My Career Path
My Career Path
There’s still time to join Excelia, an internationally renowned Business School!
What exactly is an alternative start date?
An alternative start date is a delayed start… an opportunity to enrol on a programme which begins later in the same academic year, i.e. NOT in the traditional month of September. It means you can validate a full academic year in a shorter period of time, so that you can continue your studies the following September without losing an academic year!
Why join Excelia with an alternative start date?
It’s a great opportunity for international students!
- Certain academic calendars abroad are not synchronised with mainland France. But, at Excelia, you can enrol in October, January or February, depending on your chosen programme.
- You won’t lose an academic year: if you didn’t receive a favourable response through your national admissions service, our alternative start dates mean you won’t have to wait any longer to start your studies or have to take an unwanted year out.
- Give yourself the time to think about your options: if you’ve realised that your current study path is not right for you, it may take a few months to work out what you really want to do professionally, and you can then enrol on a new programme with a delayed start date.
- Change of direction: anyone can make a mistake in their choice of programme. Our alternative start dates to the academic year give you another chance to embark on a path that suits you better.
- Pursue a personal project: if you wanted to make the most of the first few months of the academic year to devote yourself to a personal project (travelling, internship, humanitarian mission, extended summer job, etc.), you can still continue on with your studies.
- Adapt to unforeseen circumstances: health issues, family problems or other unexpected events may have prevented you from starting your studies in September.
Which Excelia programmes are available with a delayed start date?
Excelia First Year 
Equivalent to 1 year of post-High School education in general business and management, giving you the possibility of then joining Year 2 of one of Excelia’s Bachelors
Start dates: February 2026
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Paris : English track or French track
- La Rochelle : French track
Master in Management
The Master in Management is a generalist business programme accessible after secondary school. It includes studies abroad and offers a wide range of specialisations at Master’s level.
Start dates: January 2026
- Tours: in French track
Master in Management
The Master in Management is a generalist business course accessible directly at Master 1 level, offering a wide range of specialisations in the second year (Master 2).
Start dates: February 2026
- Paris: in classic and French track
International Foundation programme
The International Foundation Programme (IFP) is designed for international students who wish to acquire, in 6 months or one year, the fundamentals of management, along with linguistic and technical skills, to apply for Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes at Excelia.
Start dates: January 2026
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La Rochelle
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Paris
How to apply for an Excelia programme with a delayed start date ?
Apply now
Choosing Excelia means being part of a close-knit community
- Join our strong network of 43,500 graduates
- We embrace important values… Sharing, Humanity, Courage, Responsibility and Commitment
- In the Top 10 Business Schools in the world
- Small class sizes, personalised support and guidance
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Need help in making your decision ?
Our Academic Advisors are on hand…
- to help you ask yourself the right questions
- to advise you on the various options available to you
- to explain the necessary steps to take
