Institute of Political Studies in Paris

Sciences Po (French pronunciation: ​[sjɑ̃s po]), or Paris Institute of Political Studies (French: Institut d'études politiques de Paris, French pronunciation: ​[ɛ̃s.ti.ty de.tyd pɔ.li.tik də pa.ʁi]) is a university (a Grande Ecole according to French standards) located in Paris, France. The institution is a member of several academic consortia (including the APSIA and the College Board). Its main campus encircles Boulevard Saint Germain in the 7th arrondissement[1] but there are also regional campuses in Reims, Dijon, Le Havre, Nancy, Poitiers or Menton. Sciences Po maintains departments in political science, economics, history, sociology and law. Sciences Po was created as a private institution by Émile Boutmy in 1872 to promote a new class of French politicians in the aftermath of the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1871.[2] In the modern day, Sciences Po has a reputation in France of being an elite institution[3][4][5] and was ranked 4th globally in Politics and International Studies by the QS World University Subjects Rankings 2017.[6] Many notable public figures are among its alumni, including numerous French presidents. However, it is also criticized for creating an oligarchy of blinkered people in France.[7][8] Critics often nickname the school "Sciences Pipeau" (pronounced "Sciences Pipo") because they consider it is giving a "fake" education.[9][10] Sciences Po has been at the centre of a number of political and financial scandals