European School of Political and Social Sciences : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
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3Undergraduate programs

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4Postgraduate programs

About European School of Political and Social Sciences

Created in 2012 within the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Lille, ESPOL first vocation was to bring together the departments of law and economics with a new one, that of political science. The European School of Political and Social Sciences offers an interdisciplinary education geared towards political and European careers to its 1,200 students through two postgraduate programmes and three Master’s programmes. In addition, a new Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and a new Master's programme in Digital Politics and Governance opening in 2023 will allow us to welcome even more students for increasingly varied courses.

Since its foundation, ESPOL has continuously promoted openness to the world, and Europe and in particular. This is the reason why our team is comprised of people representing 12 different nationalities, why 80% of our students spend a semester abroad in one of our 150 partner universities and why we welcome over 40 exchange student each year, a steadily increasing figure.

 

The school is founded on three principles:

  • Teaching : Original ways of learning and new courses make ESPOL an innovative school in terms of pedagogy.
  • Research : Our teachers and researchers actively contribute to the renewal of knowledge in political science.
  • Service to society : ESPOL-LAB projects such as “Just Conservation”, “Reconnect” or “OCTAV” are aimed at proposing solutions to major societal problems.

About European School of Political and Social Sciences

Created in 2012 within the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Lille, ESPOL first vocation was to bring together the departments of law and economics with a new one, that of political science. The European School of Political and Social Sciences offers an interdisciplinary education geared towards political and European careers to its 1,200 students through two postgraduate programmes and three Master’s programmes. In addition, a new Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and a new Master's programme in Digital Politics and Governance opening in 2023 will allow us to welcome even more students for increasingly varied courses.

Since its foundation, ESPOL has continuously promoted openness to the world, and Europe and in particular. This is the reason why our team is comprised of people representing 12 different nationalities, why 80% of our students spend a semester abroad in one of our 150 partner universities and why we welcome over 40 exchange student each year, a steadily increasing figure.

 

The school is founded on three principles:

  • Teaching : Original ways of learning and new courses make ESPOL an innovative school in terms of pedagogy.
  • Research : Our teachers and researchers actively contribute to the renewal of knowledge in political science.
  • Service to society : ESPOL-LAB projects such as “Just Conservation”, “Reconnect” or “OCTAV” are aimed at proposing solutions to major societal problems.

University information

Year 1 of the Bachelor's degree :

To apply to ESPOL, you must follow the steps explained on the Parcoursup site.

Year 2 of the Bachelor's degree and Master's programmes :

Admissions are open from 15 February 2023 to 1st May 2023

To get further information on how to apply to ESPOL, please consult the admission page on our website.

ESPOL is integrated into the Campus of the Catholic University of Lille in the Vauban district in the heart of the city. Students therefore have access to numerous services such as libraries, university restaurants, sports centres, health facilities, and more.
The school is expanding this year with the completion of the construction of a second eco-responsible building that will welcome students on the Saint Raphael Campus. New classrooms, amphitheatre, workspaces, catering, ... will be available to students from the start of the school year.

Student life

Lille and its 87 municipalities form a cross-border, cosmopolitan and eclectic European city of more than one million inhabitants. At the crossroads of Europe, Lille is located 1 hour from Paris, 40 minutes from Brussels and 90 minutes from London by train. Studying at ESPOL is having the possibility to choose over 30 student associations. In addition to academic work, it is the best way to try out and discover the professions of political science. Debates, eloquence competitions, organisation of conferences, models of the United Nations, ... the choice is extremely varied and brings the school to life throughout the year.

What to do after the bachelor's degree ?

The bachelor's degree in political science offers an opening onto the world and a solid overall knowledge. At the end of the degree, a student will have a wide range of possibilities to go further in his studies: Institutes of Political Studies, journalism, communication, law, social sciences, etc.

What to do after the master's degree ?

All our master's programmes will enable students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to occupy key professional positions in national administrations, as well as international and non-governmental organizations.

Alumni ESPOL

Working as a real community, this association gathers all the ESPOL former students. Political communication, European governance, sustainable development, international security, ... the panel is vast and all this community can be found and contacted on our alumni network.

Tuition fee and scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

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How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

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A list of available scholarships around the world

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A scholarship application checklist

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Available programs

ESPOL offers three degrees in political science based on bilingual French-English teaching and in-depth learning of European and international relations.

During the three years of the Bachelor's degree, students will have the opportunity to learn political science through rich and varied courses covering different disciplines such as History, Law, Sociology, Politics, Economics and Philosophy.

ESPOL's programmes are based on a strong international dimension, including a 6-month academic exchange in one of our 150 partner universities as well as the teaching of three foreign languages (among 13 available choices).

ESPOL offers 4 two-year master’s programmes that provides students with a deeper understanding of the political processes and institutions of local, national, and international governments.

Our programmes are designed solve today’s most pressing global challenges and to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the theories, methodologies, and practices of politics, government, and public administration.


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For the first year of bachelor's degree:


  • A cover letter in English
  • Official transcripts of grades for final two years of high school
  • Official Transcript of final school exam scores and subsequent years of study (if applicable)


For the second year of bachelor's degree:


  • A cover letter in English
  • Transcript of final school exam scores and subsequent years of study (if applicable)
  • Any document certifying to foreign language skills can be added to the application
  • High school diploma
  • CV


For master's degree:


  • Transcripts of the 3 years of the Licence (180 ECTS)
  • Licence diploma (or certificate of achievement)
  • CV in English
  • Letter of motivation in English
  • Two academic letters of recommendation (English or French)
  • Proof of English language proficiency:

    - TOEFL –  80 iBT or 550 PBT or 60 PDF
    - ELTS  Academic – 6.0
    - PTE Academic  –  54
    - Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)  or  Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) –  grade C
    - TOEIC – 785



As courses in political science and international relations, the will of ESPOL is similar to that of the IPSs. A solid general culture; a multidisciplinary teaching which aims at better understanding the stakes of our world, but also capacities of adaptation and synthesis with the possibility of studying a semester abroad. What makes ESPOL so special is its multilingual and multicultural aspect: this diversity allows ESPOL students to acquire all the versatility they need for the future!