Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux


Sciences Po Bordeaux, or Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux, is a French political science grande école located on the university campus of Pessac, 8 km from the centre of Bordeaux. It is attached to the University of Bordeaux. Established in 1948, Sciences Po Bordeaux is one of the ten Institutes of Political Studies of France and a Grandes école.
All students in Sciences Po Bordeaux study a curriculum that is highly practical and broad based, focusing on the full range of the social sciences: law, economics, finance, management, etc. The school is considered as one of the most selective in France, mainly because it is one of the schools where main political and business leaders are born.
According to article 2 of an 18 December 1989 decree, the mission of Institutes of Political Studies is : 1° to contribute to the training of higher civil servants as well as executives in the public, para-public and private sectors, notably in the State and decentralized communities 2° to develop the research in political and administrative sciences
Alumni include many notable public figures, including one French Prime Minister, politicians and influential businessmen.
The Institute has approximately 1,300 students, admitted after a rigorous selection. Each year, Sciences Po Bordeaux receives about 3000 applications and only around 150 students will be accepted after the selection process, around 5% in average. This process makes it one of the most difficult French Political Institute to be accepted in.
The academic course lasts five years, at the end of which a student graduates with the Diploma of Sciences Po Bordeaux and with one of three Masters offered by the Institute.
Sciences Po Bordeaux is a well integrated university, with more than 200 exchange-agreements with foreign universities around the world. It also proposes double degree programs with the universities of Stuttgart, Turin, Coimbra, Madrid, Cardiff, Moscow, Kingston and Quebec.

History

The school was established by decree on the 4th of May 1948 under the name "Institut d'études politiques de l’Université de Bordeaux". Maurice Duverger was its first director. It obtained the status of public establishment and got its present name by decree on the 18th of January 1969 with the other Sciences-Po of Aix, Grenoble, Lyon, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
The historian and sociologist Jacques Ellul, as well as the future Minister, Secretary of the European Council and Vice-President of the European Parliament, Catherine Lalumière, were teachers in the institution.
Until 1967, Sciences-Po Bordeaux was located in the city center of Bordeaux, before being replaced by the current lower Court of Justice of Bordeaux.
By a decree in 1989, Sciences-Po Bordeaux has been attached to the University of Bordeaux IV. Sciences-Po Bordeaux is a member of the PRES of the University of Bordeaux.
Since September 2016, Yves Déloye is the director of the school.

Directors

The academic course, which lasted three years until 2002, was extended to five years following the European model of the "LMD". The year 2005 marked the last phase of the reform.
The second year of the course is a mandatory year of mobility in France or abroad.

Admission

Entry to Sciences Po Bordeaux is conditioned by selection tests, either at the level of baccalauréat, Bac + 1 Bac + 3 or master. The selection rate in 2013 for the Bac 0 tests was 6.70%.
The online registration dates for the events are usually between January and February of each academic year, the entrance exams take place between April and May.
Since 2006, with the support of the Regional Council of Aquitaine, the Rectorate of the Academy of Bordeaux and the ACSE, the Institute has set up a social diversification program through an integrated preparation system in 24 secondary schools in the region of Aquitaine in order to promote access to the establishment of pupils from less favored social categories. This program, entitled "Sciences Po Bordeaux, I Can Because I Want It!" 1,183 high school students in Aquitaine benefited from this program between 2006 and 2013, 965 has been admitted to the entrance tests and 103 were admitted. Because of this initiative, 30% of its students has received a scholarship of Tertiary Education, highest rate among the 9 Institutes of Political Studies in France.

The First Cycle: The Bachelor of Political Studies

The first cycle is equivalent to a bachelor's degree in political studies.
The objective of the first cycle is to expose students to disciplines in which they are based on, the acquisition of working methods of Sciences Po and the strengthening two foreign languages besides French.
Each year consists of 60 ECTS credits:
The first year is a year of initial training and acquisition of working methods
The second year consists of a year of compulsory exchange, in the form of a year of study or an internship. Sciences Po Bordeaux has more than 250 academic partner universities in Europe and the rest of the world. Students are also allowed to pursue their studies in France, in a different institution.
The third year is a year of consolidation and orientation to the master's degree.

The Second Cycle: Diploma of the Institute of Political studies

The Diploma of the Institute of Political Studies is equivalent to a master's degree. The second cycle consists of two years with 60 ETCS per year. Students are required to choose their master, in other word, their specialisation.
During the two years of master, at least one semester is devoted to an internship, which normally lasts for 6 months to prepare students for their future career.
For masters which are research based, an in depth dissertation which lasts for at least 6 months will be required instead of an internship.
There are 4 majors in Sciences Po Bordeaux for the master's degrees and each major consists of different master's degrees as follow:

Major in Public Administration and Management

Master of Public Administration
Master of Expertise in Public Affairs

Major in International Affairs

Master of Applied Geoeconomics
Master of International Cooperation and Development
Master of Risk Management in Southern Countries
Master of European Integration and Global Development
Master of Politics and Development in Africa and the Countries of the South
Master of International Relations
Master of International Policy
Master of Interdisciplinary and Inter-University Joint Dynamics of the Afriques

Major in Politics, Society and Communication

Master of European Affairs
Master of Public Affairs and Interest Representation
Master of Journalism
Master of Public Communication and Policy
Master of Policy Professions
Master of Society, Powers and Representations
Master of Metropolitan strategies and governance

Major in Management of Projects and Organizations

Master of Management of Enterprises and Organizations
Master of Development of Enterprises of the Social and Solidarity Economy
Master of Management of Cultural Projects and Territorial Development

Double Degrees

Sciences Po Bordeaux has set up double degrees with its partners around the globe. Students will obtain a double degree from Sciences Po Bordeaux and the partner institution.
There are six double degrees as follow:
France-United Kingdom, in partnership with the University of Cardiff
France-Portugal, in partnership with the University of Coimbra
France-Spain, in partnership with the Autonomous University of Madrid
France-Germany, in partnership with the University of Stuttgart
France-Italy, in partnership with the University of Turin
France-Morocco integrated in partnership with the Mundiapolis University of Casablanca.
France – Russia in partnership with People's Friendship of the University of Russia
France – Caribbean Network in partnership with University of West Indies and Guyana of Schoelcher and the University of West Indies of Kingston

School of Postgraduate studies

Sciences Po Bordeaux is a member of the Doctoral School "Society, Politics, Public Health". This doctoral school is in cooperation with School of Sciences Sociales: Society, Health and Decision from the University of Bordeaux and the previous doctoral school of Political Science from University of Bordeaux and Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Bordeaux.
This school offers doctorates in:

The preparation of the French Administrative Examination

In accordance with its original objective, the IEP contributes to the training of public service executives, both through initial training and through preparations for administrative examinations. There are three specific preparations available for initial training or in continuing education /
These examinations included the National School of Administration, the National Institute of Territorial Studies and the School of Higher Studies in Public Health ;
IEP has developed a range of continuing education courses for elected officials, executives of public, parapublic and voluntary organizations as well as corporate executives. These included short courses or certifying courses.
These courses are specialised in IEP's areas of expertise: management, international affairs, territorial governance, social action, communication and management.
The courses are taught by IEP professors and qualified external speakers regarding to the subjects.

Summer thematic School

In order to diversify its training offer, Bordeaux Political Institute has for several years embarked on a policy of developing a summer thematic schools. These training modules are broadly open to societal issues. They also aim to enhance the social science research produced in the two research units : the Center Émile Durkheim and Les Afriques dans le monde.
In the recent past, these thematic schools have also strengthened a number of institutional partnerships, notably with the French Association of Political Science, the CNRS or the University of Laval. As a privileged partner of the University of Bordeaux for several years, University of Laval is particularly concerned by two recurrent training modules: the School of International Relations on "The spirit of democracy". As such, these two programs are organized alternately in Bordeaux and in the partner institutions.
This training program, funded in part by Sciences Po Bordeaux, also benefits from the regular support of the IdEx Bordeaux International Summer Schools program, the CNRS Thematic Schools Program and the International Cooperation Fund of the Region new Aquitaine.

Campus

Before 1967, Sciences Po Bordeaux was based in Bordeaux itself, at No. 4 Rue du Maréchal-Joffre, the present seat of the Court of First Instance of Bordeaux. Since then, it has been located on the University Estate of Talence-Pessac-Gradignan.
From June 2013 to April 2015, the Bordeaux Institute of Political Studies began a complete restructuring of its premises. A total investment of 26 million euros is allocated to this project with 25 million by the Regional Council of Aquitaine and 1 million by the city of Pessac. This work increases the capacity of the school from 1850 to 3000 students and the total area of the building from 8 400 m2 to 15 200 m2. Four new lecture halls were named after Jacques Ellul, Étienne de La Boétie, Aliénor d'Aquitaine and Simone Veil.

Student's life

Sciences Po Bordeaux benefits of a vibrant student life. As in 2013, 34 student socialise were registered by the school. 4 main associations are responsible for the campus life : a student office , Art Association , Erasmix and Sport Association.
Other societies: a Campus Radio, Podcasts, a wine casting club, entrepreneurship association, newspapers, political groups, cultural exchange clubs, student unions, Think tanks....

Alumni

A large number of former students have pursued a successful career in politics, senior civil service, media, scientific research or business in France and around the world. Others have played an important role in the fields of Art or Literature.
Politicians:
Senior Civil Servant and magistrates:
Business Sector:
Academics:
Journalists: