Omar SHAHEEN, a graduate of the POLIS program, originally from Jeddah

Of Syrian origin and having grown up in Saudi Arabia, Omar Shaheen was 18 years old when he enrolled at Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA in 2021. Before that, his daily life was quite different: as a soccer player at Al-Ittihad FC’ Education , he was part of the world of Saudi professional sports. After earning his high school diploma, he chose Grenoble and joined the POLIS program.

Designed for international students, POLIS allows students to pursue a political science program in English while gradually learning French. For Omar, who didn’t speak French when he arrived, this is a major challenge. After a first year he describes as “particularly tough,” he went to study in Brussels during his sophomore year to accelerate his language learning.

Upon his return to Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA, he achieved the C1 level and then became more involved in campus life, particularly through events organized by the Arab World Association and Domaine des Idées. And soccer is never far away: he joined Loko Boca and participated in the JISPO in 2023–2024 (inter-Sc Po sports competitions), “one of the most memorable experiences” of his junior year.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Omar chose the master’s program in “Changes and Integrations in the Middle East,” which included a semester abroad at the Central University of Tunis. Now nearing the end of his graduate studies, he is writing his thesis on conflicts in the Eastern Mediterranean and their effects on the regional economy.

Five years after arriving, he reflects on how far he’s come: “I never would have thought I’d be able to earn a master’s degree, especially in French.” And he remembers his time at Sciences Po Grenoble as a particularly enriching student life, filled with academics, clubs, sports, and international experiences.