“If you are interested in social sciences, Sciences Po is for you.“

Suthiwit Soisuwan is a second year undergraduate student from Thailand. He was able to study in France thanks to a scholarship from the Thai government, and he chose to enrol in the Sciences Po Middle-East and Mediterranean undergraduate programme on the Menton campus. He talks about his life in Menton and the people he has met in this small southern town, also known as “the pearl of France”.

Why did you choose the undergraduate programme on the Menton campus? Where does your interest for the Middle East and Mediterranean region come from?

Before I came to Sciences Po, I didn’t know anything about the Middle East, the Mediterranean or Arabic people, but I was curious about these regions. This part of the world is in perpetual movement and I was eager to understand what was going on there. Also, I knew that the programme in Menton would be an opportunity to learn Arabic.

What is it like to be a student on the Menton campus?

The Menton campus is small, which makes it easy to meet people. Students, teachers and administrative staff all get to know each other very well, which is important when academic, administrative or even personal problems arise. Students can talk with each other, and the teaching staff feel a real concern for the students. They literally take care of us. For example, I am in the French track but I am not a native French speaker. Teachers offered me extra lessons in French to help me improve my proficiency.

And what about your life outside classes?

Most of the events on campus are organised by students. I am on the board of the Arts Bureau. Every year, we organise the Christmas festival, the Arts week and we also try to set up events to meet the people of Menton. In the next few months, we are hoping to organise an event with the town high school. Menton welcomes us and we try to maintain contact with the population.

Besides, Menton is a beautiful town and a marvellous place to do extracurricular activities. I am a singer and I joined the Menton conservatoire, or music school. I have sung in the town choir, learned the double bass and met the people of Menton.

What would say to students who are considering Sciences Po for their undergraduate studies?

First, if you are interested in social sciences, and not only political science, this university is for you!
Plus, Sciences Po is the ideal place to broaden your horizons, to give your dreams and projects the time and place to take shape. We all come from very diverse countries and backgrounds, and together we take time to think about where we are going.
The students and all the people we meet here help us to discover the world and plan our futures.