ESPOL Master’s admission procedure

How to apply

1. Choose your preferred master’s programme
2. Review the eligibility and admission criteria 
3. Take a language test (or provide results from a recent test; see below)
4. Ask 2 former professors for reference letters, make sure to do this early enough to ensure your referees have enough time to reply.
5. Create your account and submit your application through the admission platform: https://espaceadmission.univ-catholille.fr/
6. Upload the required documents onto the admission platform
7. When accepted, complete your registration on https://espaceadmission.univ-catholille.fr/ 

EU/EEA applicants admission procedure: 

1. Calendar

Applications will be reviewed in rounds, twice a year

International/non-EU applicants admission procedure: 

• starting from 1st of December 2020 through Campus France. 

2. Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for admission, students are required to submit:

• an undergraduate level degree (180 ECTS or equivalent) at the time of entry to ESPOL. In principle, the ESPOL masters are open to all disciplinary backgrounds but previous courses in political sciences will be appreciated. Additional classes can be imposed for students without political science background.
  • a Master level degree for countries in which universities do not award undergraduate qualifications;
• A personal statement in English. Personal statements explain your interest in the study programme and its aims.
• A CV in English;
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions previously attended (including exchange programmes).;
• Proof of English language proficiency through one of the following completed tests (proof of registration for a test is not enough):
  • TOEFL – 80 iBT or 550 PBT or 60 PDF
  • IELTS Academic – 6.0
  • PTE Academic – 54
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – grade C
  • TOEIC – 785

A language test is not required for native English speakers or students with a undergraduate/graduate degree in English.

• Two academic references, in English or French

Please do not add extra documents to your application beyond those listed above.

Incomplete applications or application received after 31 May 2021 (23:59 CEST) will not be considered.

3. Admission criteria

Several criteria are taken into account for the evaluation of the admission

• Academic excellence: academic background and results.
• Professional experience, including internships and public engagement.
• Future plans and motivation, as explained in your personal statement
• Personal background.

4. Procedure

The ESPOL Master admission procedure is supervised by the Admission Committee. The Admission Committee is led by the Programmes Directors and is composed of four academic members of ESPOL, The Admission Committee meets twice a year. The Admission Committee is supported in its tasks by the Admission Officer.

The standard procedure of admission at ESPOL involves 4 phases:

• the eligibility phase: the eligibility of the candidate is checked by the Admission Officer. Eligibility status is communicated with the candidates by the Admission Officer as soon as possible through the admission platform.
• the evaluation phase: desk-based evaluation of eligible candidates by two academic members of ESPOL, appointed by the Admission Committee, and following the admission criteria described above. Based on this double evaluation, the Admission Committee decides on the admission of the candidate to the interview phase.
• the interview phase: candidates accepted to the interview phase are invited (by email) to an interview with one of the members of the Admission Committee. The interviews take place on Skype or face-to-face in Lille.
• the admission decision: based on the results of the evaluation and the interviews, the Admission Committee decides upon the admission of the candidates. A candidate can be rejected or accepted. Final decisions of the Committee are communicated to the admission officer, who shares the individual decisions with the candidates by email and through the admission platform.

5. After the admission

• Accepted candidates get an official acceptance letter by email. They are given a four (4) week registration deadline. While enrolment may still be possible once the registration deadline has passed, ESPOL only guarantees enrolment to candidates registered by the deadline.
• Rejected candidates get an official rejection letter by email.
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6. Appeal procedure

Candidates can appeal the decision of the Admission Committee by addressing a written statement within four weeks following the date of decision. Appeal will be considered by the Admission Committee during their next following meeting. Appeals brought later than four weeks following the date of initial decision will not be considered.