Sciences Po
Location: Multiple campuses in France
- Paris, Reims, Le Havre, Menton, Dijon, Nancy, & Poitiers
- Note: UVic students will indicate two campus preferences on their Sciences Po applications. Top choice of campus is not guaranteed.
Special Requirement: minimum completion of four or more semesters of study at UVic before the exchange term
Website: (see )
Terms: Fall semester (late August – mid-December) // Spring semester (mid-January – late May)
Highlights
- Ranked 2nd best university in the world for Politics in 2024
- As one of Europe's most competitive universities, Sciences Po prepares its graduates for work in international business, multilateral organizations, positions of public responsibility and other fields of endeavor
- The campuses of Sciences Po are each located in unique architectural buildings, and in the center of their respective cities. Students can therefore enjoy culturally and historically rich activities, in addition to the countless cafés, shops, cinemas and restaurants that the cities have to offer.
Accessibility
- Exchange students can access Sciences Po's , in order to arrange accessibility supports and adjustments for your exchange term.
- For more information, please contact pole.handicap@sciencespo.fr or reach out to the UVic Exchange Team, who can help liaise.
Study Options
A Certificate of Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities is available for undergraduate exchange students. This certificate gives students an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the humanities and social sciences within a core, multidisciplinary curriculum in the disciplines taught at Sciences Po (Political science, Law, History, Economics, Sociology, Humanities), either in French or in English. It also enables students to study a foreign language.
In addition to the certificate, students may select a regional specialization if they apply for a campus outside Paris. They may study the geographical minors:
- European Union, Central and Eastern Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- Mediterranean and Middle East
- European Union, Franco-German partnership
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- North America
- Africa
To be awarded, the certificate requires exchange students to validate a minimum of 45 ECTS credits in an academic year and 20 ECTS credits in a semester (with a maximum of 60 ECTS credits in a year and/or 30 ECTS credits in a semester). They must take two core courses in one or two disciplines or a lecture course combined with a discussion section to satisfy the certificate’s requirements.
Area of study
- Political Science
- International Relations
- History
- Economics
- French
- Law
- Political Humanities
- Sociology
Academic information, course details, language of instruction, and campus highlights for each Sciences Po campus:
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Please note the following registration information pertaining to Sciences Po:
- To register for courses at Sciences Po, students use an on-line registration system.
- Dropping courses is possible but there is a very short window during the registration period before the beginning of the semester. If students drop a course past the deadline, it will appear as "défaillant" on their transcript. The terms are shorter at Sciences Po, making registration in new courses challenging. Course attendance is mandatory.
- Some courses have variable credit which can significantly impact the number of UVic units students will receive. It is very important to review your course selections.
- Students will have access to an Academic Adviser at Sciences Po. Following registration, students will receive the contact information.
Credits
Credits at Sciences Po:
- Full-time option (7.5 UVic units): 30 ECTS per term at Sciences Po
Course Evaluations at UVic:
- Before departure, UVic students will be able to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will indicate how many UVic units each exchange course is worth, as well as the course equivalency.
- Students must use the evaluation results to ensure their exchange courses credits add up to the equivalent UVic units. The total number of units for each exchange term should be 4.5 UVic units for part-time exchange or 7.5 UVic units for full-time exchange.
- This course evaluation process will be made available and explained in detail during the pre-departure session in early October for Spring exchange terms and in late March for Fall exchange terms. Evaluations take 2-6 weeks to complete and will be emailed to students.
- Course evaluations results are tentative until the end of the exchange term, when a second, final evaluation is conducted by OREM using the students’ exchange transcript, and the results are applied to their UVic record.
Exchange credit history
- Click here to check out the exchange credit history of courses that have been previously evaluated by UVic for this host university.
- Students are not limited to this list when selecting courses for their upcoming exchange and should consult the host university’s course catalogue for a full list of offerings.
- Important note: this document is a guide only and previously evaluated courses are not guaranteed to be evaluated in the same way in the future.
- After being accepted into the ICS Exchange Program, students will have the chance to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will provide updated unit and credit equivalency information.
Housing
- On-campus housing: Unavailable
- Off-campus housing: Available
- For further details about accommodation, check out .
- All students who obtain a French residence permit are eligible to apply for a housing subsidy, which is conditional on the student's financial situation.
Visa, Orientation, and Health Insurance
Visa:
- Please check out Sciences Po's website on visas and residency requirements .
- The French government's is handy tool to determine if and which type of visa you may need.
Orientation:
- The is an optional, week-long orientation available for Paris and Reims campus exchange students.
- Features workshops, info sessions, campus and library visits, cultural activities, and even a conference on political life in France!
- Cost is 270€
Health Insurance Coverage:
- We highly recommend students check out information about healthcare coverage in France via Sciences Po's .
SDGs-in-Action
Add a United Nations CIFAL qualification to your international experience (and your CV!) by taking the SDGs-In-Action challenge. Below are resources and some of the many ways to get involved at Sciences Po.
- Sciences Po support student-run initiatives on all their campuses that address social and civic issues.
- of all the student associations at your campus.
How to apply
Learn how to apply or to receive emails about studying on exchange at a partner university. We will send you information about events, application deadlines, funding opportunities, and more!