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BCE entrance exam 2026: SKEMA remains the most chosen business school among preparatory students for the seventh year
SKEMA Business School continues to attract strong interest from students in French preparatory classes. According to figures from the 2026 Banque Commune d’Épreuves (BCE) entrance exam, the school once again ranks first among candidates’ choices. For the seventh consecutive year, SKEMA stands as the most selected institution in a highly competitive landscape of leading management schools.
A total of 8,301 students chose to sit the BCE exam for SKEMA this year, compared with 8,155 in 2025, representing an increase of 1.8%. Out of the 9,506 candidates registered for the BCE exam – the main gateway to leading French business schools – this figure confirms the school’s sustained appeal among preparatory students.
Strong appeal across preparatory streams
This momentum is visible across all ECG (economic and commercial general) streams. SKEMA attracted 2,401 candidates in ECG applied mathematics – ESH, 1,820 in ECG advanced mathematics – HGG, 1,485 in ECG applied mathematics – HGG, and 1,011 in ECG advanced mathematics – ESH.
These results highlight the school’s strong positioning among a wide range of academic profiles, from students with a quantitative background to those specialising in economics or geopolitics. At a time when applied mathematics now attracts 58% of preparatory students nationwide, SKEMA continues to draw high-level quantitative profiles while maintaining strong appeal among students with a deep interest in economics and international affairs.
A presence across all admission routes
The school also maintains strong visibility in other admission streams. This year, 1,025 candidates from the technological track chose to sit the BCE exam for SKEMA, alongside 559 candidates from literary streams (BEL and B/L).
These profiles are valued for their analytical skills and their perspective on major economic and societal transformations, contributing to the academic diversity of the programme.
In total, 2,195 scholarship students have chosen to sit the exam for SKEMA this year, reflecting the social diversity of the school’s applicant pool.
A pedagogical model that resonates with students
For Patrice Houdayer, Executive Vice President of Global Academic Affairs, and Sylvie Jean, Director of the Master in Management (PGE) programme, these results reflect the expectations of a new generation of students facing a rapidly changing world.
“The 2026 figures confirm that students are looking for a school capable of preparing them for a complex and technologically transformed world. The structure of the Master in Management around customisable pathways, the integration of contemporary challenges such as AI, sustainability and geopolitics, as well as the strength of our multi-campus model, constitute decisive assets.”
The evolution of the Master in Management (PGE), built around flexible academic pathways and strong international exposure, contributes to this momentum. It reflects an academic model that combines management, social sciences and data science, with the ambition of preparing students to navigate major economic, technological and geopolitical transformations.
