Exchange programme

Student Experience at the Undergraduate College

The exchange programme invites international students to participate in campus life to the full, by allowing them to:

• Choose their disciplinary and multidisciplinary courses from the range of course offerings in law, economics, history, the humanities, international relations, political science and sociology, taught by faculty and practitioners, in the first and second year of the BA programme.
• Enrol in specific courses on French and European history and culture, which offer supplementary methodological training (cf. the culture courses taught in French).
• Develop their proficiency in French with language classes and take part in conversation exchanges with French students. Note that the quality of Sciences Po’s French as a Foreign Language teaching was certified in 2017 with the Qualité Français Langue Etrangère label.

The curriculum can be completed in French, English, or both languages and includes a diverse range of courses; activities with student clubs and associations also form part of the programme.

Under certain conditions, exchange students can obtain a Certificate of Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities.

Exchange students are encouraged to use all the resources offered by the Sciences Po library on each campus and to attend the guest lectures and events scheduled all year round.

Prior to the start of the academic year, the "Welcome Programme" orientation week helps international students enrolled in Paris and Reims discover the Undergraduate College, programme content and teaching methods, academic requirements and available learning support.

In connection with their home university, exchange students receive specific support in developing and implementing their study plan at Sciences Po. They are in regular contact with the Undergraduate College’s academic coordinator in charge of the exchange programme, who can refer students to the appropriate Sciences Po services (administration office, housing service, health centre, etc.) as necessary, and with the International Affairs manager in charge of their region.

Discover the exchange programme on each of our campuses

Admission to the exchange programme

For admission to the undergraduate exchange programme, students must first be nominated by their home university—a Sciences Po partner—having completed at least four semesters of undergraduate study.

Exchange students can take their courses at Sciences Po in French or English depending on the requirements of their home university, and must meet language requirements in both languages.

Please note:

• Exchange students are asked to explain in their cover letter to Sciences Po why they want to study on the campus for which they were nominated by their home university.
• Their assignment to a campus takes into account the language in which they want to take their courses, their level of proficiency in that language and the number of places available on the campus.

Find out more about admission procedures and preparing for an exchange.