Sciences Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies): Admission, Fees and Scholarships

Sciences Po is a selective social sciences institution in Paris covering political science, international affairs, economics, law, sociology, journalism and urban studies. It runs its own admissions: you apply on admission.sciencespo.fr, not through Campus France, and selection is based on the file, written work and an online interview for the bachelor's, and on the file, motivation letter and references for a master's. Its fees are also its own. Students whose parents are tax-resident outside the European Economic Area (EEA) pay $16,940 (€14,900) a year for the bachelor's and $23,460 (€20,640) for a master's in 2026/27.

The main reduction for international students is the Émile Boutmy scholarship, awarded to about 300 students a year. For the 2027 undergraduate intake, the international pathway has three application deadlines: 4 November 2026, 13 January 2027 and 1 March 2027. Master's applications close on 21 February 2027, and decisions come earlier for those who apply earlier.

What Sciences Po is, and what it is not

"Sciences Po" refers to the National Foundation for Political Science (FNSP) and the Paris Institute of Political Studies (IEP de Paris), which runs the teaching. The historic campus is in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and the 22,000 m² Saint-Thomas campus opened in 2022.

The regional institutes, such as Sciences Po Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille and Strasbourg, are separate institutions with their own entrance procedures. The six undergraduate campuses listed above, by contrast, are part of Sciences Po and award the same degree.

Who Sciences Po suits

Sciences Po suits applicants aiming at political science, international relations, public policy, journalism or law who are ready for written and oral selection. If budget is the constraint and you want public-university fees, compare master's programmes at Sorbonne University, or economics and management at Dauphine, part of PSL. For a wider comparison, see universities in Paris.

Which undergraduate campus to choose

The bachelor's is a three-year Bachelor of Arts in the social sciences and humanities. Each campus has a regional minor, and students spend the third year abroad.

On the Dijon, Nancy and Poitiers campuses, students with B1 French can take first-semester classes in English alongside intensive French, then switch to French from the second semester. Graduates of every campus receive the same Sciences Po degree and can continue to a two-year master's in Paris.

Applying for the bachelor's (international pathway)

The international pathway is for applicants taking a non-French school-leaving qualification; what counts is the type of qualification, not nationality. If you have already finished school (no earlier than October 2025), you must request a dispensation before applying. It is granted only if you have not enrolled in any degree programme since school and can document the whole gap: work or internships of at least 20 hours a week, formal volunteering, full-time language courses or compulsory service. Travel and test preparation do not qualify. You can apply to the Sciences Po Undergraduate College only once.

Choices. You can list two programmes: two campus minors (excluding the Paris general programme), or a dual degree as first choice plus a campus minor. Choose by the region you want to study and by teaching language, not by your home country.

Application file (out of 50):

1. Final or predicted school results (out of 20).
2. Academic performance and progress over the last three years of school (out of 20), assessed independently of the first mark.
3. Written pieces (out of 10): motivation answers of 1,500–2,000 characters each. They cover how your journey has shaped your view of the world, a literary work that shaped you, and (ungraded) why you chose your two programmes. Write them in the language of the chosen programmes. Sciences Po treats outside help, AI-generated text or plagiarism as grounds for a zero mark.

Interview (out of 50). Shortlisted candidates have a remote interview of about 25 minutes with two examiners. It starts with a two-minute self-presentation (not read from notes), continues with an analysis of one image chosen from two, and ends with a discussion of your motivation and study plans. The combined mark out of 100 is compared with a threshold set each year.

Language certificates are optional at application, but your level is assessed through the essays and interview; if it falls short, the panel can give a negative opinion. The application fee is $170 (€150) and is non-refundable.

Bachelor's deadlines for 2027

The Émile Boutmy deadline for bachelor's applicants is 13 January 2027. You must select the scholarship in your application before you submit it. Dual degrees with Freie Universität Berlin, the University of Hong Kong, Keio, ESCP and Luiss close on 1 March 2027 on the Sciences Po platform. All deadlines fall at 11:59 pm Paris time.

Before choosing campuses, it is worth attending an online open day: the undergraduate one is on 28 November 2026 and the graduate one on 17 October 2026. They cover programmes, dual degrees and the selection process; registration is on the Sciences Po website.

Applying for a master's

Sciences Po offers more than 30 two-year master's programmes across eight professional schools, including the Paris School of International Affairs. The international procedure is for applicants with a non-French bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), or a master's-level degree from countries whose universities do not award undergraduate degrees.

• One campaign per year. You can apply to one two-year master's, or to a master's plus a dual degree (listed first). If you are rejected, you cannot reapply that year for another programme or through another procedure.
• Documents. A motivation letter in the programme's language (one per programme), references, language test results, degrees and transcripts as PDFs of up to 2 MB. Nothing can be added after submission.
• Language tests. Requirements vary by programme; if you apply to two, the higher requirement applies. Tests must be taken on or after 1 January 2025 for the 2027 intake. Cambridge, DELF and DALF certificates do not expire. Even where no English level is required for admission, C1 English must be proven to graduate.
• Application fee. $170 (€150), non-refundable even if the file is incomplete or unsuccessful. Waivers apply only to specific categories, such as CROUS grant holders.

Master's deadlines for 2027

Applications open at the end of September 2026. The general deadline is 21 February 2027. The Joint Master in Journalism and International Affairs and the Master in Journalism close on 3 January 2027. Decisions depend on when your complete file arrives:

Boutmy applicants must complete the file by the scholarship deadline, even if the programme closes later. In the previous cycle the master's scholarship deadlines were 19 October and 30 November; check the scholarship calendar for 2027. For help with the motivation letter and programme choice, see our guide to master's degrees in France.

Visa after admission

Sciences Po states that you cannot apply to it through Campus France's system. Residents of Russia and other Études en France countries still need that procedure for the visa: after admission, create a file as an already-admitted candidate, pay the Campus France fee and attend the interview. Only then apply for a long-stay student visa, no earlier than three months before the course starts. The steps are set out in our guide to the French student visa.

How much Sciences Po costs

The national fee scale and the differentiated rate for non-EU students do not apply to Sciences Po, which sets its own fees:

Sciences Po's statement that "one in three students pays zero tuition" mostly reflects French and EU students on CROUS grants. For families outside the EEA, fees do not depend on income; scholarships are the only way to reduce them. The national Decree 2026-385 on exemptions from the differentiated public-university rate does not apply to Sciences Po, which has its own scale. Fees for 2027/28 had not been published as of 24 September 2026.

Living costs come on top. Since 1 August 2026, the visa and residence permit require proof of at least $1,000 (€877.50) a month. Real Paris costs are higher. Campus France's May 2026 benchmarks put a CROUS room at $340–740 (€300–650) a month, a private student residence at $630–1,020 (€550–900), a studio from a private landlord at $630–1,480 (€550–1,300), and a Navigo transport pass at $105 (€90.80). Since 1 July 2026, non-EU students receive APL housing aid only with a CROUS grant, a job or an apprenticeship. Plan how you will pay from Russia before admission and use only lawful bank transfers. For a full budget, see the cost of studying in France.

Which scholarships are available to international students

Émile Boutmy is for first-time applicants from outside the EU whose household does not pay tax in the EU:

• Bachelor's: a full fee waiver or $10,800 (€9,500) off the fee each year, kept during the year abroad.
• Master's: $21,030 (€18,500) off the fee in each of the two years.
• Selection: awarded on merit and profile as part of the admissions review; there is no separate competition.
• Combinations: it cannot be combined with other Sciences Po or partner scholarships (such as Mastercard), but it can be combined with external funding such as French Government scholarships.
• Not eligible: dual nationals holding an EU citizenship; one-year master's applicants; applicants to the journalism master's (including the Joint Master in Journalism and International Affairs); most master's dual-degree applicants, with a few exceptions; and bachelor's dual-degree applicants unless a specific agreement applies.
• When to ask: only in your application. You cannot request Boutmy after admission or during your studies, and a refused applicant cannot reapply in the same cycle.
• Keeping it: you must pass each academic year; deferring your admission cancels the scholarship.

Other options:

• France Excellence Eiffel: do not plan on it for 2027 entry. Russian citizens are generally eligible for the programme, but Sciences Po has announced that it will not take part in the 2027 Eiffel selection and will not nominate anyone for 2027/28, and students cannot apply for Eiffel directly.
• French Embassy in Russia master's scholarship: $980 (€860) a month for 2026/27. Its fee waiver refers to public-university registration fees, so ask the embassy how it applies to Sciences Po's own fees.
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and other schemes listed by Sciences Po for non-EEA students, each with its own country and income criteria.

See scholarships in France.

Where Sciences Po students live

Sciences Po does not guarantee housing. Options include CROUS residences (social file by 31 May, with a summer phase for non-grant holders), the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris for master's students (47 houses, about 7,200 rooms, September applications by April), and the private market with the Visale guarantee for under-30s. Undergraduates on regional campuses look for housing in those cities. See student housing in France.

Why the overall ranking understates its reputation

Overall rankings reward the natural sciences, medicine and engineering, which Sciences Po does not teach. Subject tables are more relevant here: in politics, Sciences Po has been in the global top five for eight years and has been the top-ranked EU university for eleven.

Mistakes to avoid

• Applying through Campus France. The academic application goes only through Sciences Po; Études en France comes afterwards, for the visa.
• Waiting until spring. Applying by 4 November (bachelor's) brings a result in mid-January, and by 18 October (master's) a decision before Christmas.
• Choosing a campus by nationality. Choose by the region you want to study and by language: the English tracks require C1.
• Forgetting the scholarship. Boutmy must be selected in the application before the scholarship deadline; it cannot be added later.
• Getting help with the essays. Sciences Po treats outside help or AI-written text as misconduct and can award a zero.
• Confusing Sciences Po with regional IEPs. Sciences Po Lyon or Bordeaux are different institutions with their own entrance procedures.
• Budgeting on Eiffel. Sciences Po is not nominating Eiffel candidates for 2027/28, so plan around Boutmy and external funding.

FAQ

Can I apply with a non-French school certificate?

Yes, through the international pathway, ideally while still in your final school year. If you have already graduated (no earlier than October 2025), you need a dispensation, granted only if you have not studied at another university and can document how you spent the gap.

How much does Sciences Po cost for non-EEA students?

For 2026/27: $16,940 (€14,900) a year for the bachelor's and $23,460 (€20,640) for a master's, regardless of income. The Boutmy scholarship is the main way to reduce this.

Can I study in English?

Yes. At undergraduate level, Le Havre, the Menton English track and Reims's English programmes are fully English-taught, all at C1. Many master's and dual-degree programmes are in English.

Do I need Campus France?

Not to apply. If you live in Russia or another Études en France country, you do need the procedure after admission in order to get a visa.

When should I apply for 2027 entry?

Bachelor's: by 4 November 2026, 13 January 2027 or 1 March 2027 (Boutmy by 13 January). Master's: by 21 February 2027, or by 3 January 2027 for the journalism programmes. Earlier complete files get earlier decisions.

What happens at the undergraduate interview?

It is a remote interview of about 25 minutes with two examiners: a short self-presentation, the analysis of one image, and a discussion of your motivation and plans.

Can StudyU help?

Under a service agreement, we help you choose programmes and campuses, plan deadlines, assemble documents, prepare for the interview and handle the visa stage. Sciences Po requires essays to be your own work. Sciences Po decides on admission and scholarships, and the French consulate decides on the visa.

Sources

• Sciences Po tuition fees 2026/27
• International undergraduate admissions, 2027 intake and dispensation rules
• Undergraduate language requirements by campus
• International graduate admissions and 2027 deadlines
• Graduate language requirements
• Émile Boutmy scholarship, scholarships and financial aid and Eiffel 2027 notice
• Sciences Po key figures and 2026 open days
• Our campuses
• QS by Subject 2026 (Sciences Po news), QS 2027, THE 2026
• Campus France Russia: already-admitted students, visa information and housing; Campus France: student cost of living, May 2026
• Campus France Russia: embassy scholarships
• Service-public.fr: student residence permit and APL
• Dollar amounts use the ECB rate of 29 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355), rounded to $10.

For an overview of the French system, see Study in France. To plan your Sciences Po application and deadlines, send us a request.

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