Sciences Po Lille

Sciences Po Lille (Lille Institute of Political Studies)

Institut d'études politiques de Lille
Other name	Sciences Po Lille
Motto	Transforming young Students into innovative citizens becoming global leaders
Type	Public
Established	1991
Director	Pierre Mathiot
Administrative staff	47
Students	1,800
Location	Lille, France
Campus	Urban
Website	www.sciencespo-lille.eu

Sciences Po Lille - Institut d'études politiques de Lille (English: Lille Institute of Political Studies), officially referred to as Sciences Po Lille (pronounced see-ohns po), is part of the highly selective grandes écoles and is located in Lille, France. Sciences Po Lille is educating France's political and diplomatic elite, but its academic focus spans not only the political and economic sciences, but also law, communications, finance, business, urban policy, management, and journalism.

History and organisation

Sciences Po Lille was founded by decree in 1991. It is today one of the most highly regarded institut d'études politiques in France, and a member of the Conférence des grandes écoles.^[1] As with most IEPs, it aims to give its students training in the civil service, but it specialises in European and International studies. The institute also has an agreement with the renowned school of Journalism Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille.

The curriculum at the IEP is at the crossroads of law, history, economics, political science and sociology. Students are taught at least two foreign languages and spend one year abroad. Entrance to the IEP can be achieved through highly selective exams.

Campus

At the time of its establishment in 1991, Sciences Po Lille was located in the premises of the École Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille, 50 rue Gauthier de Châtillon. Built in the 19th century, the building was located in the quartier latin of Lille, which used to be where all Lille's universities were located. The building quickly turned out to be too small for both schools. Thus, in 1996, in order to keep growing, Sciences Po Lille moved into a bigger building, this time located in a working-class district called Moulins. The choice of this district was political. The municipality of Lille wished to enhance social diversity in the neighborood. Sciences Po Lille's students being mostly from high income and educational backgrounds, its presence in the Moulins district was seen as a way to reinvigorate this southern part of Lille. Sciences Po Lille's new address became 84 rue de Trévise, near the metro station Porte de Valenciennes. The building is a former factory made of red bricks.

To cope with the quick development of the school, a new relocation is scheduled in January, 2017.^[2][3] Sciences Po Lille will come back to its original location and establish its campus rue Auguste-Angelier in the old quartier Latin of Lille. Currently under renovation, this building of downtown Lille will be 8200 square meters. It will provide 3 amphitheatres, 40 rooms and a 1500 square meter library.

Admission

Sciences Po Lille is one of the most selective French universities. Students wishing to attend Sciences Po Lille must pass highly selective and competitive entrance exams (between 5 and 15% pass rate depending on the exam).^[4]

There are two admission procedures for the Undergraduate Program. The two of them are collectively organized by Sciences Po Lille and six other Sciences Po (Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, Rennes, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Strasbourg and Toulouse):

• the "Concours Commun 1ere année" (access to the 1st year of the program). More than 10,000 high schoolers take this exam each year, and only 1000 of them are admitted to one of the 7 Sciences Po. Among them, 150 successful candidates get into Sciences Po Lille.
• the "Concours Commun 2e année" (direct access to the 2nd year of the program)

Admission procedures for Graduate Programs:

• Procedure for French students. The selection process is done through an exam. About 60 students per year enroll directly in one of Sciences Po Lille's Master's programs without having attended the undergraduate program.
• International Graduate Admissions Procedure. Admission is based on the holistic assessment of each candidate's academic, personal and professional background. International applicants are required to submit the following documents: a cover letter, two recommendation letters, a resume written in French, the copy of the applicant's academic degree, the student's academic record of the last three years prior to the application (grades), and a French Language Certificate (minimum required: B2).^[5]
• Special Entrance Exam for Chinese Applicants.^[6] This exam gives access to a limited number of Master's programs (Corporate and Government Communication; Sustainable Development; Management of Cultural Institutions; and the Dual Degree with the École supérieure de journalisme de Lille. The exam takes place in January in Beijing and Shanghai. In order to be eligible for this exam, candidates must have a bachelor's degree, a B2 level in French language (DALF, DELF, TCF, TEF), a 90 TOEFL IBT/750 TOEIC/6 IELTS score. The exam is structured in two phases: a 4-hour written exam on a current political issue dealing with the world economy and international relations (the use of a Chinese-French dictionary is authorized during the exam); and a 30-minute oral exam during which the jury appreciates the candidate's motivation as well as their level of French and his general culture.

Tuitions

Tuitions are based on the income of the student's family.^[7] They range from 0 euro to 3.200 euros a year. To tuitions must be added health insurance, which costs about 200 euros for the full year.

Graduate programs

Sciences Po Lille's Master's programs are divided into four sections:

• Public Affairs and Public Goods Management.^[8] This section offers three different Masters: Public Affairs; Private-Public Partnership; and Sustainable Development.
• European and International Affairs.^[9] This section offers three Masters: European Affairs; Peace Conflict and Development; and Strategy Intelligence and Risk Management.
• Organizations' Strategy and Communication.^[10] This section offers three different Masters: Commerce & International Finance; Corporate and Government Communication; and Management of Cultural Institutions.
• Philosophy Politics and Economics.^[11] This section offers one single Master's, a Research master's degree. It provides students with a solid education in social sciences and is designed to prepare students for doctoral research. The first two semesters are taught at Sciences Po Lille and the last two semesters in one of the following schools: EHESS, ENS Lyon, École pratique des hautes études, one of the three Universities of Lille, the Master in Political and Economic Philosophy at University of Bern, the Master in Politics, Economics and Philosophy at Hamburg University, the MA Philosophy and Economics in Beirut, the Master in Philosophy and Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Université Libre de Bruxelles, and the Centre for Philosophy of Law of Louvain.

Sciences Po Lille also offers co-sponsored Master's:

• Dual Degree Sciences Po Lille/ESJ Lille
• Master of Science (MSc) in Public Policy Management Sciences Po Lille/Audencia Nantes.^[12]
• Master Preparation for the agrégation of economics Sciences Po Lille/ University Lille I
• Master Research in political science Sciences Po Lille/University Lille II

Study Abroad Programs

Sciences Po Lille has a very large Study Abroad Program. The school has signed over 190 international agreements^[13] with universities located on every continent. Here are some of Sciences Po Lille's partner universities:

North America

• United States of America: George Washington University, University of Virginia, College of William & Mary, Reed College, Georgia State University, Stony Brook University, San José State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Michigan State University, Catholic University of America.
• Canada: McMaster University, University of Calgary, Dalhousie University, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, Wilfrid Laurier University, Université de Moncton, St. Francis Xavier University, University of the Fraser Valley, Huron University College, Université d'Ottawa.
• Mexico: Universidad Iberoamericana, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, El Colegio de México, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey.

South America

• Costa Rica: Universidad de Costa Rica.
• Argentina: Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Universidad del Salvador, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo.
• Brazil: Federal University of Minas Gerais, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco.
• Colombia: Universidad del Rosario, Pontifical Bolivarian University.
• Chile: Universidad Austral de Chile, Andrés Bello National University, Valparaiso University, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

International Dual Degrees

Sciences Po Lille offers dual degree programs with 6 world-renowned universities:

• The Dual Master's degree in International Affairs with the Johns Hopkins University.^[14] Students who are pursuing their first year of study for the Master's cycle at Lille can apply to SAIS Europe in Bologna for a second year of study. Upon successful completion of their second year at SAIS Europe, students will earn both a master's degree from Sciences Po and Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Students who begin at SAIS Europe will earn the Bologna Diploma and then go on to pursue a Master's at Sciences Po Lille.^[15]
• The Dual master's degree in European Affairs (called "MA Europe & the World") with the Aston University.^[16]
• The Dual master's degree in European studies Central and Eastern Europe with the University of Szeged in Hungary.^[17]
• The Franco-British double degree course with the University of Kent in England. The course structure consists of two academic years in Lille and two in Canterbury.Various options are available for year 5.^[18]
• The Franco-German double degree course with the University of Münster in Germany.^[18]
• The Franco-Spanish double degree course with the University of Salamanca in Spain.^[18]

Prep programs for high-ranking civil servant positions

Prep Program for the École Nationale d'Administration

Prep Program for the Agrégation de sciences économiques et sociales

MunWalk Association (Model United Nations)

Sciences Po Lille Munwalk Association is ranked the 13th world's best MUN delegation according to the Best Delegate Guide.^[19] It makes it the best French delegation. In 2011, its students were awarded the "Honourable Delegate" award at both London and Harvard's MUN, as well as the "Distinguished Delegation" award in New York City. In 2013, at the NMUN-NY, the school won the "Outstanding Delegation" award,^[20] which is considered the most prestigious prize. That same year, a student was also awarded the "Outstanding Delegate" award at Harvard's MUN.

Summer School

Sciences Po Lille opened a Summer School in 2015.^[21] It consists in a two-week intensive program during which students attend courses of economics, law, politics and history. All the courses are related to a common theme, which changes every year. In 2015, the theme was the "European Union's challenges in a context of crisis." Classes are all taught in English. Participants receive a certificate with 6 ECTS credits. They can also take optional courses in French language & culture and get one more ECTS. Courses consist of classroom sessions held on each weekday except on the field trip to Brussels. The Summer School also includes local cultural visits, various social events, conferences, a visit of Lille, and a study trip to Brussels and the EU institutions. In the summer 2015, 17 students participated in the summer school. The European Commission's spokesperson, Natasha Bertaud, gave a conference.

Notable alumni

Gérald Darmanin, French lawmaker, Adviser of Nicolas Sarkozy during the presidential election of 2017, Mayor of Tourcoing.

Barbara Pompili, French Minister for Biodiversity matters, French lawmaker

Karima Delli, European lawmaker

Johanna Rolland, Mayor of Nantes City and President of Nantes Métropole.

References

External links

• Institut d'études politiques de Lille (in French)
• Official Site of the Franco-British course at the IEP of Lille and at the University of Kent at Canterbury

Coordinates: 50°37′21″N 3°04′38″E / 50.62250°N 3.07722°E / 50.62250; 3.07722