Home>Graduate>Language requirements
Graduate admissions: language requirements
Language requirements
Language requirements depend on the programme to which you are applying. When needed, test results must be attached directly into the online application. Should the language proof of proficiency be missing by the deadline of the selected programme, your application will not be taken into consideration.
If you are applying to two programmes with different requirements, you must meet the highest level required.
Please note : Although for some programmes no specific English level is required for admission, you will be requested to prove a C1 English level by the end of your two years at Sciences Po in order to obtain your master's degree.
Prerequisites and supporting material:
Deadlines
You must provide your language test results at the time you submit your application and before the relevant deadline.
All deadlines always refer to Paris time (11.59pm). Please check the deadlines for the domestic graduate procedure, the international graduate procedure or the one-year master’s programmes.
Please note:
Do not wait until the last moment and find out about the time needed to obtain your language tests' results which may vary depending on the test taken.
Tests validity
Please note that language tests are valid for two years only (except for the certificates listed below). For the 2026 intake, tests must have been taken on 1 January 2024 or later.
Certificates (Cambridge, DELF and DALF, Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD), Goethe-Zertifikat, Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH)) have a lifetime validity.
Exemptions
Some applicants may be exempted from a language test according to their situation.
To be exempted from a language test, you must demonstrate that you are in one of the situations described below by attaching the supporting material to your application in the section Proof of exemption (language test).
- We do not take into account the native language criteria. Even though the language of the programme is your mother tongue, please provide the requested proficiency test, unless you meet one of the criteria mentioned below.
- C1 or C2 certificates issued by Sciences Po do not allow you to be exempted from language tests.
- Applicants who studied at least two consecutive years within the same degree-granting university programme, fully taught in English. If this is your case, you need to provide proof that English was the only medium of instruction (for example transcripts or university certificate).
- Applicants holding a high school diploma with English as their language of instruction. Please check accepted proof of exemptions below:
- International Baccalaureate (IB) - English levels A1/A2 only
- European Baccalaureate - English level L1 only
- GCE - Advanced levels certificates with a minimum of 3 subjects AND delivered by an official organism (such as AQA, Cambridge, Edexcel Pearson…)
Other high school diploma : a certificate from your high school proving that English was the medium of instruction.
- Applicants who studied at least two consecutive years within the same degree-granting university programme, fully taught in French. If this is your case, you need to provide proof that French was the only medium of instruction (for example transcripts or university certificate).
- Applicants holding a high school diploma with French as their language of instruction. Please check accepted proof of exemptions below:
- Baccalauréat
- International Baccalaureate (IB) - French levels A1/A2 only
- European Baccalaureate - French level L1 only
- Other high school diploma : a certificate from your high school proving that French was the medium of instruction
- Applicants holding a 2025 certificate from the Summer School, stating a C1 level in French
- Applicants who studied at least two consecutive years within the same degree-granting university programme, fully taught in German. If this is your case, you need to provide proof that German was the only medium of instruction (for example transcripts or university certificate).
- Students who studied at the Sciences Po campus in Nancy (excluding exchange students)
- Applicants holding a high school diploma with German as their language of instruction. Please check accepted proof of exemptions below:
- Abitur
- Abibac
- Deutsche Hochschulzugangsberechtigung
- Luxembourgish high school degree
- International Baccalaureate (IB) - German levels A1/A2 only
- European Baccalaureate - German level L1 only
- OIB/BFI : German Option required
- Other high school diploma : a certificate from your high school proving that German was the medium of instruction.
