Changing courses: how to do it in 5 steps

Stage 1

Take stock of your current training

Before changing to a new course, you should first take stock of the course you are currently following. There are many reasons why you might decide to give up after a few years of study:

Insufficient outlets in the sector;
inadequate training for the job ;
lack of awareness of the school ;
willingness to develop skills ;
a desire to specialise;
target a specific area of work.

Step 2

Taking stock of yourself

When changing direction, you need to ask yourself the right questions and do some soul-searching. The following questions will help you find the answers to your training plans:

Are you satisfied with your current personal life?
what are you missing to be happier?
can you make your dreams come true with the training you’re doing?
what do you think about your future professional life?
can you make other choices?
what are your real aspirations?
what do you want to become?
how can i finance my studies and my lifestyle?

Step 3

Find out about other schools

Changing courses means looking for a new university or new schools.

Engineering school, IAE, FAC

Engineering schools train students for careers in engineering. They offer scientific and technological disciplines in the fields of innovation, development and progress. Entry is often by competitive examination.

IAEs, or Institut d’Administration des Entreprises, provide university-level training. There are 35 IAEs in France, giving you access to a quality degree. Selection is often tough.

The university is a public institution dedicated to higher education. It offers a variety of courses, from Bac+1 to Bac+8, in a wide range of disciplines, free of charge.

Private business school

Private business schools are fee-paying and accessible from BAC to BAC+5. They often have strong links with companies and offer professional training on a sandwich course basis.

The private business school INSEEC or INStitut des Hautes Etudes Economiques et Commerciales is one of them. With a strong reputation among students and companies, we offer a wide range of courses. You can take advantage of the Alumni network, a powerful network of former INSEEC students. They offer internships, work-study programmes and job offers. The alumni also run conferences and courses, not forgetting to support students in their professional projects.

Most of INSEEC’s courses can be taken on a sandwich course. This enables students to combine the teaching they receive with practical experience. Work-study programmes can take the form of internships, apprenticeships or professional training contracts.

INSEEC also offers students 4 training programmes for a change of direction:

BBA, post BAC, lasting 4 years;
Bachelor’s degree, post Bac to Bac+2, in 3 years ;
Grande Ecole, post BAC+2/+3 or +4, 1 to 3 years ;
MSc, post-BAC+3/+4 programme, in 1 or 2 years.

What’s more, the reverse or staggered start to the academic year in February/March makes it easy for students to reorient themselves during the year.

Step 4

Applying for another course

It’s always a good idea to look at other courses for future years of higher education.

With Parcoursup

BBAs or Bachelors in Business Administrationare 4-year post-baccalaureate programmes. BBAs offer a comprehensive four-year course in business and management, with a strong international focus.

Without Parcoursup

INSEEC offers a range of courses for French and international students living in France:

Grande Ecole: this Grande Ecole programme is accessible via the BCE route (Banque Commune d’Épreuve), aimed at students in preparatory classes. There is also an internal competitive entrance exam (Evolution 1 & 2) for students who already have a BAC+2 or +3 ;
MSc & MBA: in the 1st year of INSEEC’s MSc & MBA, this programme is aimed at students in the process of validating a Bac+3 and for employees or professionals in retraining. In the 2nd year, this programme can be followed by students with a Bac+4 or +5 and employees or professionals in retraining;
Bachelor: to apply for the INSEEC Bachelor, admission to the 1st year is open to students in their final year of high school and those who have passed the Baccalauréat. The 2nd year Bachelor is open to students who have completed the 1st year of the 1st cycle. For admission to the 3rd year, the Bachelor is open to students who have completed a 2nd or 3rd year of the 1st cycle.

Step 5

Making the most of your new student life

By changing your course, you’ll be fully involved in your new student life. INSEEC organises conferences where you can meet companies and experts who will show you what they do on a daily basis.

And there’s no shortage of community activities. You can get involved in projects to add value to your knowledge and skills on your CV and make the most of your student life.