Les Cours du Parnasse

What Les Cours du Parnasse does

Les Cours du Parnasse is a private French higher-education preparation institute founded in 2011 and registered with the Rectorat de Paris (UAI 0755659U). The company prepares secondary school students (Seconde, Première, Terminale) for post-baccalaureate competitive entrance exams: Sciences Po Paris and the IEP network; business schools via the ACCES and SÉSAME competitions; engineering schools via Avenir, Advance, Geipi-Polytech, and Puissance Alpha; as well as the French Baccalauréat (written and oral) and Parcoursup orientation. The portfolio also covers pre-rentrée intensive courses for CPGE tracks (MPSI-PCSI-PTSI and ECG) and individual coaching for foreign university applications (including Oxbridge and US Common App).

The product portfolio combines in-person week-long intensive stages and year-round online preparation. The technology backbone is a proprietary online learning platform (pedagogie.parnasse-education.fr) offering video courses, course handouts, exercises, past-exam materials, mock competitions with individual rankings, and personalized progress tracking, supported by a private Discord community for year-round student-instructor exchange. Delivery is in-person at Paris (6 avenue Vavin, 6th arrondissement) and Lyon (31 rue de Sèze, 6th arrondissement), or 100% via distance learning, with programs available nationally.

The revenue model is direct-to-consumer, with per-program pricing ranging from €150 à-la-carte subject tutoring to €4,480–€4,550 for full-year 'Pack Intégral' programs that combine pre-rentrée, multiple stages, oral prep, and individual tutoring. Complementary revenue streams include online subscriptions (€690–€1,630), individual tutoring and coaching (professional services), and orientation/Parcoursup counseling (€980/year add-on). An in-house Égalité des Chances financial aid program funds 10–90% tuition reductions for lower-income students. Multi-channel go-to-market relies on direct website enrollment, education fairs (Salon des Écoles de Commerce, Salon des écoles d'ingénieurs), organic social media, parent referrals, an online simulator lead-gen tool, and HubSpot-driven email nurture. Customer base is individual parents and students with no enterprise exposure.

Name

Les Cours du Parnasse

Legal name

Les Cours du Parnasse

Website

https://lescoursduparnasse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Cours du Parnasse is a Paris-based private institute preparing French secondary school students for competitive post-baccalaureate entrance exams (Sciences Po, IEP, business schools, engineering schools, Baccalauréat) via in-person stages in Paris and Lyon and a year-round online platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Test Preparation and Competitive Exam Tutoring

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Under-18 / High School-to-University Foundation Pathways (EDAIAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Competitive exam preparation
• Post-baccalaureate prep courses
• Sciences Po tutoring
• Business school entrance prep
• Engineering school preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

PARIS, France

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. In-person intensive stage programs: Week-long intensive in-person courses held in Paris and Lyon during school holidays (autumn, Christmas, winter, spring). Students pay per stage or in bundled packages (2–5 stages per year). Revenue recognized per enrollment transaction.
2. Online distance learning programs: 100% online preparation programs with platform access, video courses, mock exams, and optional individual tutoring. Billed per formula tier (simple, intermediate, complete).
3. Individual tutoring and coaching: One-on-one tutoring sessions (individual tutor assigned to each student in complete formulas), orientation counseling, oral exam simulations. Offered as add-on options or included in complete packages.
4. Orientation and Parcoursup coaching: Individual orientation counseling by certified counselors for Secondes, Premières, and Terminales. Includes Parcoursup strategy, dossier construction, and university application support (including foreign university applications to Oxbridge and US universities).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Les Cours du Parnasse is a French private higher education preparation institute registered with the Rectorat de Paris that delivers intensive in-person "stage" programs and 100% online distance learning courses for secondary school students preparing for competitive post-baccalaureate exams (Sciences Po, IEP network, business schools via ACCES/SÉSAME, engineering schools via Avenir/Advance/Geipi-Polytech/Puissance Alpha, CPGE ECG and scientific tracks, and the Bac de français), together with individual tutoring, Parcoursup orientation coaching, and foreign university application support. Programs are sold per stage, in bundled annual packages, or as online subscription formulas, with an internally funded Égalité des Chances financial aid program for lower-income families.

Product overview

Les Cours du Parnasse is a private higher education preparation institute registered with the Paris Rectorate, offering a comprehensive portfolio of intensive week-long and year-round preparation programs for French students transitioning from secondary school to higher education. The core offering consists of in-class and distance preparation programs organized into distinct product lines: (1) Pre-return (pré-rentrée) intensive courses for Lycée, CPGE scientific (MPSI-PCSI-PTSI), and CPGE ECG tracks; (2) Sciences Po & IEP preparation programs for Paris, Bordeaux, Grenoble and the common IEP network exam; (3) Ambition program covering all secondary grades (Seconde, Première, Terminale) with bac and orientation support; (4) Business school entrance prep (ACCES-SESAME) and (5) Engineering school prep (Advance, Avenir, Geipi-Polytech, Puissance Alpha); (6) French Bac preparation; and (7) Foreign university application coaching. The institute also provides a 24/7 online learning platform with video courses, exercises, and mock exams, plus an individual orientation counseling service and an Egalité des Chances financial aid program. All programs are available in-person in Paris (6th arrondissement) and Lyon (6th arrondissement), or 100% remotely.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pré-rentrée Lycée (Seconde, Première, Terminale) Intensive pre-return summer courses for French lyc\u00e9e students in Seconde, Premi\u00e8re, or Terminale, designed to consolidate the prior year's knowledge, preview upcoming curriculum, and reinforce methodology in core subjects (mathematics, French, English, and specialties) before the school year starts. Delivered in Paris, Lyon, or 100% online.
• Pré-rentrée Classes Préparatoires (ECG, MPSI-PCSI-PTSI) Pre-return intensive program for first-year Classes Pr\u00e9paratoires aux Grandes \u00c9coles (CPGE) students in scientific (MPSI, PCSI, PTSI) and ECG tracks, designed to bridge the gap between lyc\u00e9e and CPGE expectations, structure mathematical and physics reasoning, and build effective problem-solving habits.
• Sciences Po & IEP Préparation Comprehensive preparation program for Sciences Po Paris, Sciences Po Bordeaux, Sciences Po Grenoble, and the common IEP network exam, covering the written exams (Questions Contemporaines, History, English) and oral interviews, with individual tutoring, mock exams in real conditions, and year-round online platform access. Delivered in-class at Paris or Lyon, or 100% online.
• Programme Ambition (Seconde, Première, Terminale) Multi-stage intensive preparation program covering all secondary grades (Seconde, Premi\u00e8re, Terminale) with flexible formulas (one stage through full-year accompaniment), targeting the best post-bac pathways and combining core subject tutoring, bac pr\u00e9paration, specialty reinforcement, and orientation coaching.
• Écoles de Commerce (ACCES-SÉSAME) Preparation program for French post-bac business school entrance exams (ACCES and S\u00c9SAME concours blancs), covering written tests and oral interviews, with classes grouped by mathematics level, ranked mock competitions, and individual tutoring for each student.
• Écoles d'Ingénieurs (Avenir, Advance, Geipi-Polytech, Puissance Alpha) Preparation program for French post-bac engineering school entrance exams (Avenir, Advance, Geipi-Polytech, Puissance Alpha), with expert instructors in mathematics and physics-chemistry, full mock exams in real conditions, and oral preparation designed to convert admissibilit\u00e9 into admission.
• Bac de Français Stage program preparing Premi\u00e8re students for the written and oral French Baccalaur\u00e9at exams, covering methodology, literary works analysis, and practice in real conditions; positioned as a key dossier-strengthening component for Parcoursup.
• Universités Étrangères - Candidatures
• Révisions par Matière (à la carte) On-demand subject tutoring offered \u00e0 la carte at €150 per subject (mathematics, physics-chemistry, SES, HGGSP, HLP, philosophy), delivered 100% online at the student's pace, including course handouts and individualized copy correction.
• Orientation et Parcoursup Individual orientation counseling and Parcoursup strategy support for students in Seconde, Premi\u00e8re, or Terminale, delivered by certified orientation counselors selected by Les Cours du Parnasse, addressing specialty selection, dossier construction, and application strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35.6% admission rate to Sciences Po Paris in 2025 (3.4x national average of 10.6%)
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Certified orientation counselors (independent professionals)supportingOthersThe company partners with independent certified orientation counselors selected and validated by Les Cours du Parnasse to provide individual guidance sessions for students across Seconde, Première, and Terminale. Counselors offer year-round support including career assessment, specialty selection, and Parcoursup strategy. Offered as an add-on option (€980/year) or included in complete program formulas.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cap'Orientation: French orientation and Parcoursup coaching service. Competes with Les Cours du Parnasse's Orientation et Parcoursup add-on module, addressing the same parental demand for selective-pathway guidance.

Direct peers

• Stage Prépa: French intensive stage-based prep provider for competitive post-bac exams including Sciences Po and engineering schools. Comparable stage-format delivery model to Les Cours du Parnasse's Paris and Lyon holiday sessions.
• Groupe Réussite: Major French private prep school group offering preparation for Sciences Po, business schools (ACCES/SÉSAME), engineering schools, and CPGE. Direct competitor across the same product lines and Paris-centric customer base as Les Cours du Parnasse.
• MyPrepa: Online-first French prep platform for Sciences Po, business schools, and engineering schools. Competes directly with Les Cours du Parnasse's online distance learning programs on price and digital content quality.
• Cours Thalès: Paris-based prep school specializing in Sciences Po and selective post-bac pathways. Directly comparable to Les Cours du Parnasse's Sciences Po & IEP program line, serving the same French secondary student demographic.
• Anacours: French tutoring and exam preparation provider with national coverage including Sciences Po, business school, and engineering school prep. Competes with Les Cours du Parnasse on both online and in-person tutoring offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lescoursduparnasse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-cours-du-parnasse
• Instagraminstagram.com/lescoursduparnasse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Les Cours du Parnasse