Skip to main content

FAQ

Summer Programs 18+

Please read our FAQ sections for further information regarding the admission process, eligibility, payment, housing, visas, the curriculum or life on campus. This should answer most of your questions. 

If there's something you don't find, please let us know via the Contact Request form. 


Week 1 is held on the HEC Paris campus and Week 2 is held on the EHL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland. 2 weeks, 2 countries, 2 campuses.

You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements from Paris to Lausanne on Sunday 5th July. Please check details on check-in times at EHL to ensure you arrive when there will be someone to welcome you.

We encourage you to make a sustainable choice; there are up to 12 trains per day running from Paris to Lausanne.

Check-in HEC:  from 8am on Monday 29th June. Classes will start at 9.30am.

Check-out HEC:  Sunday 5th July before 10am.

****

Check-in Lausanne: Sunday 5th July from 3 to 6 pm and Monday 6th July from 7 to 8:15 am.

Check-out EHL: Friday 10th July from 5 to 6 pm or Saturday 11th July by 10 am.
The program will close at 5pm on Friday 10th July.

 

At both HEC and EHL rooms are guaranteed for all participants. You will receive housing information after being admitted to the program. 

Week 1 @ HEC: see Housing page for more details on when and how to book your room. 

Week 2 @ EHL: the housing payment link will be sent a few weeks before program start date. 

You are responsible for booking your accommodation in Lausanne separately. Please note that access to the sports facilities is included with your room reservation.

At HEC, all rooms have a single bed with linen, a desk, closet, private ensuite bathroom with towels and an equipped kitchenette. For more details, please consult our Housing page.

At EHL, the rooms are as described above, but have no kitchen facilities.

Please note that accommodation fees and meals are not included in the program fees.

Rooms are guaranteed at both HEC and EHL for bookings made before the end of May. 

You will learn more about how to book your room at EHL in the information sheet sent out when you have been admitted to the program.

Yes, both schools have a student restaurant on campus. Please consult the Housing page, last section on Where Can I Eat? for more details. 

At EHL, you will find a wide variety of food outlets — including a Michelin-starred restaurant — offering exceptional culinary experiences. You may wish to enhance your stay by dining at their Brasserie 1893 or at their Michelin-starred restaurant, Berceau des Sens, among other options available on campus. Kindly note that advance reservations are required for both restaurants, but not for the other food outlets.

Please be aware that EHL operates a cashless payment system. They recommend bringing your debit or credit card to settle your meals at any of their campus outlets.

A typical lunch at HEC will cost about €8. Please note that the student restaurant is not open in the evenings. The student rooms are equipped with a kitchenette and basic cooking utensils and there is a well-stocked supermarket opposite the campus.

EHL offers a Meal Package for your 5-day stay that includes breakfast and lunch (one main dish and one side dish) for CHF 215. You will have the option to book this package when completing the payment for your room.

If you are travelling from outside the Shengen area, you will need a Shengen short stay visa to enter both countries. Please check with your local embassy for more details. Once you have confirmed your place in the program, we will provide you with an Enrolment Certificate and a Housing Certificate (if you select the option with housing) that will strengthen your visa application.

EHL applies a strict dress code for its students, which is compulsory from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Please respect this dress code. You may familiarize yourself with it here: EHL Guide for Professional Appearance

Our joint summer program with TUM is held at the TUM School of Management, Campus Heilbronn in Germany.

The first week will be taught by TUM faculty and the second week by HEC faculty.

TUM Campus Heilbronn does not have on-campus housing available for Summer School participants but instead books a contingency of rooms at a local hotel a 15 minute walk from the campus. In 2025 a preferential rate was proposed to participants, with TUM subsidizing the full-rate. This will be confirmed shortly for 2026.

After confirming your place on the program you will be sent a TUM-specific housing information sheet. This will provide details of how and where to book your room and a code for the special rate. You are then responsible for making the booking yourself. This is separate from your program fees.

Rooms will be pre-booked at the nearby hotel. TUM will subsidize rooms for the first 35 participants. 

For alternatives, please consult the housing information sheet that you will receive after confirming your place.

There is a student canteen on campus and plenty of alternatives around town. Recommendations will be shared with students at the start of the program.

If you are travelling from outside the Shengen area, you will need a Shengen short stay visa to enter Germany. Please check with your local embassy for more details. Once you have confirmed your place in the program, we will provide you with an Enrolment Certificate that will strengthen your visa application.

In 2025, the hotel rooms in Heilbronn were subsidized for the nights Sunday, 28th June – Saturday, 11th July, 13 nights in total. This will be confirmed shortly for 2026.

Most of our participants use the opportunity to explore some of Germany's beautiful cities like Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Munich. City Recommendations will be provided by email before the start of the program. 

HEC Paris Summer Programs are intensive two-week courses taught entirely in English.  All participants are expected to be proficient in English as you will be working and socializing with an international cohort.

In order to benefit in full from the experience, both inside and outside of the classroom, applicants should be able to understand spoken language with relative ease and express themselves fluently and spontaneously. An overall CEFR level C1 is therefore required, including level C1 specifically in the Speaking and Listening components.

One of the following documents can be provided to fulfill the English language requirement:

- Evidence of mother tongue* (e.g. passport)
- Evidence of English as the language of instruction of your current / most recent degree (e.g., transcript/certificate of enrolment) or 
- Reconized English language proficiency test score report 
(TOEFL or TOEIC or IELTS or Cambridge or Oxford Test of English (OTE) or Duolingo

If you have any question as to the acceptability of an English language report, please contact the Admissions Team at admissionsummerschool@hec.fr.                                                         

* The status of native speaker (English mother tongue) applies to citizens (passport holders) from a majority English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom) who are automatically considered to meet the minimum English language requirement.  Please simply upload a copy of your passport to the relevant field.

 

In certain cases, the Admissions team can also grant a phone/ visio interview to evaluate English language proficiency. Please note that if we require an interview for English language evaluation purposes, the application decision can take longer.

Applications will open towards the end of each calendar year. Candidates who have pre-registered will be informed when applications open so that they can submit their application shortly afterwards. Note that eligible candidates will be accepted on a rolling basis so we advise candidates to apply early. Please check below for questions on Eligibility.

The Admissions team will strive to get back to all applicants quickly. Applicants will generally receive admission results within two weeks after having successfully submitted their application. 

Please note that if we require an interview for English language evaluation purposes, or for applications relating to a program with a partner school, the application decision can take a little longer.

The Summer School welcomes diverse participant profiles. Participants included university-level students at bachelor's or master's level, recent graduates and young professionals up to the age of 30 who are seeking to discover a new domain. The Summer School regularly includes participants from over 50 nationalities, often with over 20 in any one classroom.

The summer pedagogy is designed to take into account differences of age and experience. The average participant is 22 years old.  At minimum, participants must be 18 years of age at the start of the program and have at least one year of undergraduate studies under their belt.

Summer Programs are open to participants from all domains and who are seeking a high-level academic experience, whether the topic is a new or familiar one. In addition to the English language requirement, there are also pre-requisites for the Finance Programs.

Please note that we take an advisory-based approach to your application, so given your background, the team may recommend an alternative program.

 

Eligibility for Finance & Accounts Programs: 
 

Corporate Finance
Firms' Accounts & Restructuring

These first level programs offer an overall view of the subject matter. They are suitable for early level business or economics students, and participants from another domain who are interested in adding Finance or Accounting skills to their profile. 
These programs also welcome applicants with experience in the field, who are seeking to refresh their skills, and to gain concrete real-life applications.

FinTech: The Future of Finance

This first level program welcomes participants with an interest in the FinTech field and strong motivation to explore the economic model behind FinTech companies and the new technologies that are shaping the world of Finance. A background in Finance or Economics may be beneficial to gain maximum benefit from the program. However, there are no formal academic pre-requisites.

 

Investment Banking & International Finance
Sustainable Finance & Investment
Energy & Finance

These intermediate programs welcome motivated, ambitious participants with at least 2 years of undergraduate studies in a related field, such as Business, Economics, Corporate Finance or Accounting, at the time of the program. A first domain-related internship experience may be beneficial. These programs are more technical than Corporate Finance. 

Students with an engineering background are also welcome to apply to the Sustainable Finance & Investment  or the Energy & Finance programs.

 

Mergers and Acquisitions 
Private Equity and LBO

These advanced programs are designed for students or recent graduates who already have solid fundamental and technical knowledge in Finance and want to gain technicality and expertise. It is recommended that participants have a strong academic background in Accounting, Corporate Finance, or Economics. Most participants will already be studying at master's level.
Participants can also be considered eligible if they have attended in one of the following HEC Paris Summer School Programs:
- Firms' Accounts & Restructuring
Corporate Finance
Investment Banking and International Finance 

 

Summer Programs are only offered in June and July.

However, we offer online certificate programs at other moments of the year. Check this page for these alternative opportunities for people leading busy lifestyles around the globe.

Summer Programs are intensive two-week programs on campus. They involve classes, individual and group work and are considered a full-time commitment. Participants select one program maximum per session.

Should you choose to attend two consecutive programs, you will be granted a 10% reduction on your program fees.

Participants should carefully choose programs of interest when applying. Once admitted to a program, changes cannot be accepted.

Yes, students are required to obtain travel insurance for the duration of their stay at HEC Paris. Insurance should include the following elements:

  • Health insurance
  • Medical expenses
  • Personal liability or third party insurance (often covered by the home insurance policy)
  • Repatriation (if family is living outside France)

When you sign the Terms of Sale, you agree that you are responsible for procuring the necessary insurance. There is no need, nor the possibility, to upload anything on the portal. It is your full responsibility and in the absence of the relevant insurance, you will be required to cover any expenses incurred.

Full payment of the program fees is required within fourteen days after receiving official notice of program admission in order to confirm your place in the program. 

We invite you to plan your program application date according to the time period when you will be prepared to make payment. Should you have difficulty making your payment for any reason, stay transparent and contact the admissions office.

Payment occurs online by credit card. Bank transfers can exceptionally also be accepted. Please note that payment by bank transfer may delay confirmation of your enrolment.

 

Payment of the €50 fee per application occurs by credit card at the time of the online application. Please note that this fee is non-refundable.

Students attending HEC Paris partner institutions are exempt from the application fee if the application is made before the indicated deadline. Please consult the Admissions page for more details.

A participant has fourteen (14) days from the day of program payment to withdraw.  In such a case, HEC Paris will reimburse all program fees paid to HEC Paris in the course of the agreement, unless the withdrawal request is received on or after the start of the Program.

Further details can be found in the Withdrawal and Refund Policy section of the Fees page.

This information is included within the Terms of Sale. All participants are required to read and agree to the Terms of Sale, provided in full at the time of purchase.

Students may consider taking additional insurance to cover their potential cancellation, including for medical reasons, after the above cited withdrawal period.

Yes, students are required to obtain travel insurance for the duration of their stay at HEC Paris. Insurance should include the following elements:

  • Health insurance
  • Medical expenses
  • Personal liability or third party insurance (often covered by the home insurance policy)
  • Repatriation 

For French citizens or residents, your carte vitale and mutuelle may cover your medical expenses to a certain extent. Please check with your current provider if repatriation is included or can be added.

For participants joining from EU/ EEA countries, you will need a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or private travel insurance to provide full coverage. Please inquire with your health insurance provider in your home country.

Private travel insurance for the Schengen area can be found online. While are not able to recommend a single insurance company, many of our students in the past have taken a package with ACS Insurance (EUROPAX) or AXA (SchengenTravel Insurance). Please note that they are just two amongst many and you are encouraged to shop around and choose which one best suits your needs and budget.

When you sign the General Terms of Registration and the Individual Terms & Conditions, you agree that you are responsible for procuring the necessary insurance. There is no need, nor the possibility, to upload anything on the portal. It is your full responsibility and in the absence of the relevant insurance, you will be required to cover any expenses incurred.

Participants are also encouraged to include a cancellation policy in their insurance, especially those who need a visa to travel to France.

With the combination of contact hours, self-study and group work, our Summer Programs are a full-time commitment, so you should plan any professional or other personal obligation outside of day-time program hours. You will have access to your academic portal and detailed schedule a week before arrival on campus. Please bear in mind for your planning that classes maybe scheduled anywhere between 8am and 6pm. 

Evening work with other participants should be anticipated as part of class participation.

100% attendance is mandatory for successful program completion, with the exception of justifiable, pre-approved absence. In the case of exceptional absence, missing a class does not exempt participants from preparation for the following session. All participants are expected to stay informed of work and assignments.

For all programs held entirely on the HEC Campus, check-in on the first day is between 9am - 1pm. Your first class will start at 2pm. Please organize your travel arrangements accordingly.

For programs with our partner schools TUM and EHL, starting times will differ. Please consult the respective section at the top of this page. 

All participants of the programs held at HEC Paris should plan to arrive on campus on the first Monday morning for check-in between 9am - 12.30pm.

Your first class will begin at 2pm.

For the programs held with partner schools EHL and TUM, this may differ. Please consult the respective section at the top of this page.

While classes will mostly end on the Friday afternoon, there is a Farewell Event for all participants held in the evening at the end of the program. We hope that you will join us in celebrating a successful two-weeks.

If you choose to book on-campus housing, your room will be available until the Saturday morning following your program close to enable you to attend the Farewell Event. Depending on your travel arrangements, you can check-out on the Friday after class or before 10am on the Saturday morning. 

You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements to the airport or station at the close of the program. 

Please note that full attendance is expected until the end of the program. Students who are not present for the final exam or final student presentations will not earn credit.

100% participation (other than justified absences) is mandatory to obtain the Summer Certificate of Attendance and HEC Paris course transcript. Please consult the HEC Paris Summer School Academic Guidelines for further details.

Student readings are provided in eletronic copy. If students wish to purchase additional recommended books, this is at their own charge.

Most programs culminate in final projects and/or team presentations. However, some Finance programs have a final exam towards the end of the program. Please consult the program page under the section Assessment for details specific to your program of interest.

HEC Paris Summer Programs are intensive, leading to the award of 5 ECTS credits over a two-week period. Students are required to attend all classes and participate in groupwork to earn credits. 

For eligible credit transfer, students should verify with their home institution that any credits earned will be applicable.

Summer School students who successfully validate the program will earn a digital Certificate of Successful Completion which can be accessed via a secure server by the end of September.  A paper copy of the Certificate of Successful Completion will not be provided.

However, a paper Certificate of Attendance will be awarded on the last day of the program.

At the end of July, participants will automatically be able to access their transcript with their grade via the HEC student portal. A digital copy will be made available at the end of September together with the Certificate of Successful Completion via the secure server. This server provides life-time access to your documents.

At the end of July, participants will automatically be able to access their transcript with their grade via the HEC student portal. 

A digital copy will be made available at the end of September together with the Certificate of Successful Completion via the secure server. This server provides life-time access to your documents.

Students are encouraged to bring a laptop computer. If needed, there are computer rooms available to students on campus.

All Summer School students will have full access to the HEC Learning Center. The HEC Paris Learning Center welcomes you online 24/7 and is one of the richest in Europe in terms of business and finance resources. 

Participant evaluation criteria can vary from program to program and is communicated individually on each program page. Criteria can include the following elements: attendance, participation, individual and/or group work, final exam / presentation. 

 

All HEC Summer School participants will have access to the fitness room and gymnasium as well as tennis courts, football fields, a beach volleyball field, indoor and outdoor basketball courts. 

Tennis rackets and tennis balls are not provided; please plan to bring these with you.

There is also a well-kept trail around the lake if you would like to go for an early-morning jog.

HEC Paris has a student canteen with a selection of menus, including a vegan option, a grill and a salad bar. And there is always cheese - this is France after all! 

There are two cafés where you can find a selection of sandwiches, salads, pastries, microwave dishes and drinks. And there is also a restaurant which doubles as a a multi-purpose space to collaborate, celebrate, work, and relax as well as just eat well.

A stone's throw from campus there is a well-stocked supermarket which will enable you to cook for yourself (and your friends) if you prefer. Each student room is equipped with a kitchenette (fridge, hotplates, microwave oven) and basic cooking utensils for the duration of your stay.

Please consult the section 'Where Can I Eat?' on the Housing page for more details. 

As a participant of our Summer School you will have access to all the on-campus facilities, including:

  • 24/7 Library
  • Bloomberg Finance Lab
  • Medical Center
  • Language Resource Center
  • . . .

Yes, they do. There are no hidden extras.

Please consult the Beyond the Classroom page for more details of how to make those lasting connections!

Learning occurs both inside and outside of the classroom. An important component of the HEC Paris Summer School is teamwork that takes place after classroom hours. To fully benefit from your academic experience and HEC Paris campus life, participants are encouraged to reside in on-campus residences. Housing is guaranteed for all participants who choose to reside on campus.  Details can be found on the Housing page. 

Participants who opt to reside off-campus are responsible for arranging their own transportation to campus in order to arrive in time for morning classes. HEC Paris is located approximately 10 miles outside Paris centre.

!! Please note that housing arrangements differ for our dual programs with TUM and EHL.

All rooms at HEC Paris are recently renovated single rooms equipped with small kitchenette, including a fridge, double hotplate, microwave oven and a sink. Basic cooking utensils will also be provided. Each room has a private shower and bathroom.

The HEC Residence provides you with bedding, sheets and towels for the duration of your stay. Soap, shampoo and toothpaste are the responsibility of each student. Note that rooms do not include irons or hair dryers. Please plan accordingly.

!! Please note that housing arrangements may differ for our dual programs with TUM and EHL.

Check-in at the Residence occurs Monday morning of each program start from 9 am to 12 pm. The Summer team will be present to welcome you then. Please note that the rooms are not available before the Monday morning. If you arrive in France earlier, you are responsible for finding alternative accommodation until program start. You might like to take the opportunity to explore nearby Versailles or spend a night in Paris. A free shuttle bus will be organized from Paris on the first day of the program. See the next FAQ for more details. There is also the Best Western Saclay hotel adjacent to the campus. 

Check-out of the Residence is requested by 9 am at the latest on the Saturday following your program close. If you are attending more than one consecutive summer school program, there is no need to check-out between programs. You may however be asked to switch rooms between periods. Participants are responsible for organizing their own transport at the end of the program.

!! Please note that times for check-in and check-out may differ for our programs with TUM and EHL.

HEC Paris is fully equipped to host students with disabilities. Upon acceptance into the program, students needing special assistance should contact summerteam@hec.fr.

The French government website states that  persons entering France to take part in short training programs not exceeding 90 days require a Short-Stay Visa. A study visa is not required. Participants with a passport from a country in the Schengen Area do not require a visa. 

In addition, all international students are expected to verify requirements with their local French consulate for any country-specific details and plan accordingly.

All students who confirm their place and make full payment of their tuition fees will be sent a digital Certificate of Enrolment which can be used for visa application purposes.

In addition, admitted candidates will also receive a Housing Guarantee for accommodation on-campus. These documents should be submitted with your visa application.

You are advised to apply for your visa in good time as the delays indicated on embassy websites are not always accurate as the summer holiday season approaches.

Yes, students are required to obtain travel insurance for the duration of their stay at HEC Paris. Insurance should include the following elements:

  • Health insurance
  • Medical expenses
  • Personal liability or third party insurance (often covered by the home insurance policy)
  • Repatriation 

For French citizens or residents, your carte vitale and mutuelle may cover your medical expenses to a certain extent. Please check with your current provider if repatriation is included or can be added.

For participants joining from EU/ EEA countries, you will need a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or private travel insurance to provide full coverage. Please inquire with your health insurance provider in your home country.

Private travel insurance for the Schengen area can be found online. While are not able to recommend a single insurance company, many of our students in the past have taken a package with ACS Insurance (EUROPAX) or AXA (SchengenTravel Insurance). Please note that they are just two amongst many and you are encouraged to shop around and choose which one best suits your needs and budget.

When you sign the General Terms of Registration and the Individual Terms & Conditions, you agree that you are responsible for procuring the necessary insurance. There is no need, nor the possibility, to upload anything on the portal. It is your full responsibility and in the absence of the relevant insurance, you will be required to cover any expenses incurred.

Participants are also encouraged to include a cancellation policy in their insurance, especially those who need a visa to travel to France.

The HEC Paris campus is located just outside of Paris in Jouy-en-Josas and accessible both from major airports (Orly and Roissy) and from central Paris. Please consult the Campus Access page here for a map and all bus and train connections. 

Please note that a free shuttle bus is provided from the centre of Paris (near metro station Denfert Rochereau) to campus on the first Monday of each session. More details can be found in the Shuttle Bus section of the Housing page.

If you are arriving in France on Monday morning and are unable to catch this shuttle bus, please make your own way to the HEC Paris campus on the first day. For full details on how to reach campus, please consult the Campus Access page linked above.