Applying to Sciences Po as a First-Year Student for Academic Year 2025: Our Admissions Process

Are you sitting the French Baccalaureate or an equivalent foreign diploma in 2025 and would like to apply to our Bachelor's degree or a dual Bachelor's degree (with the exception of those managed by our partner universities)?

Find out more about the admission process for the start of the 2025 academic year.

Four steps to show your potential

Every year, Sciences Po recruits students who have had an excellent high school record – in France or abroad – and who have shown their value through their French Baccalaureate (or an equivalent foreign diploma) exams. They must also be able to defend their motivation and personal project in writing and further convince the jury during their interview.

First steps: the application

The first three evaluations constitute the application, which now accounts for 50% of the final mark, out of 120. Complete and rigorous, the application allows all candidates to demonstrate that they are knowledgeable and well-rounded, with diverse academic qualities and strong motivations. Upon evaluation of their applications, candidates are awarded a mark out of 60.

• Evaluation 1: the candidate’s performance in their Baccalaureate exams or foreign equivalent (the list of subjects taken into account is available on the admissions website). A mark out of 20;
• Evaluation 2:  the candidate’s academic performance throughout the last three years of secondary school. This takes into account all marks obtained over the three years, as well as the student’s overall progress during their academic career, perseverance, feedback from teachers, etc. A mark out of 20;
• Evaluation 3: the written pieces: an essay in which the candidates defend their motivations and reasons for applying to Sciences Po and an essay on one of the suggested topics. A mark out of 20.

Each year, after examining the results, the admissions jury decides on a mark out of 60 which allows students to go on to the final step, the interview.

From the Academic Year 2025, Sciences Po is committed to increasing the number of candidates applying through Parcoursup who are selected for the interview.

Final step: the interview

Candidates who have obtained the necessary mark will be invited to an interview. This essential meeting point between the institution and the candidate will now be marked out of 60, which represents 50% of the final mark.

During a remote interview that lasts about 25 minutes, applicants must demonstrate their ability to engage in discussion, attitude in response to questions, and the strength of their potential for success through three stages:

• The candidate introduces themselves;
• The candidate is asked to choose between 2 images which they will comment on and analyse; 
• The candidate and the examiners will discuss to better understand the candidate's project and motivations.

From the Academic Year 2025, the examiners will have access to the written pieces of evaluation 3 and will be allowed to discuss them during the interview.

Each year, after examining the results, the admissions jury decides on a final admission mark out of 120.

Two platforms for each admissions pathway

All applicants are assessed against the same expectations. French and international secondary school students follow the same procedure, using two different platforms:

• Parcoursup for those preparing to sit the French Baccalaureate;
• The Sciences Po admissions website for those preparing a foreign secondary school diploma.

Come to our Virtual Undergraduate's Open House Day

Sign up to take part in the Virtual Undergraduate's Open House Day, which will take place on Saturday, 30 November 2024. This event will be held online and will be bilingual (English and French).

Register now.