Home>Information for students admitted at Sciences Po J-School
16.07.2021
Information for students admitted at Sciences Po J-School
I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED. WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Congratulations! You must now complete your administrative and course registration. Here are the steps to follow.
WHEN DOES THE ACADEMIC YEAR BEGIN?
The academic year for Master’s students in both years at the Sciences Po Journalism School will begin on Friday 27 August 2021 in person, ahead of the first day of courses for the Autumn Semester on Monday 30 August 2021. Please be aware: introductory technical modules will take place on Saturdays 3, 10 and 8 September for students in Year 1 of the Master in Journalism and the Joint Master in Journalism and International Affairs.
From their first day at Sciences Po, all students at the Journalism School agree to comply with the school’s Charter of Values, which binds them throughout their studies.
> BROWSE THE 2021-2022 CALENDAR FOR THE SCIENCES PO SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
HOW WILL COURSES BE TAUGHT DURING THE 2021 AUTUMN SEMESTER?
The aim for the 2021 Autumn Semester (late August to December) is to maximise face-to-face teaching, but this may be subject to change depending on future government guidelines in relation to the health context.
The proposed system will ensure the safety of all communities (students, faculty and administrative staff), while guaranteeing the excellence of our teaching. It will include the following:
Updated academic courses addressing pressing future challenges (health and international crises, artificial intelligence, Earth and environmental policy, powers and French politics, development of public opinion etc.), meeting the requirements applicable to all Master’s degrees at Sciences Po.
New courses on the French presidential election enabling students to identify the issues at stake (key economic arguments to be aware of ahead of the election, with the Sciences Po Economics Department; analysis of speeches and public opinion, with Sciences Po CEVIPOF) and produce relevant informative content on the electoral campaign.
Practical workshops to equip students with rigorous professional skills for journalistic careers.
Full integration in the school’s modus operandi to experience the added value of our programmes:
> Collective experience designed to mirror the newsroom, where every member forms an integral link in the chain of information production.
> Experience of the intensity and adrenaline of covering news.
> Field experience.
> Experience of the Sciences Po Journalism School’s network (778 graduates and 220 faculty members), who are able to provide advice, support and guidance at any point during students’ careers.
> Experience of editorial and technological innovation.
> Experience of Sciences Po’s prestige, with a master class cycle every Thursday at 5pm online and the institution’s annual conference exploring new practices in journalism on 6 December 2021.
All of these form part of the DNA of our school (founded in 2004) at a time when journalism is confronted by numerous challenges, not least in terms of its coverage of the post-Covid era.
WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES TO GO OUT INTO THE FIELD?
We anticipate a return to face-to-face teaching with as much work in the field as possible. For now, we have devised multiple scenarios for every course in the 2021 Autumn Semester, varying according to whether students are able to sit in classrooms without social distancing or in the event of reduced capacity.
We have also decided that the theme of our annual conference on new practices in journalism (#NPDJ), to be held on 6 December 2021, will be “reconquering the field”.
WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE COURSE LIST?
From July 2021, when the academic registration process is underway.
WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN AND CURFEW MEASURES IN PREVIOUS SEMESTERS?
When Sciences Po’s premises closed on 16 March 2020, we successfully moved all of our teaching online for both theoretical classes and practical workshops. This new format was established within a matter of days and, thanks to the collective efforts of both students and faculty, we were able to trial new course formats and new modes of interacting, even when our communities found themselves in completely different time zones. Throughout this period, we placed more emphasis than ever before on the themes of future challenges and digital technology.
From the 2020 Autumn Semester, we sought a special dispensation from the board of education to both run face-to-face workshops on our premises and give our students access to the field. Travel restrictions inevitably had an impact on access to sources and different fields, but students at the Journalism School were able to find solutions and produce stories despite the constraints, guided and supported by their lecturers.
I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO A MASTER’S PROGRAMME AT THE JOURNALISM SCHOOL (MASTER IN JOURNALISM OR JOINT MASTER IN JOURNALISM AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS). CAN I REQUEST TO DEFER MY PLACE?
You have the option of requesting to defer your studies by one year. This request may be accepted or denied by Sciences Po. It must be made online via your student account, in the relevant section (where you have the option either to accept, refuse or request to defer your offer of admission).
Please note: it is not possible to defer admission to our dual degree programmes.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL APPRENTICESHIPS?
To prepare yourself effectively, we recommend having a good awareness of current affairs and the editorial line of the newsroom or publication to which you would like to apply. If you have yet to pass your driving test, or are not authorised to drive manual cars in France, we recommend looking into this as soon as possible, as many newsrooms will expect their apprentices to be able to travel to the field when reporting. It goes without saying that your CV should be well-structured and geared towards journalism.
Above all, you must be highly organised and have a strong work ethic, as juggling an apprenticeship in journalism with an academically demanding programme requires significant personal investment.
Please note: only students of the Master in Journalism are eligible to apply for an apprenticeship.
> BROWSE OUR INFORMATION PAGE ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS AT THE SCIENCES PO JOURNALISM SCHOOL
WHERE CAN I LOOK FOR APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES?
All students on the Master in Journalism may undertake to seek out apprenticeship opportunities for themselves. In this case, students must keep academic staff at the Sciences Po Journalism School informed, so that they can oversee the administrative elements of the apprenticeship (dates, contract, monitoring of studies).
Students may also make use of the apprenticeship contracts offered by the Sciences Po Journalism School, applying in line with the procedure defined by each newsroom: AFP, Radio France, France TV, Le Monde, TF1, Brut, RFI, France 24 etc.
Any apprenticeship opportunities that newsrooms would like the Sciences Po Journalism School to advertise centrally are sent out by email from July, when the incoming first-year Master’s students have completed their administrative registration, and then during the first few weeks of the semester, up until October. A certain number of apprenticeship contracts are secured by students directly during placements at newsrooms and publications, or via spontaneous applications.
> BROWSE OUR INFORMATION PAGE ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS AT THE SCIENCES PO JOURNALISM SCHOOL
I HAVE FOUND AN APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITY AT A NON-JOURNALISTIC COMPANY. MAY I ACCEPT IT?
No. The company at which you complete your apprenticeship must be press-related and enable you to obtain France’s official Press Card for professional journalists.
HOW CAN I FIND ACCOMMODATION?
Sciences Po has its own official housing offers platform and can assist you in your accommodation search, according to your needs.
HOW DO I REQUEST A RESIDENCE PERMIT?
Sciences Po’s residence permit service can provide information and assist you in the procedure for requesting or renewing a residence permit for France (titre de séjour).
HOW CAN I GET ACCESS TO STUDENT WELFARE AND SUPPORT?
Sciences Po's Student Welfare and Support Office can provide individual assistance in administrative procedures relating to your studies, such as opening a bank account, applying for a travel pass etc., as well as to seek out financial aid schemes.
