Sciences Po

Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers, Reims
France

Language of instruction

English
French

   Limited places available. Unlikely to be available as a second or third preference.

Sciences Po stands out as a world-class university with internationally-recognised degrees and research, a multicultural community and a worldwide network of partners.

At Sciences Po, academic and personal development are intimately linked with a focus on cultivating intellectual curiosity, critical thinking skills and self-examination. These qualities are developed through teamwork, student presentations, small classes, debates and participation in student associations.

Its best-known campus is nestled in the heart of Paris – 5 minutes from the Louvre and the Latin Quarter, and close to countless other sites in the City of Lights.

Semester dates

UQ SemesterHost SemesterDates
Semester 1Spring SemesterJanuary–May
Semester 2Autumn SemesterLate August–December

View the Sciences Po academic calendar.

Guides and additional information

Campuses

Sciences Po consists of 7 campuses around France:

  • Dijon campus
  • Le Havre campus
  • Menton campus
  • Nancy campus
  • Paris campus
  • Poitiers campus
  • Reims campus

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)

Student testimonials

  • B Business Management / B Laws
    Semester 1, 2023
    I now have a global network of friends who share the same love for travel and adventure.
  • B Engineering (Hons)/Economics
    Semester 1, 2019
  • B Economics/Arts 
    Semester 1, 2019
    If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young person, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast - Hemingway

Full-time study load

30 ECTS credits per semester at Sciences Po is equivalent to 8 UQ units.

Host university requirements

GPA
You will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0 to study at Sciences Po.

Language

Language requirements are dependant on the Sciences Po campus, and differ for the Undergraduate programme and Masters programme. Some campuses require a minimum of B2 level of French Language. Therefore, you may be required to provide an Official Language Test in your Sciences Po application. Please plan ahead and ensure you can sit the appropriate test before your Sciences Po application.

Study Options
Each Undergraduate Sciences Po campus offers course content focusing on a different geographical region. Students must indicate in their application which campus they hope to study at. Postgraduate students must follow one program. Further details are outlined in the Additional Academic Information section below.

Other Restrictions
Undergraduate: All undergraduate students must have completed 2 years (32 units) of tertiary study (related to their degree during the exchange) before commencing studies at Sciences Po. 
Course Profiles: Sciences Po does not provide course profiles before the exchange semester commences.
Course Flexibility: You must have a full study load of UQ general electives if you wish to study at Sciences Po (and not plan to take disciplines related to your UQ program) due to course profile access restrictions. 

Note: Host university eligibility criteria are at the discretion of the host and may change without notice.  

Find courses

Search the Sciences Po course catalogue for undergraduate and postgraduate courses if they do not appear in the database.
Language course information and profiles.

Please ensure you download copies of course lists and descriptions before the semester-based exchange application deadline, as Sciences Po will remove these from their website after each semester. 

Search the Credit Precedent Database to find courses offered by your host university that have been previously approved for credit at UQ. The database should be used as a general guide only. 
You must still check the host university course catalogue to see if courses from the Credit Precedent Database are still on offer and in the correct semester of your exchange.

Study areas taught in English

Undergraduate
Communication, digital media and PR
Economics
French
Gender Studies
History and ancient history
Law
Peace and conflict studies
Political science
Public policy
Sociology
Postgraduate
Communication, digital media and PR
Development
Economics
Finance
History and ancient history
Human resources
Law
Leadership and Management
Marketing
Peace and conflict studies
Political science
Regional and town planning
Sociology

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)

Accommodation

Sciences Po does not have its own student residence so you need to find your own accommodation. To give yourself the best possible chance of finding appropriate accommodation, make sure you arrive in your campus’ city a few days (or a few weeks, for Paris) before the semester starts. For advice and resources to start your search, visit Sciences Po's housing web page

Cost of living

To prepare you for your stay in France, Sciences Po provides an estimate of basic living costs at each of its campuses.

Financial support

A range of funding for student exchange including scholarships, grants and loans are available to UQ students.  

Students undertaking exchange studies in France can apply for the Nicolas Baudin Program through the French Embassy in Canberra.

Students may be entitled to CAF housing benefits whether living in an unfurnished or furnished flat, home-stay, or student hall of residence.

Insurance

Students approved to participate in a Semester-based Exchange are automatically covered by UQ’s Travel Insurance for the country of their host university only.

For more information, read the Student Travel Insurance Policy Summary on UQ’s Travel Insurance web page (login required).

If you plan to travel outside of your host country, you should purchase additional insurance.

Please read through this important information about Health Insurance for exchange students in France. 

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)

Organise your visa

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa for the country where you will be studying. As the Global Experiences team is not a visa-issuing authority we cannot provide visa advice.

Contact the French Consulate for visa and immigration information.

Travel risk levels

The University of Queensland cannot and does not allow students to travel to any country with a risk level of 3 (Reconsider your need to travel) or above, as assessed by the Australian Government.

If a country's risk level changes to 3 or above, experiences to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.

Find out the risk level and travel advice, and sign up to receive updates for your host country on the Smartraveller website.

Exchange deadlines

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 1:
Open: 24 April (for Semester 1 of the following year)
Close: 31 May (for Semester 1 of the following year)

Application for Exchange in UQ Semester 2:
Open: 24 September (for Semester 2 of the following year)
Close: 31 October (for Semester 2 of the following year)