Sciences Po

27, rue Saint Guillaume - 75337 Paris Cedex 07, France

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Overview

Sciences Po is a prestigious institution of higher education located in Paris, France. It is one of the most international universities in the country, with half of the 15,000 students coming from outside France. 150 nationalities are represented in the student body, and all the most popular undergraduate and postgraduate courses are taught in both English and French, thereby ensuring that there is no language barrier to entry.

Sciences Po has an Undergraduate College that administers courses for Bachelor’s students at the University. Master’s and Doctoral students ar...

University Highlight

Establishment year	1872
Total Students	15,000
International Students	7,500
QS World University Rankings 2024	=319
Campus Size	N/A
Total Number of Campuses	7
University Website	https://www.sciencespo.fr/en/
No. of Schools and Divisions	7 Graduate Schools + 1 Undergraduate College
Nobel Prize Winner Alumni	0
No. of Education Programs	29 (Master’s), 5 (PhD)
Student to Faculty ratio	3.2:1

Course Highlight

Sciences Po has an Undergraduate college, which is home to students enrolled in Bachelor’s programs at the University. Master’s students study in one of seven Graduate Schools:

The School of Public Affairs provides PG taught and research programs through eleven Policy Streams: Digital, New Technology and Public Policy, Economics and Public Policy, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Europe in the World, Management and Public Affairs, Politics and Public Policy, Social Policy and Social Innovation, Cultural policy and management, Global Health, Security and Defense, and Public Administration.
The Law School conducts postgraduate programs in several fields, including economic law, law and finance, transnational arbitration and dispute settlement.
The Urban School teaches PG courses, and carries out research in regional and urban strategy, governing the large metropolis, ecological transitions in European cities, and urban planning.
The School of Management and Impact provides PG taught and research programs in communications, media & creative industries, finance and strategy, entrepreneurship, design & innovation, international business & sustainability, marketing & society, sustainable governance, and human resources.
The School of Journalism conducts postgraduate programs in journalism, international affairs, and several dual degrees.
The School of Research provides PG taught and research programs through five Departments: Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Law.
The Paris School of International Affairs conducts postgraduate programs in international security, governance and diplomacy, international economic policy, development, environmental policy, human rights, journalism, and international energy.

Eligibility Criteria

Admissions to Sciences Po are highly competitive, with an overall 13% acceptance rate.

Applicants to undergraduate courses at the University must satisfy the following criteria:

Either hold a valid School Leaving Year 12 certificate or enrolled in the final year of such a program.
Detailed knowledge of the Sciences Po program to which they are applying.
Have a deep interest in Humanities and Social Sciences.
Have an interest in key international issues and French culture and history.
Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Be able to display critical thinking and intellectual skills.
Display team spirit.
Have the capacity for innovation and creativity.
Be proficient in English (for most courses at the University) or French (for the few courses that are taught in the language). This is done by submitting language test certificates e.g. TOEFL or IELTS.

Master’s program applicants must satisfy similar requirements. However, they must have a valid Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution of higher education. Only one application can be submitted per year.

Admission

International applicants to Sciences Po must follow these steps:

Program review: The first step is to visit the webpage of the chosen course, and make sure that the eligibility criteria are met, and note down any program specific requirements or documents. Language requirements and application deadlines must also be checked.
Online application: All applicants to Sciences Po must create an account on the relevant portal. Personal and academic details are then to be filled in the application form; any error can lead to rejection of the candidature, so it is recommended to check that the details in the form and in the supporting documents are exactly the same.
Online choice of program: Candidates must normally choose only one program, except in the case of graduate school applicants, who can pick one Master’s and one dual degree program.
Reference request: Applicants need to submit two letters of reference from academic or professional mentors; the online portal generates request emails to the referees once the candidate submits their contact details.
Language proficiency submission: For students whose native language is not English, the submission of test scores is mandatory; these must be uploaded before the end of May every year.
Submission of required documents: Including detailed academic transcripts and course specific requirements.
Personal statement: This is one of the most important parts of the application; it is recommended to structure it well and display a clear thought process so as to ensure that it stands out.
Payment of application fee: Candidates must pay 100 Euros at the time of submission; this amount is not refundable.

The University sends an email to all candidates within a few weeks of their applications. Offers of admission are valid only for the programs for which the applications were submitted. After this, successful candidates can register and pay the first semester’s tuition fees. This generates the required documentation to apply for a long stay French student visa.

Fees

Tuition fees at Sciences Po are not subsidized by the Government, unlike at many other highly ranked French Universities. Students from outside the European Economic Area pay annual tuition fees of 14,210 Euros per year (undergraduate programs) or 19,670 Euros per year (Master’s programs).

Students from the European Economic Area pay tuition fees on a sliding scale ranging from 0 to 14,210 Euros per year (undergraduates), or 0 to 19,670 Euros per year (postgraduates). The average annual tuition fees for UG students from the EU are 5,220 Euros, and 6,330 Euros for PG students. The exact amount is calculated depending on the average household income of the student.

All students must also pay the Student Life and Contribution Fee (CVEC) of 95 Euros. This is used to fund core student services like free healthcare and funding for student associations and clubs. International students in France must purchase a liability insurance package. Most students also buy an annual transport pass for approximately 300 Euros.

Sciences Po estimates that the average monthly living cost for students on the Paris campus is 1,235 Euros. Housing costs for the six campuses outside Paris range from 300 to 450 Euros per month. On average, students opting for private accommodation in Paris pay an average of 885 Euros per month in rent. The average budget for food is 300 Euros per month. Transport, entertainment, and shopping add up to 100 Euros per month, on average.

Campus facilities

Sciences Po has campuses in seven prominent French cities; Paris, Dijon, Nancy, Reims, Poitiers, Le Havre, and Menton. The main Paris campus is home to most of the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Sciences Po, and is the primary hub of academic and research activity.

There are more than 200 active student associations at Sciences Po. They help students develop their extracurricular skills, and are categorized into cultural, sports, civic, and wellbeing. The impetus for student clubs at the University comes from the charter, which encourages teamwork, accountability, public speaking, social justice, and humanism. Student bodies organize over 600 events every year.

There are over 40 different sports available at the University, ranging from football and basketball to softball and volleyball, tennis, swimming, and aerobics. Students can sign up for sports activities every semester, and thereby earn credits towards completion of their degree. All campuses of Sciences Po have world class sports facilities, with grounds and courts dedicated to outdoor sports, and large gyms and complexes.

Sciences Po has an active incubator that aims to help student entrepreneurs access funding and resources to launch their startup ideas. 300 students benefit from this resource every year, and 12 new startups are incorporated annually.

Career Counseling is a key part of the Sciences Po student experience, with more than 10,000 internships completed every year. 200 Career Workshops are organized for the benefit of the student community on an annual basis, and over 1,000 one on one career guidance sessions take place.

Scholarship

35% of the students of Sciences Po receive some form of financial aid. 33% of students pay no tuition fees. Many of the scholarships are directly aimed at international students.

The Emile Boutmy Scholarship is available to both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants from outside the European Union. This prestigious award is named after the founder of Sciences Po, and entails variable cash payments:

Bachelor’s students who are awarded the scholarship may receive either the full amount of the tuition fee (14,210 Euros per year), or approximately 75% / 50% / 25% of the fee, depending on the level of academic excellence and fit with the founding principle of Sciences Po, as demonstrated in the application.
Master’s students are paid 13,100 Euros per year; this covers approximately 70% of the full tuition fee for international students.

There is no additional application to be filled out for this scholarship; aspirants must indicate their interest at the time of submitting the form for admission to the University.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholarships are awarded to exceptional applicants from sub-Saharan African countries. These are very competitive in nature, and entail a full tuition fee waiver and full payment of living costs. Students of undergraduate and postgraduate programs are eligible to apply, and the total number of awards given out is 70 per year, with an additional 68 reserved for Summer School applicants.

Several Scholarships are announced from time to time by the French Government; these can be found on the Campus France portal.

Sciences Po has agreements with many Governments across the world to award partial tuition fee waivers to meritorious students from those countries based on need; a full list can be found on the relevant webpage. Most of these scholarships entail a 10% to 25% reduction in tuition fees. These cannot be combined with Emile Boutmy scholarships.

Other scholarships for international students, including the Eiffel Excellence Scholarships, Fulbright Awards, Federal Direct Loans, Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership Scholarships, and the Luksic Scholarship for Public Service at Sciences Po, can be found on the relevant University webpage.