Sciences Po was founded in 1872 by Émile Boutmy in response to the political and moral crisis in France in the aftermath of the 1870 Franco-Prussian War. It was intended to educate the new elite and generate modern knowledge for a new France.
In 1945, it was partially nationalised and divided into the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques (FNSP) and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (IEP).
Students gain admission to Sciences Po after passing the Baccalauréat (or a foreign equivalent) or having completed an undergraduate or graduate programme.
Students with one or more years of professional experience, as well as those preparing for competitive examinations are welcome. In addition, Sciences Po runs a popular Summer School and a variety of MOOCs, providing study opportunities for a wide range of students who attend summer courses or benefit from online learning.
Sciences Po is a research university in the social sciences, internationally recognised for the quality of its scientific output. Developed with a strong focus on society, research conducted at Sciences Po enriches public debate.
At Sciences Po, more than 200 faculty members in the fields of humanities and social sciences study transformations at work in the modern world and the challenges they represent.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2019. By rating institutions on a scale from 1 to 5, on multiple studies-related questions, we found the top educators in the world.
Learn more about the Global Student Satisfaction AwardsWith a catalogue of nearly one million documents and a wide range of digital resources, the Sciences Po library is recognised as a reference library for the social sciences in Europe.
The library facilitates access to information for all, especially through its many digital resources.
Key facts
At Sciences Po, students enjoy a range of digital services designed to simplify academic life – from work management and new ways of learning, to countless resource materials.
The Sciences Po Health Centre is available to:
Sciences Po is present today in seven French cities: Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers, Reims.
These seven campuses are located in cities boasting exceptional historical and cultural heritage.
The seven campuses are located in cities boasting exceptional historical and cultural heritage. The campuses are home to a tight-knit multicultural student community and feature a vibrant intellectual and associative student life.
At Sciences Po, more than 200 associations help students in their personal growth through artistic, athletic and civic activities. Every year, more than 200 student associations enliven Sciences Po's campuses in Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers and Reims. To discover and support these organisations, join a student union or develop your own initiative, visit the Students life.
Sciences Po is an elite school that distinguishes itself through its excellence and expertise regarding its professors and programs.
What I like best about the university is that it offers an international perspective that fosters an understanding of cultural diversities. For example, it has seven campuses with a choice of regional focus and each one offers language courses related to the geographic region in question. In my case, I chose to study in the campus specialized in Latin America since I grew...
I loved being a part of ZJU. I received a huge amount of support from the university as I also worked as an assistant there. Professors in ZJU are respobsible, intelligent and ambitious people. They are also very understanding and supportive. Moreover, campus life conditions are perfect for studying as well as enjoying life while studying: there are cafeterias, coffee...