RIL cohort

About the Responsible International Leadership Track

In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, making sustainable and ethically sound decisions has become essential. Future leaders are now expected to consider not only shareholders and business performance, but also the broader impact of their decisions on employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, and the environment.

The Responsible International Leadership Track is designed to equip students with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to become responsible and globally-aware managers. It offers a multidisciplinary approach that integrates sustainability, ethics, and stakeholder management into core business practices.

This program is developed in close collaboration with our international academic partner, the University of South Carolina, DMSB, ensuring both global relevance and local insight. On this page, meant for our incoming students, you will find all the key information about the track, including course structure, eligibility, application process, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Eligibility & Application

• Eligibility for incoming RIL students to ESSEC : determined by University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business 

• The UofSC DMSB is responsible for the students' application and selection.

RIL program Presentation - Cergy campus

The RIL “Responsible International Leadership” track starts in Cergy in Semester 4, where you will join ESSEC students in their 2nd year of studies. 

• You will study together for the four subsequent semesters. 2 semesters in France, 2 in UofSC.

In semester 4, students must take the mandatory courses required in Semester 4 + the RIL cohort course.

• Cohort course : People & Organizations

• Semester 4 mandatory courses

In semester 5, students will take mandatory courses, a cohort course, and complete their curriculum with electives.

• Cohort course : Cultural Intelligence for the Global Leader 

• Semester 5 mandatory courses (determined by UofSC according to your major)

• Electives

Here are a few tips to organize your trip.

You can check the 'Life on campus' section of this website to get an idea of your life at ESSEC.

Please also check the registrar's document regarding VISA.

Program Bochure (soon to be released)

Mandatory classes (for the 2024-2025 cohort)

Responsible Marketing

E-Business

SPOC Companies and Climate Change

SPOC Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace

Entrepreneurship 2 (IB Functional P1)

European Kaleidoscope (IB Regional P1)

MOOC (Carolina Core)

MOOC (Carolina Core) - Responsible leadership

French language

French Civilization

People & organizations - Cohort course

Courses

The RIL course program in semester 4

Course enrollment : TBC

Course registration process: TBC

Contact person: Academic team, 1st cycle - Lucile MARCIGNY - lucile.marcigny@essec.edu

The RIL course program in semester 5: S5 2025 - provisional course information 

For your reference, you may check the Incoming exchange students Fall semester course offer here.

Course enrollment : Early July 

Course registration process: Online course registration  

You will receive instructions by the Academic team late June.

Contact person: Academic team, 2nd cycle - bba-2ndcycle@essec.edu

WARNING: The timeline for RIL cohort students is different from the rest of the international exchange students. You will follow courses with ESSEC 2nd year (1st cycle) students at your arrival.

Some courses of the curiculum are specific and compulsory. You will be contacted by the Academic team about the specific course enrollment.

For your 2nd semester on Cergy campus, you enter the 2nd cycle and 3rd year (semester 5). You have access to electives which are open to all international incoming exchange students. Some courses are required by UofSC for your major, make sure you check with them before confirming your course choices.  Academic information will be sent to you in good time by your coordinator in collaboration with the ESSEC academic team.

Orientation, Campus Life & Student Support

Early January, Induction day takes place at the same time as the BBA2 ESSEC students of the cohort you will be joining. You will have access to the campus, its facilities, and ESSEC’s vibrant student life, with over 100 clubs and social activities to help you integrate. The Study Abroad Team (SAT) will serve as your main point of contact at ESSEC.

Contacts: BBA Study Abroad Team - bba-studyabroad@essec.edu

Accommodation information

Activities with SAT

ISOS Assistance service 

End of semester - Your grades

At the end of the semester, students can download their transcripts from Myessec and students are responsible for sending them to their home university.

Expected date: June/July to for your S4 and early to mid February for your S5. 

You'll find more details about the cohort track on the Myessec intranet ("pre experience program center") when your participation is confirmed and your ESSEC ID created. Your ESSEC coordinator will share the links.