What ESP does

ESP (École Supérieure de Publicité) is a French private higher education institution founded in 1927 as the country's first dedicated communication school and operated today as part of the AD Education Group, a multi-country network of creative schools. The institution delivers Bac+3 Bachelor and Bac+5 Mastère programs in communication, marketing, advertising, digital, event management, and creative direction across six campuses in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, and Lille, with most higher-year programs offered in alternance (work-study) format. Programs are recognized by France Compétences at niveaux 6 and 7, and the school operates an alternative admissions process outside the French national platforms (Parcoursup/Mon Master) with rolling intake and a 7-day response window.

The core technology proposition is the integration of generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Midjourney, Sora, RunwayML, Kling AI, Hailuo AI) alongside traditional creative software (Adobe Creative Suite) into creative and marketing curricula, taught by active industry professionals through real client briefs, project weeks, and competitions involving major advertisers (TF1, CANAL+, Publicis, Havas, BBDO, Dentsu, LVMH, Apple). International mobility is offered through Erasmus+ (since 2007, charter 2021-2027) and bilateral partnerships with Media University Berlin, IAAD Turin, and Griffith College Dublin.

The business model is tuition-driven (degree-program fees for Bac+3 and Bac+5 programs, with alternance contracts having the employer finance the training) complemented by enterprise revenue from corporate partners — over 1,200 companies — who access alternant recruiting, project briefs, jury participation, and bespoke pedagogical collaborations. The enterprise partnership platform functions as a multi-sided channel that converts corporate demand for communication/marketing talent into both a tuition-revenue subsidy and a placement pipeline that produced an 81% professional integration rate within six months for the 2024 graduating class.

Name

ESP

Legal name

École Supérieure de Publicité

Website

https://espub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ESP (École Supérieure de Publicité) is a French private communication school founded in 1927, offering Bac+3 and Bac+5 programs across six French campuses, with AI-integrated curricula and an alternance work-study model linked to 1,200+ enterprise partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Revenue generated from tuition fees for Bac+3 (Bachelor) and Bac+5 (Mastère) programs. Programs offered in alternating training (alternance) format, reducing net cost to students while providing income from company work placements.
2. Professional Training and Consulting: Companies collaborate with ESP for custom pedagogical projects, competitions, and business partnerships, potentially generating additional revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ESP is a private French higher education institution founded in 1927 that delivers Bachelor (Bac+3) and Master-level (Bac+5 Mastère) degree programs in communication, marketing, advertising, digital, and creative disciplines across six campuses in France. Programs are offered in initial and alternance (work-study) formats, with generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Midjourney, RunwayML, Kling AI) integrated into the curriculum alongside traditional creative software. The school maintains a network of 1,200+ corporate partners for student projects, internships, and recruitment.

Product overview

ESP (École Supérieure de Publicité) is France's leading communication school since 1927, offering a portfolio of educational programs spanning Bac+3 Bachelor degrees and Bac+5 Mastère (Master's) degrees across six campuses in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, and Lille. The product portfolio includes: (1) the five-year Parcours Excellence ESP x EMLV combining communication and management with international exposure; (2) Bachelor 1 & 2 foundational programs in Communication & Publicité; (3) multiple Bachelor 3 specializations covering Communication & Marketing, Marketing Digital & IA (with AI tools), Événementiel, Création Publicitaire, International Marketing, and Cycle Intensif; and (4) twelve Mastère programs at Bac+5 level including Direction Artistique & Digital Design, Stratégie de Marque & Brand Content, Marketing d'Influence & Événementiel, Stratégie Média & Activation Digitale, Business Developer & E-commerce, International Marketing & Brand Content, and others. Programs are delivered in initial and/or alternance (work-study) formats, with AI creative tools (ChatGPT, Midjourney, Kling AI, Hailuo AI) integrated into the curriculum. The school also offers international mobility through Erasmus+, partnerships with Media University Berlin, IAAD Turin, and Griffith College Dublin, and collaborates with over 1,200 corporate partners for student recruitment and pedagogical projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parcours Excellence ESP x EMLV Post-Bac 5-year integrated program combining communication and management with international exposure and English-language teaching for high school graduates.
• Bachelor 1 et 2 Communication & Publicité Two-year foundational program covering communication and advertising fundamentals for post-Bac students, offered across six campuses in France.
• Bachelor 3 Communication & Marketing Third-year specialization in strategic marketing and communication, available in initial and work-study (alternance) formats across six campuses.
• Bachelor 3 Marketing Digital & IA Specialized third-year track integrating generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Midjourney) into digital marketing curricula, offered in work-study format across six campuses.
• Bachelor 3 Événementiel Third-year program dedicated to event planning, sponsorship activation, and live experience coordination, offered in alternance across six campuses.
• Bachelor 3 Création Publicitaire Third-year creative track focused on advertising concepting, copywriting, and campaign development, available in alternance across six campuses.
• Bachelor 3 International Marketing & Communication 100% English-language third-year program in international marketing and communication, with options for full ESP pathway or a year abroad at Griffith College Dublin.
• Bachelor 3 Cycle Intensif Marketing & Communication Intensive third-year program in marketing and communication offered in initial (non-alternance) format with accelerated pacing across six campuses.
• Mastère Marketing d'Influence & Événementiel Bac+5 Master program combining influence marketing strategies with event management, offered in alternance across six campuses.
• Mastère Stratégie de Marque & Brand Content Bac+5 Master program in brand strategy and content creation covering brand positioning, storytelling, and multi-channel brand content, offered in alternance across six campuses.
• Mastère Merchandising & Retail Marketing Bac+5 Master program focused on merchandising techniques and retail marketing strategies, offered in alternance at the Lille campus.
• Mastère Direction Artistique & Digital Design Bac+5 Master program combining artistic direction with digital design tools including AI generative tools (Midjourney, RunwayML, Kling AI), offered in alternance across six campuses.
• Mastère Stratégie Média & Activation Digitale Bac+5 Master program in media strategy and digital activation covering programmatic advertising, social media, and multi-channel media planning, offered in alternance in Paris.
• Mastère Marketing de l'Entertainment & des Industries Créatives Bac+5 Master program focused on entertainment marketing and creative industries, covering entertainment brands, media licensing, and content monetization strategies.
• Mastère Communication Corporate, RSE & Imaginaires de Marque Bac+5 Master program in corporate communication, CSR (corporate social responsibility), and brand narratives, offered in alternance across six campuses.
• Mastère Business Developer & E-commerce Bac+5 Master program combining business development skills with e-commerce strategy and digital sales, offered in alternance across six campuses.
• Mastère International Marketing & Brand Content Bac+5 Master program in international marketing and brand content delivered entirely in English, with partnerships including Media University Berlin and IAAD Turin.
• Mastère 2 Stratégie de Marque & Communication Second-year Master (M2) specializing in brand strategy and communication, offered in alternance in Paris.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% professional integration rate within 6 months (2024 promotion)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AACC (Association des Agences Conseils en Communication)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association of French communication agencies, supporting ESP through industry collaboration, jury participation, and student competitions.
• BBDO FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international advertising agency collaborating with ESP for student projects, competitions, and talent recruitment.
• Publicis GroupecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the world's largest communication groups, including Marcel, Starcom, Publicis Sapient. Multiple ESP alumni work across Publicis agencies; provides real client briefs and recruitment opportunities.
• TF1coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French TV broadcaster providing creative briefs and project opportunities for ESP students.
• CANAL+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench media group that proposed creative brief for D&AD New Blood Awards, resulting in Graphite Pencil win for ESP students in 2026.
• Media University (Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing ESP students to complete 1-2 years of Master's studies at the Berlin campus. Programs in English focusing on communication, digital, and marketing.
• IAAD (Turin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian design school offering professional Master's degree in Digital Marketing. 1 year program 100% in English for M2 integration with international career focus.
• Griffith College DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish college offering full year abroad option for ESP's Bachelor 3 International Marketing & Communication program.
• Accenture FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal professional services company with strategic partnership for digital transformation projects and student opportunities.
• Havas PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French advertising and communications agency collaborating with ESP for competitions and talent recruitment.
• DentsucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational media and digital marketing agency group with partnership for student projects and professional opportunities.
• Erasmus+ ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union mobility program since 2007 with Erasmus Charter 2021-2027. Enables student exchanges and internships across 33 European countries with scholarship support.
• AD Education GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent network of creative schools present in multiple countries. ESP is part of this group enabling international mobility and shared resources.
• AdobecoreTechnology or IntegrationAdobe sponsors New Blood Festival with Adobe where ESP students participate. Adobe tools are integrated into the creative curriculum.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HETIC: HETIC is a French Grande École focused on digital, web, and data, with strong alternate and Master's programs. It competes most directly with ESP's Bachelor 3 Marketing Digital & IA and Mastère Digital Design tracks.
• Sup de Pub (INSEEC): Sup de Pub is the communication school of the INSEEC group (now part of Galileo Global Education), offering Bachelor and Master's programs in advertising, brand strategy, and digital. It is one of ESP's closest direct competitors and a frequent presence in French school rankings.
• ISCOM: ISCOM is a French private school offering Bachelor and Master's programs in communication, advertising, and digital. It serves the same student persona (post-Bac, Bac+3, Bac+5) and competes for the same corporate alternance partners and French Bac+ rankings.
• ICAN (Design school): ICAN is a French private school offering design, digital, and animation programs with multiple campuses. It overlaps with ESP's Mastère Direction Artistique & Digital Design cohort and competes for the same AI-curious creative students.
• EFAP: EFAP is one of France's oldest private communication schools with multiple campuses and a curriculum spanning communication, marketing, and digital. It is a direct competitor for students, alternance partners, and editorial rankings with ESP.
• EMLV (École de Management Léonard de Vinci): EMLV is a Paris-based private school offering the 'Parcours Excellence ESP x EMLV' integrated program with ESP. It is a partial direct peer in communication/marketing management and serves as a structural partner for ESP's top-tier Bac+5 pathway.
• ESG (Galileo Global Education): ESG is a multi-school French network offering communication, marketing, and digital programs across multiple campuses. It overlaps with ESP on student segments, alternance partnerships, and the same French accreditations (France Compétences titres).
• Strate School of Design: Strate is a French school specializing in industrial design, transport design, and digital creation. It overlaps with ESP's creative/artistic direction programs and competes for the same design-track Bac+5 applicants.

Broad incumbents

• INSEEC Grande École: INSEEC is a larger French private group offering Bachelor's, Master's, and MBA programs in marketing, communication, and digital. It is a broader incumbent that competes with ESP on program range and corporate alternance networks, especially via Sup de Pub.
• London College of Communication (UAL): LCC is part of University of the Arts London and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in advertising, branding, and media. It is a broader international incumbent competing with ESP for English-language creative students and Erasmus-bound cohorts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/espublicite
• Facebookfacebook.com/esp.ecole.superieure.de.publicite

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ESP