Sciences Po

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Sciences Po

Sciences Po was established in 1872 as the École libre des sciences politiques by Émile Boutmy; Wikipedia mentions December 1871 for the founding act in one passage.^[5] Today it works through two linked bodies: the private Fondation nationale des sciences politiques and the public Institut d’études politiques de Paris.^[5] Its own site says its statutes “combine principles of public and private law”.^[1]

The historic centre is at 27 rue Saint-Guillaume in Paris. The Undergraduate College is a three-year first cycle run across seven campuses: Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers and Reims.^[6] Wikipedia lists about 15,000 students, while Sciences Po’s own figures page says 13,500; we use the official number.^{[5] [1]}

How is Sciences Po ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Sciences Po is 354th in the world (367th in the 2026 edition, 350th in 2025). It is the eighth French institution in the table, after PSL (34th), Institut Polytechnique de Paris (43rd), Sorbonne University (73rd), Université Paris-Saclay (76th), ENS de Lyon (235th), Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (246th) and Université Paris Cité (303rd).^[2]

Sciences Po’s own overview page adds a subject result: 4th worldwide in Politics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, and first in France and the EU.^[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Sciences Po?

The programme range runs from a three-year bachelor’s to doctorates:^[6]

• Undergraduate College: a three-year first cycle across seven campuses. Four regional minors are taught in English (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Mediterranean-Middle East, North America), and dual bachelor’s degrees in English are offered with partners such as Columbia, UCL, UC Berkeley, NUS and the University of Sydney.^[4]
• Master’s programmes: offered across the Paris School of International Affairs, School of Public Affairs, School of Management and Impact, Law School, Urban School, School of Research and Paris Climate School, with dual master’s degrees with partners such as LSE, Bocconi, King’s College London and Columbia.^[4]
• One-year master’s programmes: taught in English on the Paris campus.^[4]
• PhD: the PhD in Economics is taught in English.^[4]

Sciences Po states that no French is required to enrol in its English-taught programmes; bachelor’s students take mandatory French classes as part of the curriculum.^[4]

How much does Sciences Po cost in 2026/27?

These are the fees for the 2026–2027 academic year. They depend on the student’s tax residence, not on nationality; exceptions are programmes with fixed fees and students with confirmed financial independence.^[3] The Board of Directors votes the fees each year for the following academic year.^[3]

How the progressive scale works

For students whose parents are tax-resident in the EEA, the scale was introduced in 2005 and is based on family income. Since 2021 the fee is calculated individually from each family’s resources, with an online calculator to estimate it.^[7] In 2024/25 the average fee for French and European students was €5,740 at undergraduate level and €7,275 at graduate level, and 36% of students paid no tuition.^[7] Non-EEA students pay the flat maximum, with no sliding scale.^[7]

Scholarships and other costs

Sciences Po reports about €11 million in scholarships and financial aid in 2024/25 and says the aid is open to European and non-European students.^[7] One-year master’s students cannot be exempted as Crous scholarship holders and cannot apply for the Émile Boutmy scholarship.^[3] Graduate applicants also pay a non-refundable €150 application fee.^[8] Tuition is only part of the bill: for rent and living costs in France, see our France guide and the Study in France guide.

How do you apply to Sciences Po?

The route depends on the level and on the diploma you hold.

• Undergraduate College: you apply while preparing a French Baccalaureate or an equivalent foreign secondary diploma. With a French Baccalaureate you apply through Parcoursup; with a foreign secondary diploma you apply through the Sciences Po admissions website; dual degrees go through the partner universities’ portals. You may submit only one application to the programme. Selection looks at your school record, motivation and personal project, and includes an oral exam before a jury.^[6]
• Master’s, international procedure: open to holders of a non-French undergraduate degree (or 180 ECTS credits). You apply on Sciences Po’s own online portal, not through Campus France, even if your country uses the Campus France procedure. You choose one two-year master’s, one dual degree, or both, and submit references, language proof, documents and a motivation letter. Selection has two stages, admissibility and admission.^[8]

Sciences Po allows one application per academic year; if it fails you cannot apply to another programme that year.^[8] We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the timetable of your programme before you start.

Which language level do you need?

The CEFR is the European scale from A1 to C2; B2 is upper-intermediate and C1 advanced. For the Undergraduate College the level depends on the campus and track:^[9]

• Taught in French (Dijon, Nancy, Poitiers): French C1, or French B1 plus English C1.
• Paris campus: French C1; some classes are in English. The page adds that this programme is only available to candidates who have completed French secondary education.
• English-taught tracks (Le Havre Asia-Pacific; Menton and Reims English tracks): English C1; French is not required.

Attaching proof of language level (for example a test) at application is optional for the bachelor’s; your level is assessed at the interview.^[9]

For international master’s applicants the requirement depends on the programme. Some programmes ask for no specific English level at admission, but you must prove English C1 by the end of the two years to earn the degree.^[10] Accepted tests include TOEFL (via MyBest Scores), IELTS, Cambridge certificates and, for French and German, DELF/DALF, Goethe-Zertifikat, DSD and DSH. For the 2027 intake the test must have been taken on or after 1 January 2025. Being a native speaker does not exempt you.^[10] Minimum scores are in programme spreadsheets that we could not open, so check them on the Sciences Po admissions site.

More about studying in France

• France: best universities
• Study in France: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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