Sciences Po

 

Overview: 

Established in 1872, the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris), is a leading social science institution for both teaching and research. Sciences Po, what it is more commonly known as, has been educating the best young minds and preparing them to begin brilliant careers of leadership throughout France and the world. Sciences Po offers a fundamental education with a European focus. Among its alumni are some of the most recent French Presidents and heads of famous international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and others. This program is university-wide, meaning any undergraduate Pitt student regardless of major may participate.

 

Graduate students in GSPIA seeking assistance in the Graduate level exchange should contact Kelly McDevitt, Graduate Enrollment Counselor, mcdevitt@pitt.edu. 

 

 

Fact sheet: 
PDF icon Click here to download. (561.08 KB)
Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
  • a global network of peer in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in France.
Partner Information: 

Campus de Reims

Ancien collège Jésuites

1 Place Museux

F-51100 Reims

+33 (0)3 26 05 94 65

Location Description: 

About 80 miles northeast of Paris, Reims is French city known for its connections to the past French royalty as the traditional French coronation site. Originally founded by the Gauls, Reim's founding precedes era of the Roman empire. Because of this, there are many historical sites to see within the city, including Roman antiquities, cathedrals, basicilias and palaces. Set away from the bustle of the large city, the cost of living in Reims is more affordable than Paris. 

Housing Description: 

Sciences Po offers options for university-affiliated housing or private accommodations. Although Pitt students are not guaranteed spots within university-affiliated housing, Science Po's Reims campus will provide instructions on when and how to apply for housing. See Sciences Po’s general housing website. 

Academic Description: 

At Sciences Po, courses are taught in French and in English. Specific courses will be offered in one of the two languages. Students will be studying alongside regular French students, as all courses are integrated within the global undergraduate curriculum. Hence, international students are fully immersed into the outstanding Sciences Po community, even if they choose a full-English track.  
Courses at Sciences Po are either in the lecture format or the seminar format.  

  • Lecture: 48 contact hours, 150 - 300 students, with a required 'tutorial'/recitation of 20-24 students
  • Seminar: 24 contact hours, 60-100 students, optional 'tutorials'/recitations of 20-24 students.  

Credits taken at Sciences Po are evaluated on an ECTS scale and will transfer to Pitt according to a 2:1 ratio. For example, 10 ECTS credits will transfer as 5 Pitt credits. All credits taken at Sciences Po require approval by both your academic advisor(s) and study abroad program manager. Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.  
Courses taken at Sciences Po will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
As a part of the cultural experience, Sciences Po University offers French Language Courses specifically designed for visiting students. These may be considered for credit or not for credit. Verify with the study abroad program manager regarding their transferability. 
See Sciences Po's Course Catalogue for further details. 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
French
Political Science
History
Gender Sexuality & Women's Studies
Economics
Urban Studies
Legal Studies
Sociology
University Course Catalog: 
See Course Descriptions for the Fall and Spring Semesters
Grading: 
Numerical Grade at Sciences Po Approximate Letter Grade Equivalent at Pitt
16-20 A+
14-15.9 A
12-13.9 B
10-11.9 C
 

Unlike Pitt, Sciences Po’s grading scale assigns numerical values between 0 – 20, with 20 representing the highest grade achievable.

For Pitt transfer credit, in order to earn a grade of “S,” (satisfactory) at Pitt, you must make an equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. An equivalent to a “C-” or lower will result in a grade of “NC” (no credit) at Pitt. Pitt students may utilize the following online resource to understand the grading scale within this host country.

Sciences Po will provide hardcopy (or electronic transcripts) to the University of Pittsburgh’s Study Abroad Office. Make sure to follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of the grades is received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Electronic copies should be sent to the designated exchange program manager under “SAO Staff.” 

Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.

Program Fees: 
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.  
 
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 
 
 

Items Billed by Pitt
  In-State Out-of-State
Tuition* $10,077 $19,260
Mandatory Fees $635 $635
Study Abroad Fee $400 $400
Total Billed by Pitt* $11,112 $20,295
 
*The tuition rate listed is defaulted to reflect the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. For Pitt students of another Pitt school or campus, the tuition rate will reflect the home school or campus. See posted rates on the Institutional Research page.
 
How Much To Budget: 

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000
Room & Board $4,500
Personal Expenses $2,000
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by Sciences Po and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages.The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters. 
 
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the Sciences Po's website for more information, and visit our budgeting page for more information. 

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange university you will attend requires purchase of a specific health insurance coverage per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at Sciences Po for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). Sciences Po's academic calendars may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, Sciences Po’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Dr. Shawn Alfonso Wells

Greetings! I manage the Arts and Sciences and Exchange and am the Pitt in Spain Program Manger. I have a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh and am an Adjunct professor of Anthropology who has taught in the Anthropology, History, Sociology, and Africana Studies departments at Pitt and CMU. I did my fieldwork on Color Classification in Cuba and have led many ground breaking experiential student trips to Cuba. I love learning about different cultures and want to help facilitate students being able to travel abroad to learn about the world. I look forward to assisting you to achieve your goals of a global experience.

 

Schedule a Zoom appointment with me below or get in touch with me through email to discuss exchange options and your future global experience.

 

E-mail: 
smwst20@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

Appointment Link: https://pathways.campus.eab.com/pal/mT8JxcvuBG

 
 
Don't see a time that works for you? Just send me an email!

Application Instructions: 

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to Sciences Po. In addition to applying to the Pitt Study Abroad application above, be sure to review Sciences Po's website regarding their application requirements for incoming exchange students. A formal nomination from Pitt Study Abroad is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at Sciences Po. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt Study Abroad steps in addition to Sciences Po's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Study Abroad does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
 
The exchange university may require the following to be submitted through an online application. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:  

  • Application Form 
  • Copy of Valid Passport 
  • Official Pitt Transcript 
  • Official Pitt Verification of Enrollment 
  • Statement of Intent or Purpose 
  • Resume or CV 
  • Official Language Evaluation 
  • Up to 2 instructor letters of recommendations 
  • Up to 2 passport photos 

 

Additional Information: 

Language Requirements: In order to take courses in French at Sciences Po on the Reims Campus, Pitt students will be required to submit evidence of B2 French proficiency through the TCF 500 or the DELF/DALF B2. Alternatively, students will need to have at least four semesters of university-level French language. Request a letter from the Exchange Program Manager to verify the four semesters of French language coursework.  This letter will then be submitted as a part of the Sciences Po application.  Please check with Science Po regarding these requirements. 

Insurance Requirements: 

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, France requires Pitt students to purchase additional coverage through their national health and social security plans. See the details here.   
 

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

 

For those without EU/EEA nationality, students must obtain a student visa to study in France. For an overview regarding the visa process, please review Science Po's website.  Also, check the French Embassy or consulate closest to you for additional information. Sciences Po will provide general direction after formal admission on for how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website. In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)  

You're seeing student-submitted photos from Paris. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!