Politics and International Studies (POLIS)

Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA is a 5-year degree: 3-years Undergraduate studies / 2-years Graduate program

      The international program is designed to enhance cultural diversity at Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA by recruiting international students who are unable to follow the general curriculum because they lack the necessary French language skills and cultural capital linked to France and its history. It is therefore aimed at students who are not French nationals, who have studied abroad and who have an average/high level of English (B2 minimum).

The content of the program is adapted to this new audience, while respecting the expectations of the Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA diploma. As in the general program, the emphasis is on multidisciplinarity, a combination of courses and methodological lectures, an entire year spent on academic study abroad, a focus on the acquisition of social science methods, the Grand Oral exam, the introductory research seminar, the link between teaching and research, and access to student associations.


On the other hand, other elements are specific to the POLIS program:

📍 The scope of the new program (comparative politics, international issues seen from the angle of different disciplines, international relations, regional areas and regional integration) does not require a knowledge of France similar to that available to students after the Baccalauréat. However, from the first year onwards, teaching on France (France: State, Institutions, Society) will enable them to gradually acquire this knowledge.

📍 All courses are taught in English. Students can nevertheless access specialized courses delivered in French, if they so wish and if their level of French is sufficient (B2+).

📍 Similarly, a significant volume of French as a Foreign Language (2 times 2h per week) is included in the first and third years to enable students to learn French and acquire a sufficient level (B2) to subsequently access our Master's courses (our Master's courses are in French, with the exception of one, which can be taken in English).

📍 Depending on the level of the students, the academic stay planned in the second year could take place in a French-speaking country in order to practice the language.

📍 A specific workshop is offered in 1st and 3rd year: the Policy Lab. This will involve devising solutions to public policy problems, working closely with players in the field (local authorities and other public administrations, NGOs, agencies...) in an interactive logic. The exercise is designed to stimulate students' creativity, while confronting them with key societal issues. The emphasis is on using the most appropriate method to solve the problem.

📚 The Undergraduate Cycle
 

🏔️
1st and 3rd years take place at Sciences Po Grenoble-UGAon the Saint-Martin-D'Hères university campus.
🌍 2nd year takes place abroad in one of our 180 partner universities. 

During the three years of the Undergraduate program, students take courses 100% in English while learning French. They then enter a Graduate program at Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA, with courses in French or English (depending on the language level reached at the end of 3rd year).
 

1st and 3rd years :
 

• Compulsory courses in English: Fundamental Courses (CF) and Conférences de méthode Internationales (CMINT)
   
• Compulsory French as a foreign language classes: 2 x 2h per week - divided into different groups with other international exchange students.
   
• Compulsory English courses: academic English in 1st year and English for the social sciences (choice between different themes) in 3rd year.
   
• Sport : Sport is also compulsory at Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA.
   
• Optional courses in English: Cours spécialisés (CS), Conférences de méthodes (CM), Campus Virtuel (CMINT Virtual Campus - in 3rd year only).
  You will have the opportunity to take optional courses in French according to your level (B2 in French minimum, C1 recommended).
  
  
  The POLIS cohort is not large, but you will be constantly in class with large cohorts of French students from Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA who are taking the same Cours fondamentaux (CF), Conférences de méthodes (CM) and Cours spécialisés (CS) as you in English.
  You'll also be with the large cohort of international exchange students from all over the world in all your Conférences de méthodes Internationales (CMINT). 

✅ After 3 years of Undergraduate studies :
 

     As the Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA degree is a five-year program, we do not use the term "Bachelor" to describe the first three years of the POLIS undergraduate program. Although it does not lead to an official Bachelor's degree, you will receive a certificate of achievement at the end of the 3rd year indicating that you have obtained 180 ECTS credits. This diploma is equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in France, and allows you to enter a Master's program anywhere in Europe and the world if you do not wish to pursue your Second Cycle studies at Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA.

Graduate programs

After 3 years of undergraduate study, you can enter one of our 16 graduate programs divided into the following themes

🌍 International and European Studies
🏤 Administration et Action Publique
🧑‍💻 Management, Opinion, Communication
🤝​ Solidarités, innovations, territoires
📰​ Journalisme 

The only Graduate program taught entirely in English is European Governance.

🎓 At the end of your 5th year, subject to validation of all teaching units, you will be awarded the Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA Diploma!📜

Tuition fees per year

      💶 Tuition fees for the POLIS program are 6300€ per year for years 1-2-3. The only other university cost is the CVEC (Contribution Vie Etudiante et de Campus - 103€ per year).
Transport, sports and cultural activities, meals at the university restaurant and much more are subsidized by the French state. Professors rarely ask students to buy textbooks.
 

     These tuition fees are largely subsidized by the French state, since the actual cost per student studying at an elite university is €17260 (2020-2022 figures, https://fr.statista.com/).
 

     French students in the Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA general program are subject to tuition fees that depend on their parents' income ("modulated fees"). If the household income is very low, they pay nothing, but many families also pay €6300.

 

In years 4 and 5, the tuition rules change slightly:
- POLIS students of non-European nationality will continue to pay €6300/year
- students of European nationality will pay modulated fees based on their parents' income ("modulated fees" between €0 and €6300).
 

   ❌ In the event of non-payment of tuition fees, the student is not allowed to attend classes or take exams.

Application criteria

• Be preparing for or have obtained a high school diploma from a non-French school
   
• English advanced or independent level (B2+):
  - TOEFL 95
  - IELTS 6,5
  - TOEIC "listening and reading" (945) & "speaking and writing" (360)
  - Cambridge Certificat B2 minimum
  - Test Duolingo (total minimum 125 - "listening, reading, speaking and writing" (110 compulsory)
   
• A good knowledge of French is appreciated but not compulsory
  
  
  Application fee: €110
  See below on this page for information on how to apply to the international program

Contact: contact-internationalprogram@sciencespo-grenoble.fr.  

How to apply

Applications are now closed for 2025-2026.
The next application campaign for the year 2026-2027 will take place from the beginning of January 2026 to the end of March 2026.


Stage 1: application

From January 13, 2025 to April 04, 2025 at 12 noon (Paris time)
 

📍 Create your Applicant Page online :

• Click here to access the online platform.
• Enter your last name, first name and e-mail address,
• Click on the link sent to you by e-mail to activate your account,
• Enter your login details,
• Fill in the online form and send the required documents
• Application fee: €110, payable online by credit card only
   

📍 Submit the required documents from your Applicant Page :

• Your secondary school leaving certificate (ONLY if already obtained).
• Your official transcript for the last two years of high school (1 PDF) - with certified translation in English or French
• Optional: official university transcript (if applicable) - with certified translation in English or French
• Your Curriculum Vitae in English (1 page)
• A cover letter describing the student's background, reasons for applying, extracurricular activities and commitments, and any other relevant information (300 words maximum).

• Your official certification of English level; minimum requirement :

  Test	minimum score required
  TOEFL	95
  TOEIC :
  "listening and reading	945
  "speaking and writing	360
  Cambridge Certificate	B2
  Duolingo test :
  "listening, reading, speaking and writing	110
  Duolingo Total	125
  IELTS	6,5

• A 1,000-word essay written in English on a topic of the candidate's choice related to history or current affairs. The essay should demonstrate the candidate's ability to develop a clear argument and analysis in response to a question in the humanities and social sciences (history, economics, law, political science, sociology, etc.). The essay will be subjected to anti-plagiarism software.
   

The jury of Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA professors will examine and grade the application. 

Eligibility results will be posted on your Applicant Page on April 16, 2025.

Eligible candidates move on to the second stage: the admission interview.

Stage 2: admission interview

April 22 and 23, 2025
 

Eligible candidates will be interviewed online in English.

The jury may ask candidates about their background, personal goals, the above-mentioned essay and any other topical international issues.

Admission

Admission results will be posted on your Applicant Page on April 25, 2025.

Students admitted to Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA cannot defer their admission to the following year.