Sciences Po

The Paris Institute of Political Studies, commonly referred to as Sciences Po Paris or just Sciences Po , is a higher education institution located in France, and member of the Conférence des Grandes écoles.It was founded in 1872 to promote a new class of French politicians in the aftermath of the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

The school's alumni include seven recent French presidents, 13 French prime ministers, 12 foreign heads of state or government, and six of the CEOs of France's largest companies have studied at Sciences Po[citation needed].

Sciences Po undertook a substantial reform agenda starting in the mid-1990s, which broadened its focus to prepare students for the private sector, internationalized the school's student body and curriculum, and established a special admission process for underprivileged applicants. Sciences Po also expanded outside Paris by establishing additional campuses in Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Poitiers, and Reims. The Sciences Po curriculum now incorporates core courses in various branches of the social sciences, such as law, economics, history, political science, and sociology.The institution is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs and the Global Public Policy Network.