Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, France (Sciences Po)

Mount Holyoke's exchange with SciencesPo is out of balance in their favor. MHC has temporarily suspended sending exchange students until the exchange is balanced. In 2022-23, two students will be on exchnage from SciencesPo at Mount Holyoke. When the outbound exchange resumes, selection is competitive, so we advise students to apply for the fall semester, and to have an alternate plan. Application for the exchange is open to all qualified students regardless of their financial aid status.

Institut d’Etudes Politiques/SciencesPo

• Founded in 1872

• Approximately 12,000 students (about 45% international)

• Programs in economics, European studies, history, international relations, journalism, political science, and sustainable development

• Undergraduate programs are located on the Paris and Reims campus

Cities of Paris & Reims

• Capital and largest city of France, population about 2,200,000 (12 million in the greater metropolitan area)

• Located in the north central part of France

• One of the world’s leading centers of business and culture

• Reims the most populous city in the French department of Marne, and the 12th most populous city in France. The city lies 129 km (80 mi) northeast of Paris on the Vesle river, a tributary of the Aisne.

• Sciences Po, opened a new campus in Reims in 2010. It hosts both the Europe-Africa and Europe-America Program with more than 1,500 students in the respective programs.

Academic Program

• Two semesters: first semester runs from September to late December, second semester from January to May or June

• Students enroll in regular courses offered by Sciences Po for its degree-seeking students

• Most courses are taught in French, but an increasing number of courses are offered in English

• Normal course load is 30 ECTS credits per semester (which transfers as 16 MHC credits)

• Students are encouraged to participate in the three-week Welcome Program held prior to each semester

• Most exchange students enroll in the Paris campus, but it is also possible to apply to one of the regional campuses, each of which has a specific focus:

- Reims (Euro-American Campus)

- Dijon (European affairs, particularly Central and Eastern Europe)

- Nancy (trilingual program in French, German, and English)

- Poitiers (Latin American studies, Spain, and Portugal)

- Menton (Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Gulf countries)

- Le Havre (Asian/European relations)

Living Arrangements

• Sciences Po will provide information and resources, and students are responsible for finding their own housing

Requirements

• Minimum GPA of 3.0

• Must have completed sophomore year (or at least three semesters, for spring entrants) prior to enrolling at Sciences Po

• Must have taken at least one four-credit course in French every semester at Mount Holyoke and completed at least one course in French literature and culture (French 215 or 219 or beyond) prior to enrolling at Sciences Po

Financial Arrangements for the Semester Program

• Exchange student pays MHC tuition; Sciences Po waives its tuition

• Exchange student pays directly for room and board, and is responsible for any nominal university fees, orientation course, round-trip travel to France, books, and personal expenses

• Students selected for the exchange who are eligible for need-based financial aid are guaranteed Laurel Fellowships; financial aid award will be based on total budget, including MHC tuition, MHC administrative fee, any nominal Sciences Po fees, orientation course, and allowances toward room and board, books, personal expenses, and round-trip airfare

• Students receiving merit-based financial aid (which ordinarily does not travel) may use that aid on the Sciences Po exchange

Application Procedures

• Submit Mount Holyoke’s Request to Study Abroad (and Laurel Fellowship application, if applicable) according to the deadlines; applications are ordinarily due early in December for the fall, late March for spring (if the space has not been filled)

• Students will be notified by early February (for the fall) or early May (for spring) whether they have been selected for the exchange

• MHC will submit nominations to Sciences Po, which will notify students about the on-line application process (students must also be accepted by Sciences Po)