Newswise — Singapore, 24 February 2016 — The National University of Singapore (NUS) has partnered with Sciences Po, France’s leading university in the social sciences[1], to introduce a new undergraduate Double Degree Programme (DDP) in the academic year starting in August 2016. This is NUS’ first such collaboration with Sciences Po, and it is also the preeminent French university’s first undergraduate degree programme in the social sciences offered jointly with a Singapore university.

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan and President of Sciences Po Mr Frédéric Mion signed an agreement today to establish the NUS-Sciences Po DDP. Jointly hosted by the NUS University Scholars Programme (USP) and Sciences Po, the four-year programme combines Sciences Po’s renowned liberal arts curriculum with specialised training in a major from the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Students will also synthesise their multidisciplinary studies by reading modules offered by NUS USP. This prestigious programme will admit up to 10 students for its inaugural intake.

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said, “NUS is delighted to partner Sciences Po, one of the world’s top social science universities, to jointly offer a Double Degree Programme in the social sciences. This unique programme draws on complementary yet distinct strengths from both universities. The international exposure at Sciences Po and multidisciplinary education at NUS will nurture students who will become global citizens who are effective in diverse cultural settings. This unparalleled experience will also prepare our students for diverse careers in a rapidly changing global environment.”

Mr Frédéric Mion, President of Sciences Po, said, “This Double Degree Programme between Sciences Po and NUS combines today the best ingredients that are necessary to succeed in tomorrow’s world. Students will receive a solid background in the social sciences at Sciences Po while majoring in a key discipline at NUS. They will have access to the world in a classroom: DDP students will be able to exchange ideas with classmates coming to France from over 150 countries and focusing on Asia while they are in Singapore. They will develop critical thinking to understand the complexity of the world through the core modules in the social sciences and USP classes. They will spend four years in a constant learning environment, becoming well-rounded citizens thanks to the education in the classroom – not only from academics but also from practitioners - and their exposure to activities outside formal lessons.”

Students to benefit from the best of both worlds

Students enrolled in the programme will spend the first two years at Sciences Po to complete its broad-based and multidisciplinary curriculum in the arts and social sciences which draws chiefly from Economics, Law, History, Sociology and Political Science. They can choose from one of Sciences Po’s three regional campuses – the Le Havre campus with its Euro-Asian Programme, the Menton campus with its Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean Programme or the Reims campus with its Euro-American Programme.

In their third and fourth years at NUS, students will be given opportunities to specialise in one of four majors offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, namely Economics, History, Political Science and Sociology. Students will also extend their multi- and interdisciplinary studies by reading USP modules such as writing and critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, humanities and social sciences, as well as sciences and technologies. In addition, they will have access to many out-of-the-classroom opportunities and experiences through residential learning at USP’s Cinnamon College located in NUS University Town.

Upon completion of the programme, NUS-Sciences Po DDP students will be awarded two degrees – a Bachelor of Arts Degree conferred by Sciences Po, and a Bachelor of Arts/Social Sciences (Honours) Degree conferred by NUS. Students are also expected to graduate with English and French proficiency.

For more information about the NUS-Sciences Po Double Degree Programme, please visit: http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/nus-sciencespo/programme/

About National University of Singapore (NUS)

A leading global university centred in Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education and research, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. NUS has 17 faculties and schools across three campuses. Its transformative education includes a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment. Over 38,000 students from 100 countries enrich the community with their diverse social and cultural perspectives. NUS has three Research Centres of Excellence (RCE) and 26 university-level research institutes and centres. It is also a partner in Singapore’s fifth RCE. NUS shares a close affiliation with 16 national-level research institutes and centres. Research activities are strategic and robust, and NUS is well-known for its research strengths in engineering, life sciences and biomedicine, social sciences and natural sciences. It also strives to create a supportive and innovative environment to promote creative enterprise within its community. For more information on NUS, please visit http://www.nus.edu.sg.

About Sciences Po

Since its foundation in 1872, Sciences Po has been a world preeminent university in the social sciences and humanities. The QS World University Rankings 2015 places Sciences Po in the 5th position globally in Politics and International Studies. Its alumni play an important role in both the public and private sectors around the world, including for example, five of the last seven French Presidents (Jacques Chirac, François Hollande, etc.), Boutros Boutros-Ghali (former Secretary General of the United Nations), Pascal Lamy (former Director General of the WTO), David de Rothschild (Chairman of Rothschild Continuation Holdings), Christian Dior (haute couture fashion designer), etc. Sciences Po is open to the world with international students from 150 countries. As part of our vibrant, multicultural student community, students at Sciences Po will gain a multidisciplinary education and international experience to prepare them for career success.

For more information on Sciences Po, please visit http://www.sciencespo.fr/en/home.

[1]Top 5 worldwide in Politics and International Studies, QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015 - Politics & International Studies