Welcome Programme 2023: A Week to Remember

Every semester at Sciences Po, a one-week Welcome Programme is offered to our exchange students, just before the start of their classes. It is a very special opportunity for international students to get acquainted with Sciences Po and its different services, as well as France and French peculiarities.

An enticing programme that attracted 450 international students

For the first semester of the academic year 2023/2024, 450 students from 38 nationalities enrolled in the programme and 89% of them chose the English-speaking track.

For a full week, they benefited from academic trainings such as methodology classes, a press review conference, French-speaking sessions but also some cultural activities like a cinema screening, a museum visit, a boat tour on the Seine river. They also enjoyed some invaluable bonding time with their peers through many gatherings, “ice breakers” workshops, a night out in Paris, etc.

Find the full planning here.

Focus on the conference "Another look at French current events"

Kyle Schneider, Assistant to the Dean of Sciences Po's Law School and Managing Director of the LLM in Transnational Arbitration and Dispute Settlement, gave an astute press review about the events that occurred in France in 2022/2023 to allow the new international students to better grasp the socio-politico-economic climate they will live in.

He discussed 6 major topics that made frontlines of French newspapers, inviting students to translate and discuss the media articles he chose. Among the topics addressed, the legal reforms on pension plans and on end-of-life care, as well as the upcoming Olympics in Paris.

Enlightening feedback from 4 students

On the occasion of a "Wine and Cheese” event at 27, rue Saint-Guillaume, we met Mirika (from Czech Republic) and Yoko (from Japan), who shared with us their interest in learning more about the French media and French culture. 

Maria, a student from the United States, would have loved for some topics to be analysed even “more in depth” like the tragic death of Nahel and the riots that followed. Learning about it was a real “wake-up call” as well for Laura.

Regarding their experience at Sciences Po through the Welcome Programme, the four of them expressed their feeling of being well looked after by an attentive and efficient staff. Laura appreciates that research and learning are tools for “thinking action” at Sciences Po while Yoko salutes the fact that all students, although from "different backgrounds", have the same "opinionated and engaged mindset".

Let's wish them a wonderful first fall semester 2023!