History

origins

Emile boutmy

The Paris IEP comes from the Free School of Political Sciences, nicknamed "Sciences Po", a private
institution founded in 1872 by Emile Boutmy. The pedagogical tradition of the Institute, its first
structure, its nickname and its buildings on rue Saint-Guillaume derive from this school.

In 1945, the school became the Institute of Political Studies of the Universities of Paris and at the
same time the National Foundation of Political Sciences was created to receive its patrimony and to
manage the Institute administratively and financially.

From 1945 to 1969

Another great French school was created in 1945: the National School of Administration (the ENA)
and it was moved to a building acquired by the FNSP, the Hotel Cossé, located at 56 Carrer de los
Saint-Pères, that is to say, just behind the Institute for Political Studies (IEP).

In 1947, Jacques Chapsal replaced Roger Seydoux as director. The University of Paris is divided into
several cities in 1969 and the name of the Institute changes to its current name: Institut d'Etudes
Politiques de Paris (Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris). It becomes at the same time a public,
scientific and cultural establishment, separated from the other French universities by the decree of
January 18, 1969.

1969 to 1996

Until 1978, the National School of Administration was located on the Rue des Saints-Pères in a
separate building from 27, rue Saint-Guillaume and from the Institute of Political Studies in Paris by a
garden. Thus, in the jargon of Sciences Po students, "crossing the garden" means passing the
competitive ENA entrance exam. In 1978, the ENA moved to the Feydau Brou hotel at 13 Rue de la
Università and the abandoned building on Rue des Saints-Pères was assigned to the Institute of
Political Studies in Paris. The wall that separated the two gardens was destroyed.

In 1979, director Jacques Chapsal left the post after thirty-two years in office. Michel Gentot
succeeded him.

In 1985, the IEP obtained the title of great establishment that in France gathers the five best
universities.
The 1986 promotion brought together many celebrities: Isabelle Giordano (journalist), Alexandre
Jardin (writer), David Pujadas (journalist), Anne Roumanoff (humorist).

In 1987, the political scientist Alain Lancelot became director of the Institute. In 1994, Alain Lancelot
launched an academic reform and provoked one of the longest protest movements in the
institution's history. The reform is finally withdrawn and Alain Lancelot does not request the renewal
of his mandate next year. Richard Descoings, his deputy director, succeeds him.

Since 1996

Sciencies Po entrance hall.

The new Director Richard Descoings began the internationalization of the institute upon his arrival,
which today houses a third of foreigners among its students. This movement is accompanied by a
sustained growth in the number of students, which today are more than 6000.

In the spring of 2001, the institution announced the creation of priority education agreements (CEP).
The idea is to allow some of the students from poor neighborhoods to enter the first year of the
Institute with a different admission procedure. This action is based on the idea of affirmative action
as it exists in the United States. This reform provokes a lively debate in France both within the
institution and in the national press. The first year, the CEP allows 17 students to enter the first year.
The number of agreements accepted will increase, reaching thirty-three secondary schools and fifty-
seven admitted in early 2005. The first group of students included in these agreements graduated in
2006.

In early 2000, he extended his academic training to five years. The preparatory year (AP) disappears
and is replaced by a first three-year cycle consisting of four semesters of study and one year abroad.
Then there are two years of a graduate cycle with various specializations.

In 2003, the director made a reform of the "school fees" (what students pay to the university). A
scale of fees is established, ranging from free for scholarship holders to € 5,300 for students from
families with higher incomes.

At the beginning of 2004, the degree cycle is transformed again. Specialized graduate degrees (DESS)
are replaced by a "master's degree." A research master's degree organized in five specializations is
also created.

In autumn 2004 a journalism school was created.