ESSEC Business Analytics Admissions: The DSBA Master Explained

If you have seen "MAM" linked to ESSEC, it probably refers to Yale's Master of Advanced Management, which Global MBA students can apply to through a 1+1 pathway (see our guide to ESSEC MBA admissions).

What is the ESSEC DSBA master and who is it for?

This ESSEC CentraleSupélec master, which CentraleSupélec lists as the MSc in Data Sciences and Business Analytics, leads to a French state-recognised master's degree. It suits graduates who want to combine machine learning and data skills with business strategy. It is taught in English, and French is not required.

• Length: one year (Master 2) with a four-year bachelor's or a master's; two years (Master 1 and 2) with a three-year bachelor's.
• Locations: teaching is shared between Paris, ESSEC's Cergy campus and CentraleSupélec, with an optional Master 2 term in Singapore.
• Class profile: average age 23, 39% women, 78% international; 58% come from economics, business or finance and 35% from engineering or science.
• Specialisations: options include finance, healthtech, consulting and strategy, data and strategy in Asia, and entrepreneurship. A dual degree with Columbia University's MS in Business Analytics is also possible.

ESSEC DSBA requirements

• Degree: a bachelor's or master's degree; final-year students can apply with an enrolment certificate.
• Management test (mandatory): GMAT or GRE (valid five years) or TAGE MAGE (two years). No minimum is published.
• English test: TOEFL iBT 95, IELTS Academic 6.5, Cambridge B2 First 175 or TOEIC 850, unless you completed three or more years of higher education fully in English.
• Documents: a one-page English CV, authenticated transcripts and two references, ideally one academic and one professional.

An interview may be scheduled if the committee needs clarification, so your written file does most of the work.

ESSEC DSBA deadlines and how to apply

ESSEC DSBA deadlines for the 2027 intake fall at noon, Paris time:

ESSEC business analytics admissions use two portals. If you study outside France, you apply through CentraleSupélec's portal; students at French institutions apply through ESSEC's. ESSEC lists a €120 application fee. You can submit one application per year, and your track choice is final. Admitted students pay a €5,000 deposit within two weeks.

ESSEC DSBA tuition and careers

For the 2026 intake, ESSEC DSBA tuition was €31,540 (EU) or €34,740 (non-EU) for the one-year track and €46,630 (EU) or €49,930 (non-EU) for the two-year track. Fees change every year.

No salary figures are published, but recruiters named by the schools include Google, Amazon, BCG, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase and Palantir. A corporate research project on partner companies' own data and a yearly hackathon with partners such as Ekimetrics and Artefact give you real cases to discuss with employers.

The ESSEC DSBA ranking also helps your CV later: fourth worldwide in QS 2026, and second in Europe according to CentraleSupélec.

How to stand out in ESSEC business analytics admissions

• Prove your maths. Highlight grades in statistics, linear algebra and programming, plus any Python or SQL projects.
• Show the business side. Explain which industry problems you want to solve with data.
• Choose one or two years honestly. The committee may move you to the two-year track if your background is incomplete.
• Apply in Round 2 or 3 to keep time for a test retake.

For the school's wider strategy, see our ESSEC Business School overview.

Frequently asked questions

What GMAT score do I need for the ESSEC DSBA?

Neither school publishes a minimum or average score. ESSEC's guidance is to aim as high as you can, and a strong quantitative section matters most for a data programme. GRE and TAGE MAGE scores are accepted instead, and the GMAT and GRE stay valid for five years.

Should I choose the DSBA or the ESSEC Master in Finance?

Choose the DSBA if you want data science and machine learning applied across industries. Choose the Master in Finance if your goal is corporate finance or markets. Our guide to ESSEC MiF admissions covers its requirements.