Exchange programme on the Paris campus

Students in the undergraduate exchange programme on the Paris campus can choose from a wide range of courses taught in French or in English in the humanities and social sciences: law, economics, history, humanities, political science, sociology and international relations. They can also take language classes.

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

Choosing courses

Course registration is done online, in July for the first semester and in January for the second semester. To prepare their choice of courses, exchange students are invited to read the course descriptions provided on the website, taking careful note of pre-requisites (disciplinary and language requirements in particular).

They must enroll at least one course of 5 ECTS credits and cannot choose more than 30 ECTS credits per semester (without optional courses).

To be eligible for the Certificate of Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities, students must attempt 30 ECTS credits and pass 20 ECTS credits in one semester. Students on a year-long exchange must attempt 60 ECTS credits and  pass 45 ECTS credits in two semesters.

They must also enroll in two core courses (5 ECTS credits each) OR a lecture course combined with a discussion section (10 ECTS credits) to satisfy the certificate’s requirements.

Students can choose the remaining 20 ECTS credits from the other types of courses (seminars, language courses, methodology workshops, artistic workshops).

A default “DF” in one or more courses (absences, course work not handed in) will generate the ineligibility to obtain the certificate.

Students who do not wish to obtain the Certificate in Social Sciences and Humanities are free to enroll in as few or as many credits as they want (between 5 and 30 ECTS credits per semester), after verifying their university’s requirements for their exchange.

Each type of course is worth a specific number of ECTS credits:

• Lecture course: 10 ECTS
• Seminar course: 5 ECTS
• Methodology workshop: 5 ECTS
• Language course: 5 ECTS
• Artistic workshop: 5 ECTS (spring semester only)
• Exploratory seminars: 5 ECTS

Language Requirements

Exchange students can take classes in French and/or in English : the language requirements are French B2 and/or English C1.

Discover Sciences Po

Welcome Programme

The Welcome programme is for students enrolled in the exchange programme on the Paris campus for a semester or an academic year. It is optional and takes place a week before classes start. The courses, information meetings and activities on offer help students settle in to Sciences Po as well as possible.

Welcome Days (non-Welcome Programme)

These information meetings are intended for any international students who have just arrived at Sciences Po and are not participating in the Welcome Programme.

Find out more about the Welcome Days

Know who to contact

There are a lot of people available to help and guide you during your time on the Paris campus:

• The Administration Office will help you complete your administrative registration, get your student card, register with social security and take out a supplementary health insurance: inscription.administrative@sciencespo.fr
• The Undergraduate College Academic Secretariatwill guide you through your course registration (except for language courses, see the Department of Languages below) and help you obtain your transcripts.
  • Email: premiercycle.echange@sciencespo.fr
  • Location: “Petit Hall” at 27 rue Saint-Guillaume, 75007 Paris
  • Opening hours:
    • Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:30am to 12:45pm and from 2:15pm to 4:45pm
    • Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 12:45pm
• The academic coordinator in charge of the programme: Aida Cissé is your academic advisor during your period of study at the Undergraduate College. If you would like to request an appointment, please send her an email.
  • Email: nafissatouaida.cisse@sciencespo.fr
  • Location: 27 rue Saint-Guillaume, 75007 Paris (third floor, office 314)
• The Department of Languages will help you with registration for language courses.  
  
  • Email: langues1ercycle.paris@sciencespo.fr
  • Location: 199, boulevard Saint-Germain - 75007 Paris
  • Opening hours:
    • Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 12.45pm
    • Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 2.15pm to 4.45pm
• International Affairs Division: in liaison with your home university, the person in charge of cooperation with your home region will help you organise your stay at Sciences Po (except for follow-up of your courses, see: the Undergraduate College academic coordinator and Academic Secretariat).