Sciences Po

The Paris Institute of Political Studies, commonly referred to as Sciences Po Paris or just Sciences Po, is a grande école and grand établissement located in Paris and other cities in France.

It originates in the "École libre des sciences politiques", a private school founded in Paris in 1872 by Émile Boutmy. Boutmy aimed at modernizing the education of political elites in France by teaching them contemporary history rather than classical studies, which they would learn in universities at the same time. It acquired an important role in France's public service system and many members of the French public service have studied at the institution on top of primary studies they undertook in universities. The school was re-founded in 1945 as a semi-public "institute", after criticism of the attitude of its staff during WW2 and calls for its closure.