How to prepare for the Vatel Bordeaux entrance exam for the 2026 academic year?
The Vatel Bordeaux entrance exam assesses candidates’ academic level, motivation, and profile. It includes an oral interview and a written exam, available in French or English. Find out how to succeed in your entrance exam.
What is the entrance exam at Vatel Bordeaux?
The entrance exam for Vatel Bordeaux is designed to assess the academic skills, motivation, and potential of candidates wishing to enroll in the school.
This combines an oral interview and a written exam, each based on predefined assessment criteria.
There are two exam formats:
- French for French-speaking candidates;
- English for international candidates.
This assessment allows the jury to evaluate the consistency of the candidate’s career plan and their ability to succeed in the hospitality management industry.
The oral interview
To begin with, the oral interview generally lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour.
It can be conducted remotely or in person, depending on the candidate’s preference.
It is a structured discussion about the candidate’s background, motivations, and career plans.
The questions asked aim to analyze the candidate’s ability to project themselves into management roles in the international hospitality and tourism industry.
Oral exam requirements
Examiners are looking for a clear and structured presentation, a genuine interest in the sector, and the ability to argue naturally.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate strong motivation and an understanding of the issues facing the international hospitality sector.
During on-campus or online sessions, candidates’ attire and posture are taken into account.
The written exam
Next, the written exam takes the form of a multiple-choice questionnaire lasting approximately one hour, covering general knowledge of the hospitality and catering industry, French, English, and a personality test.
Specific features of the Vatel Bordeaux entrance exam :
- Candidates to the Bachelor’s program in international hospitality complete a one-hour situational questionnaire to assess their skills.
- Candidates to the MBA program in international hospitality or the Foundation Year must write an essay of no more than four pages. Applicants select one of three topics in the fields of hospitality, tourism or management, and must submit their work no later than 48 hours before their oral interview. During the written exam, candidates will also be required to take a 45-minute multiple-choice management test. This test will cover several topics : accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, and communication.
Written exam requirements
Expectations include a comprehensive understanding of the hospitality industry and a good level of French and English.
- French candidates wishing to enroll in an English-language program must present a B2 certificate for the Bachelor’s program or a C1 certificate for the MBA program.
- International candidates must provide a DELF or TCF certificate to enroll in a French-language program.
The jury
Firstly, for the oral interview, the panel is made up of members of the Recruitment and Admissions department at Vatel Bordeaux.
Secondly, for the written exam, the multiple-choice questions on general knowledge in French and English are marked automatically, while the personality test is assessed by an external examiner.
How to pass the entrance exam for Vatel Bordeaux?
The oral interview
Highlight your strengths
The interview is an opportunity to show who you are and what your career plans are. So, find out about Vatel Bordeaux school, but be yourself, a speech that is too rehearsed loses its spontaneity.
Think about the qualities that define you and what sets you apart.
Draw on your personal or professional experiences, hobbies, and passions to connect with the panel and leave a positive impression.
Even if you have no experience in hospitality, show your interest in the sector and your ability to project yourself into this environment, drawing inspiration, for example, from the success stories of Vatel alumni.
Make a good impression
The first few minutes are crucial, so adopt a calm and steady approach to appear confident. If you are attending the interview in person, shake hands firmly but naturally and maintain eye contact with a smile.
Use professional language, avoid informal terms of address, and save your questions for the end of the interview. Take care with your appearance, classic and neat attire is sufficient (shirt, pants or skirt, simple dress).
Finally, practice in front of friends or family, or film yourself to identify any gestures or expressions that need improvement.
Online interview
The same advice applies to video calls: sit in a quiet environment with a neutral background, have all your documents to hand, and check your equipment (microphone, camera, charger) in advance.
The written exam
Communicate effectively to make yourself understood
Expressing yourself clearly is essential in management. For the French test, the jury expects good general knowledge, a rich vocabulary, and a solid command of the language.
Review English
English is the international language, spoken fluently by all hospitality managers. It is therefore essential to master it. Practice English syntax and grammar.
Train online
We recommend that you practice on the Tage Mage website (only in French): an aptitude test for candidates wishing to study management. Similar to the written exam at Vatel Bordeaux, it may be useful for the general knowledge test.
Be spontaneous
Finally, when taking the personality test, it is important not to overthink your answers. The goal is to be as spontaneous and honest as possible.