Corentin GRUFFAT, Class of 2020

Can you tell us about your academic background?

I entered Sciences Po's Undergraduate College in 2015, on the Franco-German European campus in Nancy. For my third year abroad, I went to the Department of History at the University of Vienna. After the first two very interdisciplinary years of the Undergraduate College, I wanted to try a year specialising in history before deciding whether or not to do a research Master's degree. The advantage of doing this in Vienna was that I could study the history of Central and Eastern Europe, which I find very interesting, in a very pleasant setting! As a result, on my return to France I registered for the Master's degree in history, which I completed in June 2020. I enjoyed the history research so much that I decided to continue with it. I began by preparing for the competitive civil service education exams in history at Sciences Po, which I passed in 2021; I then obtained a doctoral place at the European University Institute in Florence, where I am currently.

How did your interest in history begin?

I have a very long-standing interest in history because I like stories in general, and the past provides us with a lot of them! I discovered history as an academic discipline little by little during my university education, and I developed a taste for it. I find that research in history allows us to examine fascinating social phenomena in an extremely intellectually stimulating way. The job is very varied and allows you to travel, to dig around in archives and libraries, to learn a lot of things that you don't expect, to cultivate yourself, and to have fun!

What did your years of study at the Sciences Po School of Research (formerly the Doctoral School) bring you?

The great benefit of the research Master's programme at Sciences Po was the different aspects of research work it dealt with. I found very broad intellectual and theoretical training, as well as a training in research practices, which requires learning to orient oneself among sources, to handle documents, etc. As well as gaining knowledge, we studied the qualities of analysis, precision, and imagination. The training is also very self-directed, in the sense that I did not feel overwhelmed with information imposed by the teachers, but on the contrary was able to choose the subjects I wanted to work on and maintain plenty of room for manoeuvre in the way I worked. In short, I learned to work rigorously and autonomously. The Master's degree teachers are very helpful and, in my opinion, prepare their students admirably for entry to the world of research: how to navigate it, and how to discover and take full advantage of opportunities. I also discovered a pleasant working environment, and very good classmates with whom it was a pleasure to work and live over the two years of the Master’s!

Which teacher or teaching has had the greatest impact on you?

I took Giacomo PARRINELLO's introductory seminar on environmental history in the first semester of the Master's degree, out of pure curiosity at first. It was even more challenging than I expected! This made me want to continue exploring this field of research and to work with Mr. Giacomo PARRINELLO, who became my thesis supervisor, and who is very rigorous, but also very enthusiastic and encouraging. I still keep in touch with him for my current research.

What is your current role?

I am now in my first year of doctoral studies at the European University Institute in Florence. So, I’m continuing to work in research, on themes that are an extension of those I worked on at Sciences Po. In Florence, I can expand my horizons even further, especially by working with other teachers. However, I also keep in touch with teachers at Sciences Po, and I participate in some of the research seminars when I get the chance.

Would you have any advice to give to a student who wants to go into your current field?

A piece of advice that many teachers have given me, and that I repeat because I think it is very good: you have to let yourself be surprised by your research and let it take you wherever it takes you, even to the most unexpected places. In addition, you must enjoy it to the fullest and have fun doing it, because that's what makes it so interesting. There is a lot of fun to be had in doing research, and you shouldn't deprive yourself of this!

Learn more

• The Master’s in History

=> See all the Graduates' Portraits

>[ February 2022 ]