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HEC Paris

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HEC Paris
HEC Paris entrance
MottoOser l’impossible
Motto in English
Dare the Impossible
TypePrivate
Endowment€213 million (2024)
PresidentJean-Paul Agon
Students5,453 (2023)
Location
Jouy-en-Josas
,
Île-de-France
,
France
ColorsBlue and White    
Websitehec.edu
Map
Logo
HEC Paris executive education
HEC UK House in London

The École des hautes études commerciales de Paris (often shortened to HEC Paris) is a non-profit business school[1][2] and a grande école. It is located in Jouy-en-Josas, a suburb southwest of Paris, France. The school also has campuses in Doha, Qatar,[3] and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[4] It was created in 1881 by Gustave Emmanuel Roy. The head of the School is Éloïc Peyrache since January 2021.

HEC Paris offers many programs, including Bachelor of Arts, Master in Management (MiM), Master of Science in International Finance, MBAs, Executive MBAs, executive education, professional development courses, certificates, and PhDs.[5][6]

The school has a strong reputation in business education in France and in other countries. It is often ranked among the top business schools in Europe.[7][8]

History

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HEC Paris was founded in 1881 by Gustave Emmanuel Roy, who was the president of the Paris Chamber of Commerce (CCIP). The first class had 57 students. The school wanted to become for business and management what the École Centrale Paris was for engineering.

In 1921, the school started using the case study method from the Harvard Business School. However, many classes were still mainly theoretical. In 1938, the program was extended to three years.[9]

At the end of the 1950s, French companies wanted a style of management education similar to North America. Because of this, the case study method was used in most classes. A one-year preparatory class was also created to help students prepare for a more difficult entrance exam. In 1959, only 9% of HEC students had studied at a university before, compared to 47% in 1929.[10]

In 1964, French President Charles de Gaulle opened a new large campus in Jouy-en-Josas.[11] The campus covered about 100 hectares and was surrounded by forest. In 1967, HEC started executive education programs.

Women have been allowed to study at HEC since 1973. That year, only 27 women were admitted. At the same time, HEC jeunes filles (HECJF), a school only for women, was closed. Its former students are now officially considered HEC graduates. One of them is Édith Cresson, who later became the first female Prime Minister of France.[12]

The doctoral program was created in 1975. Until 1985, students had to complete their PhD thesis at a university. In 1985, HEC gained the right to award its own doctoral degree, before ESSEC[13] and ESCP.[14]

The school created special teaching positions funded by companies such as Deloitte, EDF, and Toshiba. This helped build stronger links between HEC and businesses. The HEC Foundation was created in 1972 to support these connections and help fund the school.[15]

In the 1990s, HEC increased its links with companies. This led to more specialized courses, including finance and entrepreneurship, which had started in 1986. After major changes in the financial world, more graduates began working in England and other countries. In 2006, about one third of graduates found their first job abroad. In 2015, the school changed its legal status to allow private investors to take part in its board of directors.[16]

In 1988, HEC helped create the CEMS network with ESADE, Bocconi University, and the University of Cologne.[17]

On 1 July 2008, HEC Paris joined ParisTech and later became a founding member of Paris-Saclay University. Its campus in Jouy-en-Josas is located in the Yvelines area, in the northern part of the Paris-Saclay technology cluster. This area brings together about one quarter of France’s public research. HEC Paris is also part of a group of business schools in the Paris region, together with ESSEC and ESCP Business School.

In 2016, the school changed its legal status and became a public-private partnership. It is still mainly funded by the Paris Chamber of Commerce.[18]

In 2017, HEC launched new double degree programs called M2M. These programs were created with the University of St. Gallen, the Yale School of Management, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Fundação Getulio Vargas.[19]

In March 2017,[20] the school also started an Executive Master in innovation and entrepreneurship with the online platform Coursera.[21][22]

On 15 September 2020, HEC co-founded the artificial intelligence research center Hi! PARIS[23][24] with the Polytechnic Institute of Paris.[25]

In October 2023, the school announced a new Bachelor of Arts in data, society and organisations. This program was created with Bocconi University in Milan.[26][27][28]

In December 2024, the HEC Foundation announced the results of its “Impact Tomorrow” campaign (2019–2024).[29] It raised 213 million euros,[30] which is a record for a French grande école.[31]

At the end of 2025, the school presented its strategy for 2026–2031, called “New Responsibilities”.[32] This plan includes major changes to the Jouy-en-Josas campus,[33] the creation of the HEC Institute to take part in public debate,[34] and a goal that 25% of students will receive scholarships by 2030.[35] This comes after tuition fees for the Master in Management program rose to more than 70,000 euros in 2025.[36] To support this plan, the foundation aims to raise 300 million euros in five years.[37]

In 2026, HEC welcomes students from 135 different nationalities on its main campus. It also teaches new subjects such as geopolitics, public speaking, and social sciences.[38]

Organization

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The school offers courses from Bachelor of Arts to Doctor of Philosophy, including an Executive Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in partnership with Coursera.[39] 100% online, it aims to train senior managers specializing in these two areas within 18 months.[40] It was opened in March 2017.

Globally in the School, about 5400 students are taught and about 700 finish their studies each year.[41]

Reputation

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Since 2019, HEC Paris has been ranked as the best business school in Europe by the Financial Times every year.[42] Its Master in Strategic Management is ranked first in the QS rankings.[43] Its Master in Finance is usually ranked among the top two programs.[44] Its Master in Marketing is also ranked first in the world.[45]

Research activities

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On September 15, 2020, the school co-founded with the Polytechnic Institute of Paris[46] the artificial intelligence research center Hi! PARIS.[47][48]

The school has three other research centers:

Entrepreneurship

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The school has offered education in entrepreneurship for more than 40 years. It created a program called HEC Entrepreneurs in 1977,[49] which is now the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneurs, in partnership with École polytechnique.[50]

Between 2004 and 2013, the share of students becoming entrepreneurs increased from 10% to 25%.[51]

In 2007,[52] HEC Paris created the Incubateur HEC Paris, a startup incubator that supports companies founded by alumni. It is currently led by Antoine Leprêtre. Since 2017,[53] the incubator has been located at the Station F campus in Paris.

In 2013, HEC Paris started the "HEC Stand Up" program to help women become entrepreneurs.[54] The program is open to women of all ages and backgrounds who want to develop a business idea or start a company.[55] It is free to join and lasts about ten weeks. Participants learn through online courses, practical activities, and face-to-face sessions. The program has three modules. These modules help participants develop entrepreneurial skills, understand the market, and prepare a business plan.[56] At the end of the program, participants receive a certificate from HEC Paris.[57] The program has been offered in several regions of France, including overseas territories.[58][59]

Since 2017, the school also offers an online master’s degree in entrepreneurship.[60]

The HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute is ranked eighth in the Financial Times "Europe's leading start-up hubs" ranking 2026.[61]

Notable Alumni

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HEC Paris alumni association, HEC Alumni, is one of the oldest social networks in the world.[62] Notable alumni include :

References

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  1. ↑ "Levée de fonds, frais de scolarité, formation continue… : la nouvelle stratégie de HEC Paris". 25 November 2025.
  2. ↑ ""Les étudiants s'inscrivent, l'État finance, l'école encaisse": les dérives de l'enseignement supérieur privé à but lucratif". 13 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "HEC Paris celebrates 15 years of excellence, impact in Qatar". 19 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "A Abidjan, HEC à la conquête de l'Afrique de l'Ouest". 19 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "HEC Paris". 16 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Hautes études commerciales – HEC". 28 December 2024.[permanent dead link]
  7. ↑ "HEC redevient la meilleure école de commerce en Europe". 3 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "HEC devient la meilleure business school européenne selon le Financial Times". 9 December 2019.
  9. ↑ HEC Paris
  10. ↑ Le boom d'HEC
  11. ↑ LE GÉNÉRAL DE GAULLE INAUGURERA JEUDI LE " CAMPUS " D'H.E.C.
  12. ↑ Huit ans de mixité
  13. ↑ Habilitation de ESC Europe à délivrer le diplôme de doctorat
  14. ↑ Indiscret. L’Essec va bientôt pouvoir délivrer des doctorats
  15. ↑ "Rapport annuel 2023" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
  16. ↑ HEC attend un nouveau statut "inédit" pour 2013
  17. ↑ Collaboration between Nokia and the CEMS programme results in several strategic business projects every spring
  18. ↑ "Who We Are". HEC. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  19. ↑ HEC. "M2M Programs". HEC Paris. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  20. ↑ HEC lance un programme diplômant 100 % en ligne
  21. ↑ Executive MSc & MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  22. ↑ Exclusif. HEC se lance dans un diplôme... 100 % en ligne
  23. ↑ Zoom sur Hi! PARIS, le centre consacré à l’IA et aux Sciences des données de l’Institut Polytechnique de Paris et HEC Paris
  24. ↑ HEC et Polytechnique lancent le centre pluridisciplinaire Hi! Paris pour devenir champions de la recherche en IA
  25. ↑ "Hi!Paris, L'Institut Polytechnique De Paris Et HEC Paris Affichent Leur Ambition Dans L'IA". Archived from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  26. ↑ HEC Paris se lance dans la bataille du bachelor
  27. ↑ HEC crée son bachelor et fait chavirer la dernière digue qui protégeait le modèle prépa
  28. ↑ HEC lance son premier Bachelor en partenariat avec la Bocconi
  29. ↑ HEC, Polytechnique, CentraleSupélec : dans les coulisses de levées de fonds records
  30. ↑ "HEC réalise une levée de fonds record de 213 millions d'euros". Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
  31. ↑ Grandes écoles : une levée de fonds record pour HEC Paris
  32. ↑ « Je veux qu’HEC soit dix fois plus ouverte sur la société qu’auparavant »
  33. ↑ HEC Paris dévoile sa nouvelle stratégie “Nouvelles Responsabilités”
  34. ↑ HEC Paris lance sa stratégie “Nouvelles Responsabilités” et une levée de fonds de 300 millions d’euros
  35. ↑ Levée de fonds, frais de scolarité, formation continue… : la nouvelle stratégie de HEC Paris
  36. ↑ Plus de 70.000 euros pour étudier à HEC: les frais de scolarité s'envolent dans les écoles de commerce
  37. ↑ HEC Nouvelles responsabilités : ce qu’il faut retenir de la stratégie 2025-2029 d’HEC Paris
  38. ↑ «Le rôle de l'école est aussi de créer du courage» : comment HEC transforme ses enseignements
  39. ↑ "Executive MSc & MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship | HEC Paris". Coursera.
  40. ↑ "Exclusif. HEC se lance dans un diplôme... 100 % en ligne". L'Etudiant. March 28, 2017.
  41. ↑ "HEC lance un programme diplômant 100 % en ligne". Le Monde.fr. March 29, 2017 – via Le Monde.
  42. ↑ European Business School Rankings 2023
  43. ↑ QS Business Master's Rankings 2026: Management
  44. ↑ Masters in Finance pre-experience 2024
  45. ↑ QS Business Master’s Rankings 2026: Marketing
  46. ↑ Manceau, Jean-Jacques (September 22, 2020). "Hi!Paris, L'Institut Polytechnique De Paris Et HEC Paris Affichent Leur Ambition Dans L'IA". Forbes France. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Zoom sur Hi! PARIS, le centre consacré à l'IA et aux Sciences des données de l'Institut Polytechnique de Paris et HEC Paris". ActuIA.
  48. ↑ Mann, Nathan (15 September 2020). "HEC et Polytechnique lancent le centre pluridisciplinaire Hi! Paris pour devenir champions de la recherche en IA". L'USINENOUVELLE.com (in French). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  49. ↑ Formations à l'entrepreneuriat: la création d'entreprises est un outil pédagogique, estime Robert Papin, ancien directeur d'HEC Entrepreneurs
  50. ↑ PATRICK SAYER PRÉSIDERA LE COMITÉ D’ORIENTATION DU MASTER OF SCIENCE X-HEC ENTREPRENEURS
  51. ↑ "De plus en plus de créateurs d'entreprise à HEC". www.letudiant.fr (in French). 23 March 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  52. ↑ "Incubateur HEC Paris". Les Echos Solutions Business (in French). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  53. ↑ Manceau, Jean-Jacques (14 April 2020). "Les Écoles De Commerce Championnes De L'Entrepreneuriat". Forbes France (in French). Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  54. ↑ Yvelines : le programme d'HEC pour l'entrepreneuriat féminin fête ses 10 ans
  55. ↑ Entrepreneuriat féminin – Encore quelques jours pour candidater au programme HEC Stand UP
  56. ↑ ENTREPRENEURIAT : FEMMES D'ÎLE-DE-FRANCE, BRISEZ LE PLAFOND DE VERRE AVEC HEC STAND UP !
  57. ↑ HEC : Stand Up, le cursus gratuit pour les femmes soutenu par la fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  58. ↑ 29 femmes certifiées HEC Stand Up
  59. ↑ HEC Stand Up : 45 femmes entrepreneuses mises à l'honneur
  60. ↑ HEC Paris Online Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  61. ↑ FT ranking: Europe’s leading start-up hubs 2026
  62. ↑ Massé, par Delphine (December 2, 2013). "HEC Alumni, une communauté au service des diplômés". HelloWorkplace.

Further reading

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