Undergraduate Admissions, Evaluation 4: the interview

Each candidate will receive by email:

• his or her invitation to the online interview with the link to access the videoconference;
• the date and time of their interview;
• the technical user guide for the remote interview "Preparing for my Sciences Po admission interview".

At the beginning of the interview, candidates will be asked to show their ID in front of the camera to verify their identity.

Each candidate is responsible for the proper use of his/her equipment and must respect the technical protocol recommended by Sciences Po. The computer must be equipped with sound and a camera and may be either a computer, a digital tablet or a smartphone.

Candidates must respect the schedule indicated on their convocation. Upon connection, the candidate will be placed in the virtual waiting room and will wait for the members of the committee to establish the connection.

The interview lasts approximately 30 minutes and involves three stages.

Candidate's presentation

In this introductory part of the interview, candidates are asked to present their background and experience, profiles as applicants and ambitions for Sciences Po. They will have a maximum of two minutes to complete the exercise and outline their motivations, interests and attributes. Candidates may therefore wish to prepare their introductory presentations in advance of the interview.

This stage is the candidate’s chance to meet Sciences Po in person and he or she will steer the interview in these first five minutes. The candidate should not be reading a prepared text.

Image analysis and commentary

Length: 10-15 minutes

This part of the interview consists of an analytical commentary on an image.

Candidates will be given a choice of two images carefully selected by Sciences Po. They will be asked to study the two images and select one for commentary. The candidate will need to explain his or her choice and then describe the chosen image objectively, contextualise it, interpret the content of the image, analyse it critically and attempt to tell the story behind it.

The exercise draws on all kinds of still images, both from the past and in relation to current affairs. All images have the potential to inspire thoughts and ideas. They include paintings, drawings, photographs, front pages of newspapers, urban graffiti, extracts from comic strips, caricatures, and so on.

This exercise is designed to encourage candidates to think analytically and put their knowledge to use. No prior knowledge of the image is required: candidates are invited to make their own interpretations and will be asked to formulate arguments and demonstrate their critical mindedness. The candidate should not think that the interview panel is looking for any particular response. There is no “right” answer and the interview is about establishing an open discussion around possible interpretations.

Why image analysis? Visual messages have their own language and always serve a purpose: to communicate, convince, persuade, critique. The sensitive nature of images means they instantly open up discussions, which are enriched by the multiple interpretations that each image invites.

Candidate’s motivations and intellectual project

Length: 5-10 minutes

This section of the interview is about deepening our understanding of the candidate’s motivations for applying and intellectual ambitions for study on one of Sciences Po’s programmes. It also allows us to assess whether the candidate will be a good fit for the institution’s criteria and his or her potential to succeed at Sciences Po.

This stage takes the form of an open discussion and allows examiners to gain a fuller picture of the candidate and his or her motivations.

Candidates will be asked to outline their interest in Sciences Po’s programmes and their study plans. The panel will ensure that the candidate’s profile is suited to the programme he or she has applied to.