Political science is a discipline driven by excellence that offers attractive career prospects with a strong international outlook. Living up to this ambition, ESPOL, the European School of Political and Social Sciences, offers an interdisciplinary education oriented towards political careers and Europe. As the successor to the School of Social and Political Sciences created within the Catholic University of Lille in 1894, ESPOL emphasizes on human values and on ethics of responsibilities - indispensable qualities for making one’s way in today’s world.
Its bilingual French-English courses provide an original and innovative platform for teaching political science.
The Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees give ESPOL graduates the keys to succeed in an increasingly competitive job market: theoretical knowledge and creativity, professionalism and intellectual curiosity, competences, and sense of initiative.
European, multilingual and in step with its time, ESPOL provides you with the requisite skill set to successfully enter the job market in Europe and beyond!
ESPOL is founded on three core principles:
The history of the Catholic University of Lille began in 1875 with its five founding faculties, which have since provided instruction to many generations of students to guide them through social, political and economic changes at regional, national and international levels.
The Catholic University of Lille is also composed of additional schools and institutes, including ESPOL (political science), ISEA (accounting), the Department of Ethics and Philosophy, and the IU2S (healthcare administration). The mission adopted by the Faculties of the Catholic University of Lille is to train our students to become highly skilled, creative and flexible professionals as well as active and responsible citizens. In pursuit of this aim, through their core activities of teaching, research and serving society, the Faculties remain at all times attentive to the world around them and ready to adapt. Their primary ambition is to create the ideal environment for students to become the main actors of their education and to be responsible citizens, with humanist values and striving for excellence. These are invaluable qualities to successfully enter the job market.
The advantages offered by the faculties:
Every year, ESPOL receive about 30% of foreign students, through an exchange program or within the Program in European Politics. It is important to us that every student feels integrated and enjoys the time spent here in ESPOL and also in this new environment. To achieve this goal, several services and devices can be used by our international students, such as the International Affairs office, student associations, and guides.
Following this link, you will find an International Student Guide that might help you with your new life here.
International Student Guide
“ESPOL strongly encourages innovative and vocationally-oriented student initiatives (creating a school newspaper, organization of roundtables on recent political events, training in public speaking, meetings and debates on current topics) by giving students its support to develop their ideas and design their projects.”
OLIWIA BARAN
Head of communication and student life
BDE
The Student Union, known as the “BDE” (French for Bureau des Étudiants), represents students in relation to the school administration. The role of the BDE is also to participate in the life of the school, through various initiatives and activities (parties, lectures, travel and leisure, humanitarian actions and so on).
ESPOMUN-MODEL UNITED NATIONS
The M.U.N. delegation is a society set up by ESPOL students with the purpose of representing the school in various MUN sessions organized throughout Europe. The delegation is, of course, open to all ESPOL students interested in this project!
COSMOPOL
Created in 2015, the purpose of this society is to integrate foreign students arriving at ESPOL. How? By organizing a “buddies system”, introducing students to the region and French culture and helping them out with administrative procedures upon their arrival in France.
Contact: [email protected]
ESPOL’ART (Arts office)
ESPOL’art is the school in charge of artistic activities. It promotes cultural life at the school through activities such as theatre, painting or cinema.
VOX JUVENIS
The “Vox Juvenis” society organizes debates and political discussions among students but also with the participation of people active in political life, who talk about their experience and how politics functions today. All in an ideology-free atmosphere.
REVOLTE-TOI ESPOL
“Révolte-toi Espol” is a student society which promotes Art of Oratory in association with the “French Federation of Debate”. 30 active members of “Révolte-toi Espol” are organizing exercises and training every week in order to prepare the French Cup and the World Cup.
Open to everyone, “Révolte-toi Espol” endorsed the “FFD” motto: “speakers are made, not born”.
The BDS (Sports office)
The ESPOL Sports Office is in charge of sport and physical activity. Various activities are organized regularly, including jogging, football, and skating. The BDS ESPOL also works in coordination with other sports offices as well as with the University for the promotion of sport within each institution. “Mens Sana in corpore sano” is the motto of BDS ESPOL.
UNICEF ESPOL CAMPUS CENTRE
This society is an advocacy group for children’s rights, officially launching at the start of the 2015-2016 academic year. Its primary purpose is to reach the widest possible public through advocacy and fundraising. Its initiatives take different forms according to circumstance: lectures, exhibitions, fashion shows and so on. Everyone is free to come and propose an idea. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to join us, or simply lend a hand from time to time.
Contact: Hélène Odier [email protected]
EUROPEAN CENTER
The European Centre was founded to enhance student life and foster student debate about the question of Europe. Run by an enthusiastic team with a keen interest in the challenges of EU development, the European Centre seeks to be a place of awareness, discussion, and sharing. Lectures, poster and article competitions, student debates, meetings with actors of European Union life and events in secondary schools. There’s something for everyone!
ALUMNI ESPOL
In June 2015, ESPOL celebrated its first graduating year. In May 2015 these “future alumni” took the initiative of creating an Alumni Association “Alumni ESPOL”, which they inaugurated at the end of year academic gala. Alumni ESPOL aims to network former ESPOL students and especially to maintain their links with the school. These first ESPOL graduates remain strongly attached to their school and care about its future.
Contact: [email protected]
Lille and its 87 municipalities form a cross-border, cosmopolitan and eclectic European city of more than one million inhabitants. At the crossroads of Europe, Lille is located 1 hour from Paris, 40 minutes from Brussels and 90 minutes from London by train.
Lille, a young and dynamic city
With more than 100,000 students, Lille is one of the youngest cities in France: 36% of its population is under 25. Moreover, one inhabitant out of two of the area around the Catholic University of Lille, The quartier Vauban, is under 25.
As a cultural metropolis, Lille buzzes with artistic activity: Lille Opera, Lille National Orchestra, theatres, the Ballet du Nord and many museums.
Every evening, the city proposes more than 100 different events. In addition, Lille has over 20 theatres!
A metropolis at the heart of Europe
Lille is only 1 hour far from Paris by TGV, 30 minutes from Brussels and 90 minutes from London. The city’s staunchly international outlook is reflected in the organisation of numerous events with an international scope, such as the World Forum, lille3000, the UEFA Europa League and the really famous Braderie de Lille in September that bring each year around 3 million people from all around the world and that takes its origin in the 12th century!
Architectural heritage
Listed as a city of Art and History, Lille has preserved many buildings from its past that bear witness to wide-ranging artistic influences from the Middle Ages to 19th-century industrial development. From gothic to classical, Flemish Renaissance and Art Nouveau, its untypical architecture is a delight for the eyes!
The school has 21 permanent teachers and 77 temporary teachers of all nationalities, each with different specialisations in order to provide the most advanced courses possible on the various subjects that animate the world today.
ESPOL is :
Campus size:
5500
Stand out architecture:
Eco-designed building
Number of buildings:
2
Accommodation:
17 accommodation solutions in Lille with the University
The admission process for the ESPOL Master's programme requires applicants to hold a relevant bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) or a first-year Master’s degree for second-year admission. Applicants must submit academic transcripts, a CV, a cover letter, two academic recommendations, and proof of English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS). European students apply via the Mon Master platform, while non-European students use the Études en France platform, followed by ESPOL's admission system. The selection involves eligibility checks, academic evaluation, interviews, and a final admission decision, based on academic excellence and personal motivation.
The European School of Political and Social Sciences (ESPOL) has obtained EESPIG accreditation (Établissement d'Enseignement Supérieur Privé d'Intérêt Général), a label awarded by the French government to recognise private establishments fulfilling public service missions. This accreditation underlines ESPOL's commitment to promoting accessible, high-quality, socially responsible education, while being recognised for its public service role. It also guarantees that the school operates on a not-for-profit basis, reinvesting its surpluses for the continuous improvement of its courses and academic environment.
Vauban, to the west of Lille, is a residential and student district with extensive green spaces. With 50 hectares of parks and gardens, including the Bois de Boulogne and the Parc de la Citadelle, it offers an ideal setting for nature lovers. You can take advantage of these green spaces to relax, study or play sport.
In addition to its natural assets, Vauban is also a very lively area. A wealth of shops, bars and restaurants liven up its streets, while its rich and varied community life helps to create a sense of local community. Being close to the historic centre of the city, and Lille’s main cultural institutions, like the Palais des Beaux-Arts and the Opera, makes it a great area for culture enthusiasts.
