*No French language proficiency required*
-> Spring 2013 is now full! Applicants will be wait list only. Apply NOW for fall 2013 semester!<-
DATES:
Fall: August - December
Spring: January - May
PROGRAM FEE:
Paid to Mason:
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$125 Application Fee
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$350 Administrative Fee ($550 for year long)
-- George Mason Tuition
Paid to Sciences Po:
-- Welcome Program (~$350)
Note: The Welcome Program is only for students attending the Paris campus.
Not Included:
-- International Airfare
-- Housing (~$4000)
--
Passport Fees
--
Visa Fees (~$125)
-- Personal Expenses
Financial aid should apply, but you are recommended to discuss aid with your financial aid counselor when planning your study abroad.
NOTE:
If a student applies and is accepted into a direct exchange program and then drops out of the program,the $350 administrative fee is non-refundable. In addition, program fees are subject to change.
ELIGIBILITY:
This program is open to Mason students ONLY. Students must have completed at least 45 credits at the time of departure and have a minimum 3.3 GPA. Students should not study abroad the last semester of senior year if they plan to graduate on time.
CREDITS:
Students may enroll in a variety of courses and may transfer between 12-16 credits per semester back to Mason, provided the letter grade received is equivalent to a "C" or above. The courses are transfer credit, and therefore will not factor into the GPA of the participant.
Students may enroll in a variety of courses and disciplines. Sciences Po has 7 different campuses across France, each with a specific academic and geographic concentration. See the program details to the right to view the different course options available at each campus.
HOUSING:
Housing is not arranged for students studying at the Paris campus (see link to "Paris Housing Info" below). Housing can be arranged for students who plan to study at the other campuses.
Contact
Email Daria Stepanova or call (703) 993-2154
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Now accepting online applications!
Fall Semester: March 8
Spring Semester: October 1

HOUSING INFO
DEPARTMENTS AND COURSES (In Paris)
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
VISA INFORMATION
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Sciences Po is one of Europe’s most competitive universities with 9,000 students, 40% of which are international students.

Mason undergraduates with a GPA of 3.3 or higher are eligible for this prestigious exchange in France. No French language proficiency is required as classes are offered IN ENGLISH! For advanced French language speakers, there is also the possibility of taking courses in French. Students on direct exchange are administered by the Study Abroad Office while at the Sciences Po.
Sciences Po College is a cross between French “classes préparatoires” and a liberal arts college, providing intellectual training anchored in the study of the humanities and the social sciences. […] With academic rigor as its hallmark, the Sciences Po College gives equal importance to fostering the personal development of its students through a rich variety of cultural and athletic offerings. –Richard Descoings, Director of Sciences Po
Science Po’s three main objectives include:
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To provide, from an international perspective, a solid introduction to methodology and to a wide range of disciplines (Economics, Law, History, Sociology, Political Science, and the Scientific and Literary Humanities);
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To develop negotiating and decision-making ability based on speaking and writing skills, teamwork and mastery of ICT [Information and Communication Technology];
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To encourage such attitudes as intellectual courage, perseverance and willingness to rise to a challenge.
Sciences Po is comprised of 7 campuses, each with a particular academic and geographic concentration:
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Paris: General Social Sciences (classes available in both English and French)
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Reims: Transatlantic Relations (all classes are in English)
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Menton: Relations with Middle East, Mediterranean & Gulf Nations (classes available in French, Arabic and English)
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Le Havre: Europe-Asia Relations (classes available in European and Asian languages)
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Dijon: EU, Central & Eastern European Relations (possibility to strengthen French language skills, to study a Central-European language or Russian language)
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Nancy: German-based Relations (classes available in French, German and English)
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Poitiers: Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese Relations (proficiency required in all four of the following languages: French, Spanish, Portuguese and English)

Core Courses at the Paris/Reims Campuses:
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Common Law Systems
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Economics
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History
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North American & European Systems
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Political Institutions
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Sociology
Electives:
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Various multidisciplinary courses (ex.: sustainable development)
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French language courses
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North American society
SciencesPo boasts the use of a unique methodology combining reasoning skills, comprehensive understanding of the world around us, debating skills and a constant intellectual challenge.

Housing
Housing at Sciences Po will vary widely in cost across the campuses and among different housing options (student dorm, apartment or family stay). Exchange students can work with the housing office directly to arrange their housing for all except the Paris campus.
Helpful Resources
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Why study on an exchange program to Sciences Po? Check out their study abroad services.
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Click here for information on the WELCOME PROGRAM for international students.
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How do I evaluate my LANGUAGE LEVEL?
Guide for International Students -
Information from the Consulate General of France on visas to France
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Follow Sciences Po on Twitter @sciencespo
Visa Information
Once accepted into a program, it will be your responsibility to apply for a student visa and/or residence permit (if required, based on your citizenship). You will receive details on this with your acceptance letter. Do not apply for a visa until after you have been officially accepted. Students going to France need to first go through Campus France before contacting the Consulate General of France to obtain their visa. Please visit those sites for more information regarding French visa.
HOW TO APPLY:
Consult the How to Apply section first and make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for a direct exchange program. Next, attend a Direct Exchange program information session. Do this prior to starting an application to ensure that you understand how to choose the right program and what is expected of you during the application process.
Check the course offerings at the school you are interested in applying to and check to ensure that they match your course requirements. See “Choosing Courses Abroad” section below.
Once you’ve selected an appropriate program that offers courses that match your major, complete the online application and pay the $125 application fee. Please note that all supplemental documents are also required by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please contact the program officer for further application forms and instructions specific to your program.
CHOOSING COURSES ABROAD:
There is no list of pre-approved classes for you to take on a direct exchange program. It is your responsibility to select courses and get them approved for transfer credit. Please refer to the “Departments and Courses” link on the left-hand side of this page for a list of course options on this program. You must then complete a Petition for Transfer of Credits Form to ensure that your courses will transfer back to Mason. Download a petition form here.
Consult your program officer regarding petition form instructions for SciencesPo.
You can fill out the petition form prior to acceptance into a specific study abroad program and in fact, you should begin this process when you first consider applying. Identify courses at the host institution that are similar to those at Mason that you need to take. This will increase your chances of receiving transfer credit approval from the Departmental Advisors who must sign your petition form. Follow complete instructions from the link above and contact your program officer if you have questions.
**Note: Make sure you find plenty of primary AND alternate course options before deciding on a specific program. Schedules are subject to change and registration in your preferred classes is not guaranteed, so you should have sufficient alternate course options. Also, please keep in mind that you must enroll in the equivalency of at least 12 U.S. credits per semester.
*CGE reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances.

