Sciences Po

History

Founded in 1872 as the École Libre des Sciences Politiques, Sciences Po began as a private school before becoming fully integrated into the public education system as the Institut d’Ètudes Politiques de Paris, or Sciences Po, in 1945. Concurrently, the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques was established to manage the University’s research centers, library, university presses, and facilities. Today, Sciences Po is one of Europe’s most distinguished universities and a full-fledged, self-governing institution that enjoys the freedom of a grande école and the resources of a major research university.

Students in the Dual BA Program begin their studies at one of four campuses in one of five programs:

Le Havre was founded in 1517 by François I as a port city on the mouth of the Seine at the British Channel. It has thrived for nearly five centuries and is France's largest commercial port. Laying claim to the early foundations of impressionist painting, the city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most populous in the Normandie (Normandy) region of France. The Sciences Po Le Havre campus opened in 2007 and offers instruction in both English and French. 

The university campus, which is conveniently located in the center of the city - near the train station, in the ultra-modern offices of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry - welcomes students from around the world to study and promote relations between Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world. 

The Le Havre Undergraduate Program features a minor in Asia-Pacific studies taught by leading Asia specialists, Asian and European language instruction, and a student body of 100 drawn from 20 different countries.

Situated near the Italian border on the French Riviera, Menton (nicknamed “The Pearl of France”) is a worldwide resort destination and boasts a number of public gardens. As an international crossroads, Menton is a small city with a reputation for bringing together travelers and students from around the world. The campus opened in 2005 and offers a mix of French, English, and Arabic instruction.

As part of the multidisciplinary program in the social sciences common to the entire Undergraduate College, students have the opportunity to follow a minor on the political, geopolitical and economic issues of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Gulf countries on the Menton campus.

The curriculum is offered in both English and French and allows students to compare analytical perspectives and refine their reflection on this area of the world. Students are introduced to Arab-Islamic civilization and religions in the Mediterranean area; study the history of the region's conflicts and the contemporary geopolitical challenges that shape it; and discover its future prospects, paying special attention to the development of Mediterranean Europe, the Arab world, Turkey, Israel and Iran.

In perfect complement to the academics offered on campus, several of the region’s languages are taught, including Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Persian and Hebrew. In addition, French as a Foreign Language is required for students who have not attained a B1-equivalent level in French.

With a regional specialization focused on the Mediterranean and Middle East, the Menton campus brings together international students from Europe, the Maghreb, the Middle East and the Gulf, as well as from the United States and Asia.

Situated at the confluence of the Clain and Boivre rivers, Poitiers sits between the mountains south of the Loire River and the Massif Central mountains that link northern and southern France. A city rich with Gallo-Roman history, Poitiers has the highest concentration of university students in France. The Poitiers campus opened in 2001 and offers instruction in both French, Spanish, and English. 

The university campus is housed in an exceptional building dating back to the eighteenth century, and is located in the heart of the city center with its pedestrian streets and its masterpieces of Romanesque art. It has been renovated and equipped with state of the art facilities and offers spaces suitable for all uses (cafeteria, video studio, music room, coworking space, etc.). It is accessible on foot or by bike, close to housing, cultural and sports centers.

The Poitiers Undergraduate Program offers a minor focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, taught by leading Latin American specialists, language instruction, and a student body of 200 drawn largely from Latin America and Spain.

Located 45 minutes by high-speed rail from Paris, Reims, a Gallo-Roman city and the traditional site of the coronation of France’s kings, has a rich architectural legacy and is the capital of the Grand-Est region, world-renowned for its production of champagne. Students have the option to choose a regional specialization, minoring in the relations between Europe and North America, and receive support from tailor-made student services and an Anglophone campus with additional language instruction available. In the Middle Ages, the city served as a meeting place for kings and Popes and became an intellectual capital. Currently home to many noteworthy cathedrals, ancient sites, and public squares, Reims welcomed Sciences Po’s campus in 2010. The academic programs are housed in a 17th-century Jesuit college in a medium-sized urban setting.

In order to strengthen its academic ties with an ever-changing continent, Sciences Po inaugurated the Euro-Africa program in September 2011, welcoming 43 students from 15 different countries in the first incoming class. In September 2015, the program continued its evolution, moving from Paris to Reims where it now exists side-by-side with the Transatlantic program, allowing students from both cohorts to interact with and benefit from the experiences of their peers on campus.

Students in the Euro-Africa program follow an integrated academic track that includes the core courses common to all undergraduate students at Sciences Po, as well as specific language and social sciences courses designed around issues inherent to sub-Saharan Africa.

Sciences Po At-A-Glance

Enrollment

  • Roughly 4,000 undergraduate students on 7 campuses
  • 55% female; 45% male
  • 16% admitted via Educational Priority Conventions, Sciences Po’s equal opportunity recruitment track
  • 46% international students hailing from over 50 countries

Student Life

  • More than 80 registered associations, 5 permanent associations, 5 active student unions, 32 types of athletic activity, and 169 colloquia and conferences organized by students each year
  • Opportunities to supplement Sciences Po activity offerings with additional cultural and sports activities offered by the localities in which the 7 campuses are situated

Affordable housing available near each of the three participating Dual BA Program campuses

Tuition and Financial Aid

  • €14,720 tuition
  • Estimated costs of attendance, including room and board, books, transportation and miscellaneous expenses (9 months):
    • Le Havre: €5,200-€5,800
    • Menton: €6,750-€9,500
    • Reims: €5,200-€8,000
  • Approximately 27% of students received financial aid to attend Sciences Po. More than €10 million is given annually in aid.
  • Students whose tax residence is the European Union pay tuition and fees on a sliding scale, while those whose tax residence is outside the European Union pay the full cost of tuition
  • Scholarships are available for both EU and non-EU students

University Resources

  • 23 masters programs, 5 doctoral programs
  • 11 research centers
  • One of Europe’s largest library collections
  • 470 partner universities
  • 26 international dual master's programs and several dual-doctorate programs
  • State of the art media lab

Faculty

  • 3,200 teachers; 300 university lecturers, researchers, and associate lecturers; 80 visiting foreign scholars/lecturers
  • In addition to university professors, courses at Sciences Po are taught by a corps of high-level practitioners from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, academia, economics, and law among others.

After Graduation

  • Guaranteed admission to select master's programs at Sciences Po Paris
  • Extensive network of more than 54,000 alumni across the world
  • Access to numerous recruitment activities held on campus and attended by leading French and international companies, law firms, consulting firms, non-governmental organizations, among others.