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Master in Political Science

Section #objectives

Objectives of the programme: train researchers and experts

QS-Ranking-2025
According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, Sciences Po ranks 4ᵉ worldwide in the “Politics” (formerly known as “Politics & International Studies”) category out of more than 1,700 international universities.  For the past seven years, Sciences Po has been among the top 5 universities in this discipline internationally. The university remains 1rst in France and 1rst in the European Union (UE).

In this Masters programme an internationally recognized team of academics provides training through research.  The programme is specifically geared towards students interested in academic careers (research and teaching), but also caters to those considering careers as experts in public or private international organizations, general entrance exams for international or European public service, and diplomatic careers.  

Section #structure

Structure of the programme

An internationally recognized team of academics provides research through training in this Masters programme.  The two-year Masters programme provides comprehensive high-level training in the basics, theory and methodology. 

This combines a general discipline-wide training in theory and method with a more specialist sub-disciplinary focus. The majority of students will choose one of the programme’s five specialist majors, corresponding to the five principal sub-disciplines of political science. A general track in English is also available, offering students the opportunity to combine general courses in theory and method with specialist courses drawn from each sub-discipline:

Within each specialty they study the “fundamentals”, which are mandatory for all and provide the key methodological and epistemological elements to develop a solid command of the subject matter.  Students also attend specialized courses in the priority areas for each sub-discipline.  In the last semester of their second year, students must write a research paper demonstrating their ability to organize their knowledge, to investigate an issue, and to address it in a coherent and informed argument.

Section #contacts

Contact

Thierry Balzacq
Head of studies in Policital Science, Full Professor at Sciences Po and Professorial Fellow at CERI

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