UBC, University Sciences Po To Launch First Dual Degrees for Undergraduates

University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia has partnered with renowned French university Sciences Po (l’Institut d’études politiques de Paris) to launch its first international undergraduate dual degree programs. Students can now pursue a four-year dual Bachelor of Arts or dual Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce, studying two years at each institution and earning degrees from both.

“We’re proud to partner with Sciences Po, one of Europe’s most distinguished universities, one with a long tradition of leadership education,” said Janet Giltrow Senior Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts. “We’re proud to bring to this partnership Arts’ tradition of student participation in research culture and community-based inquiry.”

The first cohort of dual BA students began the program in September and is studying at three of Sciences Po’s seven campuses. The dual BCom program offered by UBC’s Sauder School of Business begins in September 2014.

“Sauder provides students with transformational international experiences that open them to new perspectives and opportunities,” said Brian Bemmels, Senior Associate Dean at Sauder. “This partnership with Sciences Po, gives students immersive experiences equipping them for careers in the global marketplace.”

Sciences Po is a research-intensive and internationally focused university, highly regarded for educating new leaders. UBC’s dual degrees are the first undergraduate programs to be offered by Sciences Po with a Canadian university. New York’s Columbia University is the only other North American institution to offer a similar dual degree with Sciences Po.

“This program is an amazing opportunity to study two regions of the world I’m most interested in at two top-tier institutions,” said Vukasin Potic, an international student in the dual BA program from Belgrade, Serbia. “At Sciences Po, I’m focusing on the Middle East, one of the most dynamic regions in the world, and UBC is renowned for its work on the Asia-Pacific region.”

Background:
Overview of programs
Students in both dual programs study for the first two years in France and complete their degrees with two years at UBC’s Vancouver campus. Fluency in French is not required. Upon graduation, students will be automatically eligible to enter a master’s program of their choice at Sciences Po.

Dual BA program: In addition to courses related to a specialization in history, political science, or economics, students take courses team-taught by Sciences Po and UBC faculty, designed to enrich the international and collaborative character of both degrees.

Dual BA and BCom program: Students will gain insight into global business practices through firsthand exposure to the economic environments of Europe and North America. At the conclusion of the program they will earn a BCom from the Sauder School of Business and a BA from Sciences Po.