Dual bachelor's degree with the University of Hong Kong

The first evaluation of the admissions procedure consists of an assessment of the candidate’s results in their final secondary school exams.

For candidates applying from non-French systems of secondary education, results in final exams equivalent to the French Baccalaureate and/or midterm exams and/or predicted grades (upon availability) will be assessed on the basis of school transcripts submitted through the Sciences Po admissions website. These transcripts will be assessed by experts in systems of secondary education abroad.

There are no specific subject requirements. For example, IB candidates whose 6 subjects (3 HL, 3 SL or more HL) do not contain any science subjects are not in any way disadvantaged.

Our evaluation of the candidate’s academic performance and progress is intended to provide both overview and in-depth insight into their time at secondary school. 

This phase of evaluation will focus on academic performance throughout the last three years of secondary school. It aims to make an in-depth assessment of the student’s academic performance, their position in the cohort, evidence of hard work, perseverance and improvement, overall progress. The "activities and interests" section will provideadditional elements of understanding of the candidate's background. 

This evaluation, which is based on an analysis of the candidate’s academic record, is conducted by a secondary school teacher and/or a membersf the academic staff at Sciences Po. The examiner assesses the application without being aware of the results of Evaluation 1.

Our examiners have an excellent knowledge of foreign systems of secondary education, as well as of the Sciences Po Undergraduate College.

The written pieces consist of two types of exercise:

• Motivations and project for Sciences Po
• An essay on one of two questions below

Motivations

For candidates applying from non-French systems of secondary education only : 

• Academic excellence is at the heart of Sciences Po’s project - do you value hard work? When and in which circumstances have you had to demonstrate personal effort? (2,500-3,000 characters incl. spaces)
• Please select a work of literature that has contributed to your personal intellectual development. Please develop your answer. (1,500-2,000 characters incl. spaces)
• The Sciences Po College curriculum is offered on several campuses and via a variety of study programmes. Specify the two programme choices in which you would like to study and explain in detail your interest in each.  (1,500-2,000 characters incl. spaces)

The essay

• An author has contributed to changing the way you look at a societal issue. Please specify which issue, then provide details and explain why. (3,000-4,000 characters incl. spaces)
   
• Write a uchronia imagining that a major scientific or technological discovery of the 20th century had not occurred. Specify which discovery you are referring to and imagine the related political, economic or social implications. (3,000-4,000 characters incl. spaces)

This section of the application gives candidates a chance to demonstrate their critical thinking and writing skills through an essay responding to one of two subjects.

Guidelines for writing your essay

Applicants should select and respond to one of the two questions proposed by Sciences Po within 3000-4000 characters (including spaces).
The text should be personal and written by you alone. A sincere and authentic response is expected of each candidate. The essay is not an academic exercise but a writing exercise that focuses on your writing skills and personal reflection.

Calculation of your mark

At the end of Evaluation 3, an examiner awards the candidate, a mark out of 20. 

The three marks out of 20 are totalled to give a mark out of 60. In order to proceed to the next step, candidates must obtain a mark equal to or higher than a minimum mark defined by Sciences Po each year. This minimum mark will be established by the admissions jury officially, after examination of the results and in view of the quality of applications. 

Candidates who have obtained the necessary mark out of 60 will be invited to an interview, which is the fourth and final evaluation for admission. 

This meeting between the institution and the candidate is an essential part of the admissions procedure. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to engage in discussion, attitude in response to questions, and the strength of their potential for success.

The interview, which lasts approximately 25 minutes, takes place remotely, and consists of three stages.

Candidate's presentation - 2 minutes

In this introductory part of the interview, candidates are asked to present their background and experience as well as ambitions for Sciences Po. They will have a maximum of two minutes to complete the exercise and outline their motivations, interests and attributes. Candidates may therefore wish to prepare their introductory presentations in advance of the interview.

The candidate should not be reading a text.

Image analysis and commentary - approximately 10 minutes

This part of the interview consists of an analytical commentary on an image.

The candidate will be given a choice of two images carefully selected by Sciences Po. They will be asked to study the two images and select one for commentary. The candidate will need to explain their choice and then describe the chosen image objectively, contextualise it, interpret the content of the image, analyse it critically and attempt to tell the story behind it.

This exercise is designed to encourage candidates to think analytically and put their knowledge to use. No prior knowledge of the image is required.

Candidate’s motivations and intellectual project - between 10 and 15 minutes

This section of the interview is about deepening our understanding of the candidate’s motivations for applying and intellectual ambitions for study on one of Sciences Po’s programmes. It also allows us to assess whether the candidate will be a good fit for the institution’s criteria and their potential to succeed at Sciences Po.

This stage takes the form of an open discussion and allows examiners to gain a fuller picture of the candidate and their motivations.

Candidates will be asked to outline their interest in Sciences Po’s programmes and their study plans. The panel will ensure that the candidate’s profile is suited to the programme they have applied to.

Procedure for remote interviews

Interviews are conducted remotely for all French and international applicants, using a specialised digital platform. Please note: Failure to attend your interview will result in the rejection of your application.

Click here for legal information pertaining to admission interviews held by videoconference.

Each candidate will receive by email:

• their invitation to the online interview with the link to access the videoconference;
• the date and time of their interview;
• the technical user guide for the remote interview "Preparing for my Sciences Po admission interview"

At the beginning of the interview, candidates will be asked to show their equipment and must respect the technical protocol recommended by Sciences Po. The computer must be equipped with sound and a camera and may be either a computer or a digital tablet.

Candidates must respect the schedule indicated on their interview invitation. Upon connection, the candidate will be placed in the virtual waiting room and will wait for the members of the committee to establish the connection.

No other people may be present in the same room as the candidate when they sit their interview.