Every  Edhec Master student has to defend a final dissertation in the presence of a member of the teaching faculty who represents the world of academia, and a corporate representative. This duo constitutes the examination board.

What is the role of an assessor?
Professional assessors enhance the discussion during an oral defence as they confront the students with the realities of the business world.
What are the prerequisites for being an assessor?
• A minimum of 5 years professional experience
• There is no remuneration
• You cannot assess the defence of someone you know.

How does it work in concrete terms?
The student chooses his or her assessor before sending him/her the final version of the thesis a fortnight before the defence date. This gives the assessor time to read the contents and prepare a few questions. The examination board then sits through the student’s presentation (20 min), asks questions about their work (20 min) and deliberates before grading the written and the oral defence, based on EDHEC’s rating grid. Generally, the defence takes place in Lille, Nice or Paris.