I am Amaury Etienne, HEC Montréal graduate, class of 2024

Every year, thousands of French students plan to study abroad. Some dream of the United States, others of Australia or Asia.

For my part, the choice was gradually imposed: it would be North America.

And finally, it was at HEC Montréal that I decided to study.

In retrospect, this choice was decisive in my career. Not only for my academic background, but also for the international experience I had there... and for the creation of Safexpat.

Here are the reasons that prompted me to study at HEC Montréal.

An alternative to the United States... in North America

From a young age, I have always been fascinated by North America.

Entrepreneurial culture, innovation, large companies, international openness... all this attracted me enormously.

Of course, American universities were part of my initial research. But very quickly, a reality emerged: school fees.

At some universities in the United States, fees may exceed $60,000 per year, not to mention housing and the cost of living.

That's when I discovered an incredible alternative: studying in Montreal, Quebec.

A North American city, dynamic, international, but French-speaking. And above all, with top-level universities.

Among them, HEC Montréal quickly stood out.

The combination was perfect: living in North America, studying at a top business school and taking advantage of a recognized academic environment.

A very high level of training

The academic reputation of HEC Montréal is well established.

Founded in 1907, the school has trained thousands of leaders, entrepreneurs, and economic leaders.

But what particularly impressed me was the quality of the teachers.

At HEC Montréal, professors are not only academics. Many have held leadership positions in large companies.

In particular, I remember having had as a teacher Robert Dutton, former CEO of the Canadian company RONA.

Being able to learn directly from a manager who has managed a large international company is a unique experience.

The courses are very concrete, often based on real case studies, with a strong strategic and entrepreneurial dimension.

You don't just learn the theory: you understand how decisions are made in the real world.

A real international immersion

Many schools in France promise an international experience.

Semester abroad, international internship, double degree... on paper, the offer is often attractive.

But in my case, I wanted total immersion.

With the program BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) at HEC Montréal, the experience is different.

We don't go abroad for a few months.
We really live abroad.

During Four years, we are an expatriate in Montreal.

It completely changes the perspective.

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We develop a real capacity for adaptation, we discover another academic culture, and we build an international network.

In addition to that, the school offers academic exchange programs around the world.

Personally, I had the chance to study for a few months in Mexico City.

An incredible experience that allowed me to discover another continent, another culture and to further expand my international network.

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Unique professional opportunities

Studying at HEC Montréal opens doors that you may not always imagine at first.

Being a French student in Canada creates a fairly unique position.

We are at the crossroads of two markets:

• Europe
• North America

Concretely, this means that professional opportunities can exist on both sides of the Atlantic.

Some companies are precisely looking for profiles capable of navigating between these two economic environments.

Even compared to some French Grandes Écoles, this North American dimension can offer a strategic advantage.

An experience that changed my life

It was also during my studies at HEC Montréal, specializing in entrepreneurship, that the idea of Safexpat was born.

By living the experience of student expatriation myself, I realized how complicated it could be to prepare for my departure abroad.

Housing, administrative procedures, settling in a new country...

Thousands of international students face these challenges every year.

It is this personal experience that made me want to create a solution to support those who want to experience the same adventure.

Why are more and more students choosing HEC Montréal

Today, HEC Montréal is attracting more and more international students.

And that is no coincidence.

The combination is rare:

• a recognized Grande École
• a dynamic student city
• A North American experience
• a French-speaking environment
• international professional opportunities

For many French-speaking students, it is one of the best gateways to North America.

Safexpat accompanies you

With Safexpat, we support you in your study abroad project.

Whether at HEC Montréal or any other school where we are present.

Take advantage of our support solutions to guarantee the success and security of your expatriation.

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