From St Andrews to Paris: my semester abroad at Sciences Po
Holden is an International Relations and Sustainable Development student at the University of St Andrews who studied abroad at Sciences Po. Read on to learn more about what it is like to study at Sciences Po as a study abroad or exchange student.
Spending a semester abroad in Paris was one of the most enriching experiences of my time at university. Moving from the small, coastal town of St Andrews to a large global capital like Paris offered an exciting change of scenery but also a shift in perspective academically, socially, culturally, and personally.
For me, Paris offered a welcome change of pace and felt full of surprises. Unlike St Andrews, where everything is within 20 minutes walking distance and friends and familiar faces are everywhere, Paris was full of new people and places to explore. It felt like the perfect place for me to spend a semester, with a fantastic balance of excellent history, culture, fashion, nightlife, food, and more. I enjoyed immersing myself in the local culture and history, choosing to live with a host family who only spoke French and exploring free-for-students museums like the Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie. I visited Paris’ many cafes, patisseries, brasseries, and wine bars to get a taste of the local flavour. I particularly enjoyed seeing the city by foot, running through the Tuileries Gardens, and studying in the Luxembourg Gardens in between classes with friends. I loved how much life revolved around the simple pleasures in Paris, particularly due to the short amount of time I knew I was there for. Little things like getting a coffee and pastry before hopping on the metro to class in St. Germaine felt exciting. I reveled in walking through the neighborhood I spent every day in and challenged myself to explore a new street, park, museum, or arrondissement each day. While St Andrews feels intimate and communal, Paris pushed me to embrace a faster pace of life, take advantage of the little time I had there, and thrive in its sheer scale.
Studying at Sciences Po ws a highlight of my semester abroad. The university’s central campus placed me in the heart of the city, which made every day feel like a balance of academic rigor and cultural immersion. Classes at Sciences Po operated quite differently than my IR modules at St Andrews, with six courses a week, two of which were “core” social science modules. Sciences Po provided the opportunity to learn from accomplished and internationally educated professors, who also often had other jobs in fields related to their courses, allowing me to learn more about professions in IR I may be interested in. The academic environment was stimulating, with professors encouraging debate and classmates from around the world who brought diverse perspectives. I particularly enjoyed my classes on French civil law and transitional justice, both of which deepened my understanding of how societies navigate questions of accountability, rights, and reconciliation after conflict. These courses pushed me to think critically about justice in a global context and even informed my dissertation topic! Beyond the classroom, Sciences Po regularly hosted lectures and panels featuring policymakers, scholars, directors, and activists. Attending these events gave me the chance to connect what I was learning in class to real-world issues unfolding in Europe and beyond.
Outside of class, Paris and Sciences Po provided a number of exciting extracurriculars to get involved with. I joined the Sciences Po Nations Unies, a student-run organisation that organised conferences and embassy visits. I also joined the rowing team, a low-stakes commitment that allowed me to row on the Seine once a week! On free weekends, I traveled extensively—weekend trips to cities like Prague, Brussels, and Nice made me appreciate the connectedness of continental Europe. Of course, some of the best experiences were simply Parisian: exploring street food markets, getting lost in the Louvre, or picnicking with friends on the Champs de Mars.
Studying abroad offered an exciting challenge and change of pace, pushing me out of my comfort zone and teaching me adaptability. Paris was overwhelming at first, but learning how to navigate a new city, academic environment, and culture helped me grow in confidence. I also developed a deeper appreciation for both big-city energy and the close-knit community of St Andrews—I now see the strengths of each setting more clearly. Most importantly, I learned the value of stepping outside my comfort zone: whether it was practicing French with locals, tackling challenging courses at Sciences Po, or approaching international law from new perspectives, every challenge became a moment of growth.