Y Schools
Y Schools is a French private higher-education ecosystem headquartered in Troyes, operating six accredited schools (SCBS, École Supérieure de Tourisme, École Supérieure de Design, Pigier Troyes/Metz/Reims, Y Schools Sport, EIME in Cameroon) plus three Second Chance Schools, serving nearly 1,000 students and acquired by Global University Systems in May 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersTroyes, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Y Schools does
Y Schools is a French private higher-education ecosystem headquartered in Troyes, France, operating six accredited schools spanning pre-baccalaureate through bac+6 levels across business management (SCBS - South Champagne Business School), tourism (École Supérieure de Tourisme Troyes-Metz), design (École Supérieure de Design de Troyes), vocational business education (Pigier Troyes/Metz/Reims), sports vocational training (Y Schools Sport), and international management in Cameroon (EIME). The group also operates three Écoles de la 2e Chance (Second Chance Schools) targeting unqualified youth aged 16–25 in Champagne-Ardenne, and a Pôle de Formation et Évolution Professionnelle (PFEP) for continuing professional education. The combined organization serves nearly 1,000 students, has 251–500 employees, and delivers qualifications accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education (EESPIG), AACSB, EFMD, CGE, UGEI, and Qualiopi.
The business model rests on four revenue streams: (i) annual tuition fees across the schools' bac to bac+6 programs, (ii) the French taxe d'apprentissage directed by companies to qualifying institutions, (iii) public funding (notably €2M of EU FSE+ out of a €4.2M budget for E2C Champagne-Ardenne, plus regional and departmental subsidies), and (iv) enterprise services including work-study alternance placement, continuing education, and recruitment forums. Go-to-market relies primarily on the Parcoursup national platform for student recruitment, complemented by open days, the Forum Alternance, and a network of 386 host companies that provide workplace immersion and internships. Distribution is campus-based across Troyes (three sites), Metz, Reims, Charleville-Mézières, and Charleville-Mézières, plus Yaoundé/Douala in Cameroon, with a representation office in Beijing, China.
On March 27, 2026 Y Schools entered judicial recovery (redressement judiciaire); on May 22, 2026 Global University Systems — a global private higher-education group present in 13 countries with over 174,000 campus students and 20 million online learners — acquired Y Schools' higher-education and research activities. Operations continue under new ownership with pedagogical continuity maintained for existing students. Julien Renoult leads the organization as Directeur général.
Y Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Y Schools
- Legal name
- Y SCHOOLS
- Website
- https://yschools.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Y Schools is a French private higher-education ecosystem headquartered in Troyes, operating six accredited schools (SCBS, École Supérieure de Tourisme, École Supérieure de Design, Pigier Troyes/Metz/Reims, Y Schools Sport, EIME in Cameroon) plus three Second Chance Schools, serving nearly 1,000 students and acquired by Global University Systems in May 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Y Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management Schools (within Business Schools) (EDAHAHAL)
Keywords
Where Y Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Troyes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Y Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition fees: Revenue from student tuition at private higher education institutions (SCBS, Pigier, design, tourism schools)
- Taxe d'apprentissage (Apprenticeship tax): French companies can direct a portion of their apprenticeship tax to support educational institutions. Three schools (SCBS, École Supérieure de Tourisme, École Supérieure de Design) are habilitated to receive these funds.
- Government and EU funding: E2C Champagne Ardenne is financed by the European Union (FSE+), the French state, and the Grand Est Region. EU funding represents 2 million euros out of a total budget of 4.2 million euros.
- Acquisition by Global University Systems: On May 22, 2026, Y SCHOOLS announced that its higher education and research activities were acquired by Global University Systems, providing financial stability and investment capacity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Pre-bac to bac+6 educational programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Y Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Y Schools operates a French educational ecosystem combining 6 higher education institutions (SCBS, École Supérieure de Tourisme, École Supérieure de Design, EIME Cameroon, Pigier Troyes/Metz/Reims, Y SCHOOLS Sport), 3 Écoles de la 2e Chance (Second Chance Schools), and a Professional Training and Career Evolution Center (PFEP). The group delivers programs from pre-bac to bac+6 across management, tourism, design, sports, and business disciplines, plus vocational training (BPJEPS) and youth integration programs. Nearly 1,000 students are served across campuses in France's Grand Est region and Cameroon, with degrees validated by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Product overview
Y Schools is an educational ecosystem composed of 6 schools from pre-bac to bac+6, 3 Second Chance Schools (École de la 2e Chance), and a Professional Training and Career Evolution Center (PFEP). The portfolio includes SCBS (South Champagne Business School) for business management, the École Supérieure de Tourisme for hospitality education, the École Supérieure de Design for creative studies, EIME for international management in Cameroon, Pigier schools for vocational business education, and Y Schools Sport for BPJEPS sports coaching programs. The group operates campuses across Troyes, Metz, Reims, Chaumont, and Charleville-Mézières in France, plus Yaoundé and Douala in Cameroon, with nearly 1,000 students. Following its 2026 acquisition by Global University Systems, the higher education activities continue under new ownership while the group underwent judicial reorganization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SCBS - South Champagne Business School: Business school offering management programs
- École Supérieure de Tourisme Troyes-Metz
- École Supérieure de Design de Troyes
- EIME - École Internationale du Management et de l'Entrepreneuriat
- Y SCHOOLS Sport
Products and services
- SCBS - South Champagne Business School
- École Supérieure de Tourisme Troyes-Metz
Companies that use Y Schools
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Y Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Y Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Global University SystemscoreOn May 22, 2026, Y SCHOOLS announced that its higher education and research activities were officially acquired by Global University Systems. GUS is one of the world's leading private higher education groups, present in 13 countries across Europe, North America, and Asia with over 174,000 on-campus students and 20 million online learners.
- Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie (CCI) de TroyescoreLocal chamber of commerce and industry supporting Y SCHOOLS as a key territorial partner
- Région Grand EstcoreRegional council is a major financial supporter, providing funding for E2C and other regional educational initiatives
- Département de l'AubecoreDepartmental council supporting the Y SCHOOLS ecosystem with regional development funding
- Troyes Champagne MétropoleminorMetropolitan area supporting Y SCHOOLS as part of regional development strategy
- PEPITE Champagne-ArdenneminorStudent entrepreneurship hub network supporting entrepreneurial initiatives within Y SCHOOLS
- CROUS de ReimsminorRegional student services organization supporting student life activities
- Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT)minorCollaboration on inter-school events such as the sports afternoon bringing together Troyes higher education students
- EPF (Ecole d'Ingénieurs)minorCollaboration on inter-school events with Troyes campus engineering school
- ESTP TroyesminorCollaboration on inter-school events with Troyes campus construction engineering school
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA)minorCollaboration on inter-school events with regional university
- Les Flammes CarolominorWomen's basketball club in Charleville-Mézières partnering with Y SCHOOLS Sport. The club hosts 3 BPJEPS students and provides visibility during matches. Romuald Yernaux, team coach, serves as godfather for the first promotion.
- Fédération Française de GymnastiqueminorPartnership with French Gymnastics Federation for BPJEPS Activités Gymniques program, providing new dynamics for the training
- BoxN'FitminorLocal sports facility partner for student activities
- Comité Handisport de l'AubeminorDisability sports committee contributing inclusive sports activities for students
- Association AuroreminorPublic utility association supporting youth in difficulty, organizing Match ton Projet events connecting E2C trainees with professionals
- Entreprendre pour ApprendreminorFederation of 1901 law associations agréée by the Ministry of Education, coordinating Mini-Entreprise projects for young people
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Y Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- INSEEC U. / OMNES Education: Large French private higher education group offering business, communication, and engineering programs across multiple campuses, directly comparable to Y SCHOOLS' multi-school bac-to-bac+5 ecosystem and serving the same Parcoursup-recruited student base.
- SKEMA Business School: Triple-accredited (AACSB/EFMD/EQUIS) French business school with multiple campuses in France and abroad, directly comparable to SCBS in accreditation stack and target students, and similar multi-campus strategy to Y SCHOOLS.
- NEOMA Business School: AACSB/EFMD/EQUIS-accredited French grande école with campuses in Reims and Rouen, overlapping geographically with Y SCHOOLS' Reims/Pigier Reims presence and competing for the same business-school applicant pool.
- ICN Business School: Triple-accredited business school based in Nancy (Lorraine), comparable to SCBS as a regional French grande école with AACSB/EFMD membership and similar post-bac program structure.
- Pigier (network): National network of vocational business schools offering commerce and BTS programs; Y SCHOOLS owns Pigier Troyes/Metz/Reims campuses, making Pigier a direct intra-portfolio peer competing for the same Bac Pro/Bac+2 vocational candidates.
- Excelia (formerly Sup de V): French private HE group combining a business school, tourism school, and digital school — directly comparable to Y SCHOOLS' portfolio mix of business (SCBS), tourism, and design/tourism specializations.
- TBS Education (Toulouse Business School): Triple-accredited French business school and member of CGE, comparable to SCBS in accreditation, grande école status, and bac-to-bac+5 program structure, and competing in the same national business-school market.
- Réseau E2C (Écoles de la 2e Chance): National federation of Second Chance Schools serving 16-25 year olds without qualifications; E2C Champagne-Ardenne is a member, making the federation a direct peer in funding, mission, and program model.
Broad incumbents
- Galileo Global Education: One of Europe's largest private higher education groups operating schools in France (Paris School of Business, ESG, etc.); comparable as a multi-brand French private HE consolidator with overlapping business, design, and tourism schools.
- IONIS Education Group: Paris-based private HE group with 20+ schools covering business, engineering, and creative arts across France, comparable to Y SCHOOLS in scope and target audience and competing for the same Parcoursup candidates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Y Schools social profiles
Digital presenceY Schools compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Y Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Y Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Y Schools subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Y Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Y Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Y Schools
What does Y Schools do?
Y Schools operates a French educational ecosystem combining 6 higher education institutions (SCBS, École Supérieure de Tourisme, École Supérieure de Design, EIME Cameroon, Pigier Troyes/Metz/Reims, Y SCHOOLS Sport), 3 Écoles de la 2e Chance (Second Chance Schools), and a Professional Training and Career Evolution Center (PFEP). The group delivers programs from pre-bac to bac+6 across management, tourism, design, sports, and business disciplines, plus vocational training (BPJEPS) and youth integration programs. Nearly 1,000 students are served across campuses in France's Grand Est region and Cameroon, with degrees validated by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Is Y Schools a public or private company?
Y Schools is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Y Schools founded?
Y Schools was founded in 2018. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Y Schools based?
Y Schools is headquartered in Troyes, France, in the Europe region.
How does Y Schools make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition fees are the primary driver. The others are taxe d'apprentissage (Apprenticeship tax), government and EU funding and acquisition by Global University Systems.
Who are Y Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are INSEEC U. / OMNES Education, SKEMA Business School, NEOMA Business School, ICN Business School, Pigier (network), Excelia (formerly Sup de V), TBS Education (Toulouse Business School) and Réseau E2C (Écoles de la 2e Chance). Broad incumbents are Galileo Global Education and IONIS Education Group.
Does Y Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Y Schools.
What industry is Y Schools in?
Y Schools's product category is Private Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAHAL, Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management Schools (within Business Schools). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.