Sciences Po
Institut d'études politiques de Paris
France's social-science university: a three-year bachelor's on seven campuses and its own interview-based admissions.
- Students
- 13,500
- International
- 40%
- of students
- Tuition
- €14,900
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1872
About Sciences Po
Sciences Po was founded in 1872 as the École libre des sciences politiques. Its statutes combine principles of public and private law, which Sciences Po describes as unique in France, and it concentrates entirely on the humanities and social sciences. It has about 13,500 students, 40% of them international from 150 nationalities, and around 90,000 alumni; according to Wikipedia, six of the eight presidents of France's Fifth Republic attended.
Undergraduates earn the Sciences Po Bachelor's degree in social sciences and humanities in three years (four for some dual degrees) at one of seven campuses: Paris and six regional campuses in Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Poitiers and Reims, each with a regional focus such as Asia-Pacific in Le Havre or the Middle East and Mediterranean in Menton. Several regional programmes are taught in English, and graduates may go on to a two-year master's.
Sciences Po runs its own admissions rather than using the national systems for international applicants: a written application scored out of 50, then a 25-minute video interview with an image commentary. Fees depend on family income for EEA tax residents and are fixed for others. It suits curious, articulate students interested in politics, society and international affairs who can argue in French and/or English.
Aux racines de l'avenir
“At the roots of the future” — university motto
Why students choose Sciences Po
Ranked 4th in the world for Politics in the QS subject rankings 2025.
Seven campuses with regional specialisms, from the English-taught Asia-Pacific programme in Le Havre to the Latin America programme in Poitiers.
EEA tax residents pay income-based fees from EUR 0 to EUR 14,900, and 36% of students receive scholarships or financial aid.
Rolling international admissions: apply by 4 November 2026 and get your result in mid-January 2027.
Admissions
2027 intake (Undergraduate College, entry September 2027)
Selectivity
Sciences Po does not publish an overall admission rate. Applications are scored out of 50 (school exams, academic record, written motivation), and only candidates above a minimum mark set each year are interviewed; the interview adds another 50 points and admission requires reaching a minimum total out of 100.
Typical entry requirements
| Non-French secondary diploma (IB, A-levels, Abitur, Swiss Maturité, US high school diploma and others) | International admissions pathway via the Sciences Po admissions website; results, predicted grades and three years of academic record are assessed |
|---|---|
| French baccalauréat (including those also taking another diploma) | French admissions pathway via Parcoursup |
| Language (English-taught programmes, e.g. Le Havre, Menton English track, Reims) | English at CEFR C1; French not required |
| Language (French-taught programmes, e.g. Dijon, Nancy, Poitiers) | French at C1, or French at B1 plus English at C1 with an intensive French programme in the first semester |
| English language | Requirements are set as CEFR levels per programme (usually C1 in the language of instruction). Submitting test scores is optional; the interview panel assesses language level and can give a negative opinion if it is insufficient. |
Deadlines
- Early submission Non-binding Next deadline · In 29 days4 November 2026, 23:59 Paris time
Interviews 8–18 December 2026; results mid-January 2027.
- Second submission date Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 23:59 Paris time
Interviews 8–19 March 2027; results early April 2027.
- Final deadline Non-binding In ~5 months1 March 2027, 23:59 Paris time
Interviews 13–23 April 2027; results early May 2027.
International admissions for 2027 are open on a rolling basis until 1 March 2027; the date you submit determines your interview window and result date. Applicants on the French pathway use Parcoursup instead, and some dual degrees with French universities are applied for via Parcoursup even from abroad.
How to apply
International applicants create an application on admission.sciencespo.fr, pay the non-refundable EUR 150 fee, choose up to two Undergraduate College programmes (including dual degrees), upload transcripts and write three short pieces (1,500–2,000 characters each) in the programme languages, one of them on a work of literature. Shortlisted candidates take a 25-minute remote interview: a two-minute self-presentation, a commentary on one of two images, and a discussion of motivation. You can apply only once to the Undergraduate College.
What admissions looks for
- Strong final or predicted school results, judged against your own education system.
- Consistent academic performance and progress over the last three years of school, including your position in the cohort.
- Genuine interest in the humanities, social sciences, history and current affairs, shown through personal projects, activities and reading.
- Clear, original writing and critical thinking in the motivation pieces, written without outside or AI help.
- In the interview, the ability to analyse an image, argue a point and explain your motivation in the programme's language.
Tips for applying to Sciences Po
- 1 Apply by 4 November 2026 if you can: early submitters are interviewed 8–18 December 2026 and get results in mid-January 2027, and only complete applications are given these dates.
- 2 Ask your two academic referees early; an application without two academic references is incomplete and is not assessed.
- 3 Write the three motivation pieces yourself, in the languages of the two programmes you choose; texts written with outside or AI help are treated as plagiarism and can be marked 0.
- 4 Prepare a two-minute spoken introduction (you may not read it) and practise commenting on unfamiliar images such as paintings, press front pages or cartoons.
- 5 If you want the Émile Boutmy Scholarship, tick it in your application and submit by 13 January 2027; it cannot be added after you submit.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Fees for EEA tax residents are set on a sliding scale by household income, and 36% of students receive scholarships or financial aid. The Émile Boutmy Scholarship, funded by sponsors, supports high-achieving first-time applicants from outside the EU whose households do not file taxes in the EU. French state (Crous) grants are also available to eligible students.
- 36%
- Students receiving scholarships or financial aid
- EUR 150, non-refundable
- Application fee
- EUR 0–20,640 (EEA, income-based); EUR 20,640 (non-EEA)
- Master's fees (for comparison)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Bachelor's, Le Havre campus: Asia-Pacific minor
Taught in English (C1 required, no French needed).
Bachelor's, Menton campus: Middle East and Mediterranean minor
Offered in both a French track and an English track.
Bachelor's, Reims campus: Africa and North America minors
The Africa minor has an English-taught track requiring C1 English; the campus occupies the former Jesuit College in Reims.
Bachelor's, Nancy campus: European Union and Franco-German minor
French-taught with some classes in German; students with B1 French and C1 English can start in English.
Bachelor's, Poitiers campus: Latin America and Caribbean minor
French-taught with some classes in Spanish, which students can start learning in first year.
Bachelor's dual degrees
Combine the Sciences Po bachelor's with a partner university degree; some take four years instead of three.
Research
- 4th in the world for Politics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
- Almost 300 permanent faculty working in research centres and disciplinary departments.
- 445 university partnerships worldwide.
- Around 2,000 events a year.
Schools & faculties
- Undergraduate College (Collège universitaire)
- Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA)
- Campus de Paris
- Campus de Reims
- Campus du Havre
- Campus de Menton
- Campus de Dijon
- Campus de Nancy
- Campus de Poitiers
Student life
Where you live depends on your campus: undergraduates spend three years at one of seven campuses, from historic buildings like the former Jesuit College in Reims to the Paris headquarters on rue Saint-Guillaume, and each regional campus has its own focus region and languages. Campuses are small and international, with 40% of Sciences Po's students coming from abroad and 150 nationalities represented. Sciences Po hosts around 2,000 events a year, and bachelor's graduates may continue into a two-year master's.
- Seven campuses in Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers and Reims.
- 150 nationalities represented among students.
- Around 2,000 events per year.
- Around 90,000 alumni worldwide.
Location
Sciences Po's headquarters are in Paris's 7th arrondissement on the Left Bank, but most international bachelor's students study on a regional campus: Reims and Nancy in the north-east, Dijon in Burgundy, Le Havre on the Normandy coast, Poitiers in western France and Menton on the Mediterranean. Sciences Po describes all seven as cities with exceptional historical and cultural heritage.
Nearest airport: Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Notable alumni
- EM Emmanuel MacronPresident of France; master's in public affairs from Sciences Po
- JC Jacques ChiracPresident of France (1995–2007); graduated from Sciences Po in 1953
- FM François MitterrandPresident of France (1981–1995); studied at the École libre des sciences politiques until 1937
- BB Boutros Boutros-GhaliUN Secretary-General; diploma in international relations from Sciences Po (1949)
- SV Simone VeilFormer President of the European Parliament
- PL Pascal LamyFormer Director-General of the World Trade Organization
- JT Jean-Claude TrichetFormer President of the European Central Bank
Frequently asked questions
How much does Sciences Po cost for international students?
For 2026-27, undergraduates whose family's tax residence is outside the EEA pay EUR 14,900 a year. EEA tax residents pay an income-based fee from EUR 0 to EUR 14,900; nationality is not taken into account.
When is the Sciences Po application deadline for 2027?
International admissions are rolling until 1 March 2027. Apply by 4 November 2026 for results in mid-January, by 13 January 2027 for results in early April, or by 1 March for results in early May.
Can I study at Sciences Po in English?
Yes. Several bachelor's programmes are taught in English, including Le Havre (Asia-Pacific), Menton's English track and Reims's English-taught minors; they require C1 English. The Paris campus bachelor's is only open to candidates from French secondary education.
What is the Sciences Po interview like?
It is a remote, roughly 25-minute interview with two examiners: a two-minute self-presentation, a commentary on one of two images, and a discussion of your motivation. It is scored out of 50.
Does Sciences Po require the SAT or specific subjects?
No standardised tests are required and there are no subject requirements; your school results, academic record, written pieces and interview are assessed.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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