This Summer, Experience College Life at Sciences Po

Every summer, Sciences Po opens its doors to secondary school students from around the world as part of the Summer School’s Pre-College Programme. This programme is an opportunity to discover Sciences Po and experience college life and academics at one of France’s leading universities.

Applications for the Pre-College Summer School programme open on 9 January 2020.

Get a Taste of University Life

The Pre-College Programme gives high school students a taste of university academics through rigorous coursework in the social sciences, which introduces them to the key disciplines and methodologies of a Sciences Po education.

Participants explore current international issues from an interdisciplinary perspective through thematic master classes taught by Sciences Po professors. These master classes address subjects such as the European Union, migration, peace-building and sustainable development. Interactive tutorials reinforce learning, while preparing students for university studies through an emphasis on academic methodology.

Elective classes allow students to focus on one of Sciences Po’s core disciplines (such as international relations, political science, or sociology) or to study French as a foreign language.

Master classes and tutorials are taught exclusively English, while students have a choice between social sciences elective classes taught in English or French, or French as a foreign language for beginners and intermediate students.

Explore Reims and Paris

During the Pre-College Programme, students get the chance to live in both Reims and Paris, and study on two of Sciences Po’s most beautiful campuses.

The first week takes place on the Reims campus of Sciences Po, a beautifully restored historical site located in the heart of the city. A medium-sized city in the heart of France’s famous Champagne region, Reims is an ideal location for participants to immerse themselves in French life and culture. The programme culminates with a week in Paris, where students take classes on Sciences Po’s flagship campus in the historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood, and discover the capital’s landmarks and cultural sites.

Participants are housed together in shared rooms located in proximity to the Sciences Po campuses.  A team of certified counselors, present 24 hours a day, ensures that students enjoy the best possible conditions for learning, comfort and security at Sciences Po. Meals are provided by the Summer School both on and off-campus.

Join Sciences Po's International Community

Summer School students are part of an international community, made up of students who come from around the world and share a common passion for the social sciences. In 2019, the programme welcomed 122 students representing 37 different nationalities from 35 different countries. Here’s what some of our alumni have to say about their experience in the Pre-College Programme:

"Sciences Po has been a great opportunity to discover what I truly want to do after my studies. Also, people here come from different backgrounds, and getting to know their cultures, values, political opinions, or simply their opinions on life is amazing." - Elisa, France & Greece

"What I liked most about being in France was getting to know the locals, interacting with them, and getting an idea of what it would be like to actually live and study here in the future." - Lina, Sweden

"I loved being able to understand a European perspective on global politics. I also met so many peers from a wide range of different countries, which was very eye-opening." - Jui-Lin, Taiwan

Practical Information

New in 2020, the Pre-College Programme will feature two separate sessions of two weeks each. Students are welcome to participate in one or both sessions. Students who attend two sessions will be able to take different classes during each session. Participants who choose to attend both sessions, however, will need to make arrangements for the week between the first and second sessions – the Summer School is not responsible for students during the break.

Summer 2020 Calendar

• 1st Session: 27 June - 11 July 2020
• 2nd Session: 18 July – 1 August 2020

More information on the Summer School's Pre-College Programme

Sign up for the Summer School newsletter to be informed of the latest news about the 2020 Pre-College Programme