Exchange Programme: Language Requirements and Accepted Language Tests

Overview

Language Requirements at the Bachelor's Level

Exchange students at Sciences Po's Undergraduate College may take their courses in French, English, or both languages for campuses that offer this option. 

To ensure that every exchange student is proficient in at least one of these two languages of instruction, exchange students whose native language is neither French nor English must provide an official test in either English or French when completing their application file. Only students who meet certain conditions may be exempted from the language test.

Please note that the required language levels vary according to the programs applied for. 

The choice of campus depends in particular on the language in which the exchange student wishes to take their courses, their language proficiency, and the hosting capacity at each campus. 

Students who do not meet the linguistic requirements of the campus for which they have been nominated by their home university will be offered another campus.

Language Requirements at the Master’s Level

Language requirements for exchange students vary depending on the Master's program.

Languages Certifications Accepted for Exchange Students

Language Test Exemptions for Exchange Students

The following students do not need to submit English language test results: 

• Students whose native language is English and who want to study at Sciences Po in English.
• Students whose language of instruction at their home university is English and who want to study at Sciences Po in English.
• Students from the following countries in Northern Europe where English is the language. used in higher education (75% minimum): Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Netherlands.
• Students who have a school leaving qualification from an English-language secondary school system (e.g. A-Levels or High School Diploma).
• Students who have a higher education diploma from a university where the language of instruction is English. 
• Students with an International Baccalaureate (IB) who chose English as their language of instruction (level A1 / A2).
• Students with a European Baccalaureate (IB) who chose English as their language of instruction (language section with English as mother tongue or 1st foreign language).

The following students do not need to submit French language test results: 

• Students whose native language is French and who want to study at Sciences Po in French.
• Students whose language of instruction at their home university is French and who want to study at Sciences Po in French.
• Students who have a school leaving qualification from the French secondary school system (for example, from a lycée français in France or abroad).
• Students who have a higher education diploma from a university where the language of instruction is French. 
• Students with an International Baccalaureate (IB) who chose French as their language of instruction (only at A1/A2 level).
• Students with a European Baccalaureate (IB) who chose French as their language of instruction (language section with French as mother tongue or 1st foreign language).
• Students who achieved a B2 or C1 of level of French at the Sciences Po Summer School. 
• Students who hold an Abibac or Abitur mentioning their certified level of French, in line with the Franco-German agreement of 4 November 1988. The language classes' grades in a general Abitur without this specification cannot be considered as a justification of a language level.