.
 

Professional experience is an important component of the program and an opportunity to translate academic learning into real-world impact. You complete four months of professional experience following the completion of coursework. This requirement may be fulfilled through an internship, a fixed-term or permanent position, or entrepreneurial experience. Relevant prior professional experience, aligned with the program’s academic focus, may also be used to fulfill this requirement.

Many students secure full-time employment during or shortly after the coursework requirements of the program, and we actively support your career acceleration through close connections with recruiters, alumni, and partner firms. 
 

As an international business school, HEC Paris welcomes students from all over the world. Almost one hundred nationalities live on the campus. It's a fantastic opportunity to discover other cultures and to share exceptional moments, and it's important that students can communicate as much as they wish.

The aim of the HEC Paris Learning Center is to help you learn or strengthen any language you would like, providing a wide range of I.T. and print resources.

You do not need to speak French to enrol in the program as all core courses and electives are offered in English. However, some knowledge of French can be useful to enjoy the full HEC experience, become professionally bicultural and optimize networking with French students and alumni. This is why HEC Paris offers optional French language classes.

Prior to their studies, you may also register for a two-week French language course (TEF certificate – all levels) in August. This is an exceptional opportunity to learn French before joining the Campus (extra fees are applicable).