Master in Public Affairs: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Education
What is the academic calendar for the MPA?
The MPA is a one-year program. It starts during the last week of August with an orientation week and the program ends mid-July.
I have at least 5 years of professional experience, can I apply?
It is recommended that applicants have at least 5 years of professional experience to apply for this program.
However, if you are not sure that your profile fits the minimum requirements, do not hesitate to ask us to review your application and your CV
My professional experience is composed only of internships, can I apply?
A professional experience composed only of internships is not admissible for this Master.
Is it possible to have a part-time job at the same time?
The MPA is a full-time one-year program. Attendance is mandatory and is taken in every class. As such, we recommend that all MPA students follow the academic calendar for the entire academic year.
What are the differences between the old and the new MPA program?
The MPA has changed from a 2-year program to a 1-year program, which has an impact on the curriculum.
Also, the old concentrations have been replaced by the new School of Public Affairs policy streams.
Admissions
What is the deadline to apply to this Master?
The calendar for the admission process is available on the Admissions website.
What are the minimum requirements to be admitted to this Master?
To be eligible for the MPA, applicants must fulfil the academic requirements (they must have at least a B.A., but an M.A. or equivalent is preferred), they must have at least 5 years of professional experience (internships cannot count towards professional experience).
A C1 level of English is also required.
What is the admission process?
To learn more about the admission process for this master, please visit the admissions website.
What is the required English level for international graduate admissions?
A C1 level of English is required in order to apply to this program via the international admissions procedure.
Is it necessary to know the French language to study in this Master?
It is not necessary to speak French to apply for this program. However, we encourage all students to take French classes once admitted to Sciences Po.
The Sciences Po language department offers a wide choice of language classes.
How many students are admitted to this Master?
25 to 30 students are admitted to the MPA program every year.
Is it possible to apply for the MPA program and apply to another Sciences Po program (Master, dual degree) at the same time?
Please note that applying to the MPA program is exclusive to all other admission procedures.
As such, the candidate must choose between the MPA and all other Sciences Po’s Master/dual degree programmes.
Tuition fees scholarships
Do scholarships exist for this program?
Yes, scholarships do exist for this program. They cover part of the yearly tuition fees and are offered by Sciences Po.
Learn more about existing scholarships and the selection criteria.
Which criteria are needed in order to receive a scholarship? How many students are offered this scholarship every year?
MPA scholarships are offered after the review of both the quality of the candidate’s application and his/her personal situation.
Learn more about existing scholarships and the selection criteria.
Would I be eligible for the Emile Boutmy Scholarship?
No, candidates of one-year programs are not eligible for the Emile Boutmy scholarship.
MPA candidates can instead apply for the MPA scholarship which offers partial to full tuition remission. Find out more about the MPA scholarship.
How can I apply for the MPA scholarship?
Once admitted to the program, candidates will receive a scholarship application that they will use to apply for the MPA scholarship.
Several other scholarships exist at Sciences Po. Find out more about the eligibility criteria and the application procedure for each of these additional scholarships.
