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Sciences Po or Warwick PPE?

Hi :smile:

I'm actually very happy of having received an offer to at least one UK University (Warwick), but I'm still unsure whether studying there as an UNDERGRAD will be a pro, especially in my circumstances.

I heard that Warwick PPE undergraduate is only good if you later want employment only in the United Kingdom, whereas I am an internationally oriented person.

Sciences Po seems to be recognized also at a broader international level. (Some people say it's equivalent to LSE, but I'm not sure whether this is just gossip).
Furthermore, the course I'm aiming at (1er cycle Nancy) is Trilingual (French, German, English), which is also very positive when it comes to international employment.
The contra of this french university is the fact that you have to study right through 5 years, after which get a "Master of Sciences Po Paris".

I don't know.
What do yo think about this?
And o you know any other forum or websites like TSR where I may find more information on Sciences Po?

Thanks :smile:

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Reply 1
TheEntertainer
Hi :smile:

I'm actually very happy of having received an offer to at least one UK University (Warwick), but I'm still unsure whether studying there as an UNDERGRAD will be a pro, especially in my circumstances.

I heard that Warwick PPE undergraduate is only good if you later want employment only in the United Kingdom, whereas I am an internationally oriented person.

Sciences Po seems to be recognized also at a broader international level. (Some people say it's equivalent to LSE, but I'm not sure whether this is just gossip).
Furthermore, the course I'm aiming at (1er cycle Nancy) is Trilingual (French, German, English), which is also very positive when it comes to international employment.
The contra of this french university is the fact that you have to study right through 5 years, after which get a "Master of Sciences Po".

I don't know.
What do yo think about this?
And o you know any other forum or websites like TSR where I may find more information on Sciences Po?

Thanks :smile:



Science Po is better than Warwick. It is highly regarded in France, just as much as LSE is in the UK.

However, you will be in nancy (which sucks). If it's just the 1st cycle, then that's OK. If you have to be 5 years in nancy, avoid it by all means. The Prestigious Sc Po is Sc Po Paris, others are good but really devaluated. You can also do Bachelor Warwick + Masters at Sco Paris --> 2 different experiences of high quality.

Also, it depends a lot on what you want to do.
If you like Economics/Business, I wouldn't be so sure about going to Sc Po. Warwick and a good Masters is the best bet.
If you like IR, then Sc Po will perfectly do.
The official programme is...

1. and 2. Year in Nancy
3. Year Abroad (choice of 260 unis) OR Stage/Internship
4. and 5. Year in Paris

By what factors do you mean that it sucks in Nancy? As academics/educational quality or the geography/social/those factors?

Anyway, on the list of the third year unis http://www.sciences-po.fr/daie/partenaires/index.htm if you go to "Royaume Unis" there is Warwick as well as LSE.
It depends where you want to work in the future. If you want to work in Europe, then Sciences Po. If Asia and US, then Warwick.
Reply 4
TheEntertainer
The official programme is...

1. and 2. Year in Nancy
3. Year Abroad (choice of 260 unis) OR Stage/Internship
4. and 5. Year in Paris

By what factors do you mean that it sucks in Nancy? As academics/educational quality or the geography/social/those factors?

Anyway, on the list of the third year unis http://www.sciences-po.fr/daie/partenaires/index.htm if you go to "Royaume Unis" there is Warwick as well as LSE.


Nancy sucks simply because it's nancy. Harsh but true. I am sure it has a wonderful staff, students and all the infrastructure. In the facts, it is seen as a small école, juste like the medium/small ESC de province for the écoles de commerce and the ENSI for the écoles d'ingénieurs.
Science Po Paris has enough problems dealing with the grandes écoles (de commerce mainly) and getting an international recognision (they are very good even if they lag behind Oxbridge, LSE and of course the US Ivy's). So imagine Sc Po Nancy... . This is from the strict academic point of view (socialy it might be also worse because Paris is Paris, but it's also nice to be in a small city where you know everyone in your école) However, since the masters is in Sc Po Paris, your employer will see you as a Sc Po Paris so there is nothing to worry about.

I do agree Science Po has fantastic partenaires because it's a great school and because they put a lot of effort on building an international image. However, doing an exchange will not give you a degree from the partenaire, so it's not like you went to LSE or the IVY's if you did an exchange there.

Your 2 choices are defintively good. If you pick Nancy, you will have to make 5 years study but that's how it goes in France.
If you pick Warwick you will be in a good university and will have the chance to do good masters elsewhere (top French écoles/universities easily).

I do not agree with the guy saying warwick is better in the US. I still think Sc Po has a bigger brand name
Reply 5
For some cursus, Sciences-Po Paris sends its students in other cities for the first years, then they come back at rue Saint-Guillaume.
But from the first year to the fifth, it's still Sciences-Po Paris, not another IEP such as Sciences-Po Toulouse ; that's all.
Kryten
For some cursus, Sciences-Po Paris sends its students in other cities for the first years, then they come back at rue Saint-Guillaume.
But from the first year to the fifth, it's still Sciences-Po Paris, not another IEP such as Sciences-Po Toulouse ; that's all.

It's not an independent IEP in Nancy, it's Sciences Po Paris with Campus in Nancy.
( www.franco-allemand.sciences-po.fr/ )

Is that what you meant?
Or did you mean that the Paris Campus itself is better?

Thanks, and Happy Easter to all :smile:
Reply 7
If you're willing to put in the work (and let's not kid ourselves, Sciences po is a much heavier time and energy investment than a British uni.), I'd jump at the French option.

Nancy should be a place to develop good-solid friendships before landing in the "wider" environment that is le 27 (and even that is almost a meet someone you know at every corner place), the year abroad should be a nice holiday before picking one of the 12 Masters (ranging from Urban planning to Economic Law) and doing a 6 month internship.

(As for the choice of 260 unis - yeah right, it's more like 80 and what you get depends on lots of factors)
jeffreyweingard
It depends where you want to work in the future. If you want to work in Europe, then Sciences Po. If Asia and US, then Warwick.


Warwick is not known in the US at all. Sciences Po would be the better option for international job opportunities, esp. due to the languages.

I am American and had never heard of Warwick until I joined this forum, and I spend 6 months in the UK last year and have many relatives there as well. But I had heard of Sciences Po.
Reply 9
shady lane
Warwick is not known in the US at all. Sciences Po would be the better option for international job opportunities, esp. due to the languages.

I am American and had never heard of Warwick until I joined this forum, and I spend 6 months in the UK last year and have many relatives there as well. But I had heard of Sciences Po.

I don't know about America. But it is true that Warwick has a better reputation than Sciences Po in Asia. Coming from Asia, I have only heard Warwick and not Sciences Po until I read this thread and the Wikipedia article on Sciences Po.
Reply 10
Here my two cents:

If you want to work in the UK- what I'd seriously consider as there are the best opportunities for graduates- Warwick would be a good option, especially if you can also spend a year abroad (Warwick has ties with Sorbonne and Sciences Po).

However, if you want to work in e.g. Germany Sciences Po would better. I haven't heard about Warwick until I searched for good PPE programmes- it might be different for employers though. And if you can there also do exchanges with UK unis, I'd say go for France!
Reply 11
Jammertal
Here my two cents:

If you want to work in the UK- what I'd seriously consider as there are the best opportunities for graduates- Warwick would be a good option, especially if you can also spend a year abroad (Warwick has ties with Sorbonne and Sciences Po).

However, if you want to work in e.g. Germany Sciences Po would better. I haven't heard about Warwick until I searched for good PPE programmes- it might be different for employers though. And if you can there also do exchanges with UK unis, I'd say go for France!

I probably should add something.

Sciences po's environment is pretty structured and can be extremely heavy on format (as opposed to only content). Presentations strictly 10 minutes long with two big parts each with two small parts, the famous French dissertation (4hr exam essay) which non-French students often get murdered in, fiches de lectures etc. all which can take some time to get used to (but I would not leave it scare you).
Reply 12
Paris
I probably should add something.

Sciences po's environment is pretty structured and can be extremely heavy on format (as opposed to only content). Presentations strictly 10 minutes long with two big parts each with two small parts, the famous French dissertation (4hr exam essay) which non-French students often get murdered in, fiches de lectures etc. all which can take some time to get used to (but I would not leave it scare you).

But that's only for those who do a full degree in the French circle, isn't it? I'll spend a year abroad as part of my European Studies degree in the International Programme. Is it any good?
Reply 13
Jammertal
But that's only for those who do a full degree in the French circle, isn't it? I'll spend a year abroad as part of my European Studies degree in the International Programme. Is it any good?

But that's only for those who do a full degree in the French circle, isn't it? I'll spend a year abroad as part of my European Studies degree in the International Programme. Is it any good?


No it's the same for exchange students (but to what extent depends on the classes-courses you pick).

The whole International Prog. is going to be heavily restructured from September (more credits for less work) with the opportunity to specialise in a subject area. Good in the sense you'll get a more realisitc workload and maybe even a chance to enjoy Paris, sad in the sense some of the flagship courses are gone (Les Nouvelles RI being one).

Sciences po heavily depends on two things
x what you make of it; seems to be a third of international students who couldn't care less, a third who hate the place and want to get out asap and a third who love it and would give their right arm to stay.
x what teacher "Maitre de Conf." you land (can go from someone who gives nothing at all to someone who gives a dissert. a week - been there, done that, got the tshirt)
Paris
No it's the same for exchange students (but to what extent depends on the classes-courses you pick).

The whole International Prog. is going to be heavily restructured from September (more credits for less work) with the opportunity to specialise in a subject area. Good in the sense you'll get a more realisitc workload and maybe even a chance to enjoy Paris, sad in the sense some of the flagship courses are gone (Les Nouvelles RI being one).

Sciences po heavily depends on two things
x what you make of it; seems to be a third of international students who couldn't care less, a third who hate the place and want to get out asap and a third who love it and would give their right arm to stay.
x what teacher "Maitre de Conf." you land (can go from someone who gives nothing at all to someone who gives a dissert. a week - been there, done that, got the tshirt)


very interesting. Do you actually study at sc po?
Reply 15
Octavius85
very interesting. Do you actually study at sc po?


Yes, taking the Programme International.
Reply 16
As an exchange student or the whole degree?
Interesting indeed.
Reply 17
Exchange student for the moment.

I'd have a book to write about the place; if you go in with an open mind and prepared to work, I couldn't imagine a better / more rewarding university (and city) to spend a year. OTOH if you you are looking for a year of Erasmus parties... might be a good idea to consider elsewhere.
Reply 18
I have no choice. The year at Sciences Po is an integrated part of the King's course- which is a very good thing IMO.