International admissions: unsuccessful applications

Last Update: 
29 August 2022

Selection at Sciences Po is highly competitive and our decision should in no way cast doubt on your qualifications or experience. As we receive an increasing number of excellent applications each year, we have to select only the very best. We understand your disappointment and your wish to know more about the reasons for our decision.

Here are some examples that may explain why your application was unsuccessful.

Assessment of your application

The selection panel assesses each element of your application in detail. The assessment is based on all the information provided by the applicant: academic transcripts, personal statement, choice of master’s programme, work experience or internships, career plan, personal background, nonprofit and/or political engagement, etc. Check our selection criteria.

It is possible that, despite an excellent academic record, your application was considered insufficient in other areas, such as your motivation or the arguments put forward to justify your application to Sciences Po. It may also be that your qualifications or career plan are not sufficiently coherent with the Master’s programme to which you have applied.

Decisions

The decisions of the selection committees are final and cannot be appealed.

Waiting lists

Sciences Po graduate admissions do not provide for a waiting list. 

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