1st year entrance exam
Admission to the undergraduate program at Sciences Po Grenoble – UGA is based on a two-stage competitive process: eligibility, based on high school grades, followed by admission, after an interview. The entire process is conducted via Parcoursup. This allows us to select the most promising high school students from across France, while maintaining a strong commitment to social justice. On this page, you will find all the information you need to register for the competitive entrance exam and give yourself the best chance of success.
Contest overview
The entrance exam for Sciences Po Grenoble – UGA, which selects 200 first-year students each year, is based on three main objectives. First, it aims to select candidates with excellent academic or university grades. It also seeks to identify candidates who are curious about social sciences and current affairs, capable of critical analysis and intellectual rigor. Finally, it promotes diversity in the social, cultural, and geographical backgrounds of future students.
The competition is open to candidates preparing for a French high school diploma or any equivalent qualification (European high school diploma, foreign high school diploma, DAEU, etc.), as well as to holders of previous high school diplomas or recognized foreign qualifications. High school graduates from technical or vocational programs may compete on the same basis as students from general programs. Candidates who have already held their baccalaureate for a year or more are also eligible. In addition, holders of a bachelor's degree may apply for direct entry into the fourth year. Sciences Po Grenoble – UGA also offers an international program in English reserved for candidates who have not been educated in the French education system.
The two-phase structure of the competition allows for a comprehensive and nuanced assessment of the skills and potential of the candidates.
- The eligibility phase is based on an algorithmic processing of the grades obtained in the junior and senior years (in French, History-Geography, Philosophy, Modern Languages, and in the two specialties chosen by the candidates).
- The admission phase consists of an oral interview designed to assess the quality of the applicant's analysis, their level of expression in both French and English, their interest in the social sciences, and the consistency of their Education project Education the Institute's educational offering.
The eligibility score and the admission score each account for 50% of the final score, which the selection board uses to rank the candidates.
Admission interview procedure and preparation of the thematic dossier
Candidates who are declared eligible are invited to a 15-minute online admission interview. The interview is divided into three parts:
- An introductory presentation during which the candidate briefly outlines their skills, motivation, and career plans (maximum 2 minutes);
- An initial discussion with the jury allows for this presentation to be extended and certain elements of the Parcoursup application to be explored in greater depth. It is conducted in English and aims to assess the candidate's motivation and the relevance of their project. Academic and extracurricular commitments of all kinds are valued in this part of the interview, provided that the learning and skills acquired in the process are clearly explained.
- A second exchange with the jury focuses on the candidate's reading of the thematic file provided for the preparation of the interview (see below). This part of the interview is conducted in French, even for documents in the file that are in English.
An oral exam designed to ensure fairness and high standards
The admission interview is not a general knowledge test. Aware of the diversity of backgrounds and preparation conditions, we strive to ensure fair treatment for all. That is why all candidates prepare for their interview using a single thematic documentary file, which is made available at the end of November of the year preceding the competition.
Candidates are therefore invited to carefully analyze the documents provided in this file and to explore the avenues for reflection that they open up. The jury attaches particular importance to analytical skills, the relevance and depth of personal reflection, and responsiveness to the questions asked, whether they relate directly to the documents or invite a reasoned broadening of perspective.
Thematic dossier for the 2026 competition
Key milestones (2025-2026 session)
- October 2025 - January 2026: Preparation of the application project on Parcoursup
- January 19 - April 1, 2026: Formulation of the "Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA" wish
- Late April - Mid-May 2026: Review of academic record and 15-minute admission interview
- June 2 - July 11, 2026: Results of the main phase
