Sciences Po

Overview

Sciences Po began in 1872 as the École libre des sciences politiques. Today it is a public institution in the French grande école tradition, specializing in the social sciences: political science, economics, law, history and sociology. Its undergraduate college runs a three-year bachelor program on seven campuses: Paris, Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Poitiers and Reims. Each regional campus has a geographic focus, and the third year is normally spent abroad.

Programs are offered in English, in French, or in both, depending on the campus and track. When you apply you choose two programs, and your essays must be written in the teaching language of those programs.

Deadlines for the September 2027 intake

If you want the Émile Boutmy Scholarship for non-EU students, you must tick it in your file and apply by 13 January 2027. Dual degrees with partners such as FU Berlin, the University of Hong Kong and Keio close on 1 March 2027. The application fee is 150 euros.

How the assessment works

Sciences Po uses four evaluations. Experts in foreign school systems review your secondary school results and your performance over the last three years. A third evaluation marks your written motivation and academic project pieces. Together, these three are worth 50 points, and the written file decides whether you are invited to the interview. The fourth evaluation is a remote interview of about 25 minutes, also out of 50: a short presentation of up to two minutes, an image analysis, and a discussion of your motivation.

There are no required subjects and no published SAT or AP threshold. For a student from Canada or the US, the transcript, the rigour of your courses and your written work carry the weight. Read the document list on the admissions page carefully, as an incomplete file can hold up your application.

Fees and funding

Fees depend on tax residence rather than nationality. Students whose household is tax resident in the EEA pay on a sliding scale from 0 to 14,900 euros per year based on income; students resident outside the EEA pay a flat 14,900 euros, according to the Sciences Po tuition fees page for 2026-27 as checked in October 2026. Check the page for the year you enrol. The Émile Boutmy Scholarship is the main merit award for non-EU undergraduates. A French student visa is needed after admission; Campus France explains the steps.

Preparing for the interview and essays

The image analysis rewards students who can describe, contextualize and argue under time pressure. Practise with our interview skills deck and critical reading and reasoning. If you plan to study in French, add the French A2 deck. Our France guide explains how Sciences Po differs from public universities.