ESADE Admission 2026: Complete Guide to ESADE Business School

Most ESADE bachelor applicants sit the school’s own exam: read our full guide to the ESADE admission test (format, sections and preparation) before you book your date. Applications for September 2027 are handled on a rolling basis: our article on ESADE’s 2027 rolling admissions explains why autumn is the strongest window.

In a nutshell: ESADE (Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas) is a leading business school in Barcelona, part of Ramon Llull University. It offers internationally recognized Bachelor (BBA), Master, and MBA programs. BBA admission involves a selective process including academic records, admission test, interview, and motivation essay. Tuition: 21,300 EUR first-year fee for the BBA (source: Esade, tuition fees page, consulted 5 October 2026). Triple accreditation: AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA.

Updated 5 October 2026

Key facts and figures

• Tuition: first-year fee of 21,300 EUR for the five single degrees (BBA, Law, Global Governance, Transformational Leadership, Business and Artificial Intelligence) and 24,500 EUR for the four double degrees; a 25% advance of the first-year fee reserves the place, the remaining 75% is due by the stated deadline. Esade names no academic year alongside these figures (source: Esade, tuition fees page, consulted 5 October 2026).
• Application fee: 150 EUR, completely non-refundable; the admissions process for the September 2027 intake stays open until June 2027, as long as places remain (source: Esade, Admissions page, consulted 5 October 2026).
• Time to accept an offer: Esade gives admitted candidates between two and three weeks to confirm their place after the admission offer is received (source: Esade, Admissions page, consulted 5 October 2026).
• School record: Esade sets a reference minimum of 7 out of 10 to be considered for a single degree and 8 out of 10 for a double degree, and reports that admitted students average 8.4 out of 10 and 9.1 out of 10 respectively (source: Esade, Admission requirements page, consulted 5 October 2026).
• Esade admission test: a three-hour assessment taken online only, made of a 30-minute Sufficiency of Information section and 35-minute sections among Numerical Analysis, Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability, plus an English level test of 80 to 90 minutes depending on the programme; points are deducted for wrong answers in the multiple-choice sections, not in the English test. Esade schedules several sittings every week from October to June, candidates may sit it only once, and the online application must be completed at least one week before the test date (source: Esade, Esade Admission Test page, consulted 5 October 2026).
• SAT or ACT instead: minimum SAT 1200 (average of admitted candidates 1350), minimum ACT 24 (average 30); scores are sent with SAT institution code 7073 or ACT code 6922 (source: Esade, Admission requirements and Admissions pages, consulted 5 October 2026).
• Scholarships: Esade states that 46% of undergraduate students who applied for an Esade scholarship obtained it, and reports 295 students on a scholarship in 2024-2025 for 5.4 million EUR awarded and an average coverage of 86% (source: Esade, Scholarships and awards page, consulted 5 October 2026).
• Your Dream School results: 50 students admitted to ESADE since 2018 (source: our results overview, updated 6 September 2026).

Figures taken from our admissions database, 2019 to 2025 intakes. They are minimums: the 2017-2018 and 2025-2026 intakes are not yet consolidated.

Their support was consistent, personal, and they guided me through the key steps of university admissions like the Personal Statement.

Hadrien, admitted to University College London (UCL), client testimonial

Why Your Dream School for ESADE applications

ESADE assesses a three-hour test with negative marking, the school record and, when the committee asks for it, an interview. We prepare the Esade admission test or the SAT, the application file and the interview, in English or French, often alongside IE University or Bocconi. If the SAT is the route chosen, our SAT and ACT test dates and registration deadlines for 2026-2027 show when to register and when to sit it. Founded in 2018, Your Dream School has coached more than 1,000 students, with 50 students admitted to ESADE and earned 160+ five-star Google reviews. If the student is admitted to none of the 5 first-choice universities set at the start, we accompany the re-application with no additional coaching fee. Ask for a free assessment.

Related pages: IE University application guide, Bocconi application guide, SAT preparation pack and premium admissions coaching.

Why Choose ESADE?

ESADE is one of the few business schools worldwide to hold the triple accreditation AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA, a guarantee of academic quality and international excellence. Founded in 1958 in Barcelona, ESADE stands out for its innovative pedagogical approach centered on responsible leadership, entrepreneurship, and internationalization. The school regularly ranks among the world’s best (Financial Times, QS, Bloomberg).

Programs Offered

The ESADE BBA is the flagship program for high school graduates. It offers complete training in management, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship, with a strong international dimension: mandatory exchange semester, and the option for a double degree with partner universities worldwide.

BBA Admission Process

ESADE BBA admission is a multi-step process. Esade publishes no acceptance rate for its bachelor degrees, and evaluates applications holistically:

1. Online application : complete the form on the ESADE admission portal with your personal and academic information
2. Academic record : transcripts from the last 3 years (overall GPA is important)
3. Admission test : ESADE accepts the SAT, ACT, or its own admission test (ESADE Admission Test)
4. Motivation essay : a personal essay explaining your background, motivations, and goals
5. Personal interview : in person or via video, approximately 30 minutes
6. English certificate : for the programmes taught entirely in English, Esade asks for IELTS Academic 7, TOEFL iBT 100 (5.0 on the 2026 scale), Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 190, PTE Academic 76, Duolingo 160, SAT EBRW 650 or ACT English 27; for the bilingual and Spanish-taught programmes, IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 70, Cambridge B2 First 170, Duolingo 160, SAT EBRW 550 or ACT English 25 (source: Esade, Admission requirements page, consulted 5 October 2026)

For a detailed guide on each step, see our ESADE application guide.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Esade does not publish fixed application rounds for its bachelor degrees. The admissions page consulted on 5 October 2026 states that the process for the September 2027 intake stays open until June 2027, as long as places remain, and that candidates have between two and three weeks to confirm a place once an offer is received.

Applying early still matters. Esade keeps the process open only while places remain, so a file completed in the autumn is read against a fuller set of places than one sent in the spring, and an early decision leaves time to sit the admission test again or to compare an Esade offer with IE University or Bocconi.

Score Requirements and Typical Profile

Esade does publish reference minimums, and alongside them the averages of its admitted students. These are the figures read on the Admission requirements page on 5 October 2026:

For a detailed analysis of expected scores and profiles, see our ESADE score requirements page.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

ESADE BBA tuition is 21,300 EUR for the first year according to the fee page consulted on 5 October 2026 (24,500 EUR for double degrees); fees are set each year. ESADE offers several types of scholarships:

• ESADE Scholarship : based on academic excellence, covering up to 50% of fees
• Talent Scholarship : for exceptional profiles in leadership or entrepreneurship
• Need-based Financial Aid : financial assistance based on family income
• External Scholarships : grants from the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Spanish government, or international organizations

Scholarship applications must be submitted alongside your admission application. Funds are limited and awarded on a merit basis.

Student Life and Campus

The main BBA campus is located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, 20 minutes from Barcelona. The campus offers modern facilities: library, coworking spaces, sports center, and nearby student residences. Barcelona is one of Europe’s most attractive student cities, offering an exceptional lifestyle between sea and mountains, a rich cultural scene, and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Need Help with Your ESADE Application?

Your Dream School supports you at every step: application preparation, interview coaching, motivation essay writing, and application strategy. Our consultants understand ESADE’s specific expectations and help you build a strong application.

Author: Adam Girsault, Founder of Your Dream School. Guide written March 2026; key facts and fees updated 5 September 2026.

Planning to study abroad? Our advisors guide you from shortlist to admission.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get admitted to ESADE?

Six steps: the online application with a 150 EUR non-refundable fee, the Esade admission test or an SAT or ACT score, the supporting documents (transcripts, ID, English certificate), the Admissions Committee review, the place reservation of 25% of the first-year fee, then the balance. Esade sets a reference minimum school average of 7 out of 10 for a single degree and 8 out of 10 for a double degree. Offers must be confirmed within two to three weeks (source: Esade, Admissions and Admission requirements pages, consulted 5 October 2026).

How much is ESADE tuition?

The first-year fee published on esade.edu is 21,300 EUR for the BBA, the Bachelor in Law and the other single degrees, and 24,500 EUR for the double degrees. A 25% advance on the first year reserves the place, the remaining 75% is due by the stated deadline. Esade reports that 46% of undergraduate students who applied for an Esade scholarship obtained one, with an average coverage of 86% in 2024-2025 (source: Esade, tuition fees and Scholarships and awards pages, consulted 5 October 2026).

What are the ESADE application deadlines?

Esade does not publish fixed rounds: the process for the September 2027 intake stays open until June 2027, as long as places remain, and offers must be confirmed within two to three weeks (source: Esade, Admissions page, consulted 5 October 2026). We advise filing before December.

What SAT score do you need for ESADE?

Esade publishes a minimum SAT of 1200 and states that admitted candidates average 1350; for the ACT the minimum is 24 and the average 30. Scores are sent with SAT code 7073 or ACT code 6922. The alternative is the Esade admission test, a three-hour online assessment: a 30-minute Sufficiency of Information section and 35-minute sections among Numerical Analysis, Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability, all with negative marking, plus an English level test of 80 to 90 minutes. It can be sat only once (source: Esade, Admission requirements and Esade Admission Test pages, consulted 5 October 2026).

What English level does ESADE require?

For the programmes taught entirely in English, Esade asks for IELTS Academic 7, TOEFL iBT 100 (5.0 on the 2026 scale), Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 190, PTE Academic 76, Duolingo 160, SAT EBRW 650 or ACT English 27, and accepts slightly lower scores with a validation step. For the bilingual and Spanish-taught programmes the levels are IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 70, Cambridge B2 First 170, Duolingo 160, SAT EBRW 550 or ACT English 25; those programmes also require native or very high Spanish, certified by a DELE C1 or C2 or assessed in interview (source: Esade, Admission requirements page, consulted 5 October 2026). We prepare IELTS and TOEFL in 10 to 30-hour packs.

Is ESADE a good business school?

Esade is a private business and law school in Barcelona, part of Ramon Llull University, with triple accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) and a place in the main international rankings. Since 2018 Your Dream School has supported more than 1,000 students, 50 of them admitted to ESADE and 44 to IE University, its Madrid and Segovia neighbour. Figures taken from our admissions database, 2019 to 2025 intakes; they are minimums, as the 2017-2018 and 2025-2026 intakes are not yet consolidated.