What level of English do you need to get into a business school?

Do you need a specific level of English to be admitted?

At Excelia Business School, admission does not depend on any standard English score: neither the TOEIC, the TOEFL nor the IELTS is required for admission. What matters above all is your motivation interview. This conversation, lasting about twenty minutes, assesses your project and your background, on the principle of equal opportunities among candidates.

There is one exception: if you opt for an English-language pathway, part of this interview is conducted in English, to check that you can follow the teaching in that language. For all other pathways, no language assessment takes place at this stage, and it is your motivation and the coherence of your project that take precedence over your starting level.

If you are wondering about your own level, an adviser can review it with you, taking your background into account: book an appointment with an Excelia Business School adviser before you get started.

What level is needed for an English-language pathway or international mobility?

At Excelia Business School, the BBA International and its English-language pathway illustrate this differentiated requirement well: this pathway delivers all of its teaching in English from the first year. This assumes a minimum level, assessed directly during the motivation interview rather than by a numerical score imposed in advance.

If your project is more about international mobility than an entirely English-language pathway, the requirement shifts to the partner university that will host you. Most ask for a C1 level, evidenced by a test such as the TOEFL or the IELTS, while some destinations, notably under the Erasmus+ programme, may accept a B2 level. This level is not built in a day: it is better to plan your preparation from the first years of your curriculum.

How can you improve your English during your studies?

You therefore do not need to arrive with an already perfect level: your English also improves during your studies. In the Bachelor in Business at Excelia Business School, preparation for TOEIC certifications is built into the curriculum, with the option of taking this certification during your programme, rather than making it a prerequisite for entry.

This momentum of progress applies as much if you are aiming for an English-language pathway from entry as if you are preparing for future mobility: the earlier you practise, the less daunting the deadline of the interview or of your departure abroad will seem. It is this progress that really counts, more than your starting level.

This approach changes the question to ask yourself before applying: the right question is not whether your current level is enough, but whether you are ready to improve it once you are studying at the school.