Sciences Po: Years 1 and 2

Applied multidisciplinarity, in and out of the classroom

Sciences Po’s undergraduate curriculum helps students develop rigour and critical thinking, as well as strong written-communication, public-speaking, and analytical skills through its pillars of academic excellence, international outlook, and civic engagement.

All students have a geographical minor that informs the perspectives and foci of their coursework over both years. Within Sciences Po’s seven-campus network, UBC Dual Degree students may pursue the Mediterranean and Middle East minor at Menton; the Asia–Pacific minor at Le Havre; and the North America or Africa minors at Reims. (All minors are taught in English; the Africa minor is also available in French.)

Core to Sciences Po’s vibrant student culture is the vie associative, offering students unique opportunities to engage in athletics, the arts, activism, and other activities on campus.

Throughout their degree trajectory, students engage and apply their learning beyond the classroom through the Parcours civique (Civic Learning Program).

First Year

The first year of the Sciences Po BA offers an introduction to the social sciences and humanities. Students gain theoretical and methodological foundations in the core disciplines of economics, history, humanities, law, political science and sociology, informed by the regional perspective of their geographic minor.

In addition to introductory classes, varied and diverse course offerings introduce students to multidisciplinary instruction and the links between academic disciplines and contemporary issues.

Students complement their in-class learning with practical field experiences including group projects, negotiations simulations, and study trips. Under the supervision of a faculty advisor, students kick off their civic learning programme with a one-month professional internship (at the end of the year) in a public, private, or nonprofit context.

Second Year

Note: a renewal of the second-year curriculum at Sciences Po takes effect for students commencing studies in 2026. Candidates will not be penalized if their application materials reference the previous format.

The second year is dedicated to more advanced study of fundamental disciplines introduced in the first year—and their accompanying theories and methodologies. Students also continue to complete the common core curriculum, including coursework on international relations, social-science epistemology, and scientific, digital, and environmental issues.

In second year, students combine two majors—one from each of the following two blocks:

  • Block 1: Economics, Political Science—Comparative Politics, Political Science—Political Theory
  • Block 2: Law, History, Sociology

Coursework in the major may be approached from the perspective of the geographical minor and also include disciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches, as well as methodology workshops designed for each major. All students complement their in-class learning with field experience including group projects, negotiations simulations, and study trips.