Sciences Po has chosen its longstanding academic partner, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, to launch its first Dual Degree program in India. Sciences Po is a world-leading university in social sciences located in Paris, ranked No. 3 globally for international relations and politics by QS rankings 2023, and the Alma Mater of all the French Presidents since the 1980s, including Emmanuel Macron. TISS is a prestigious institution based in Mumbai, renowned in India for its leadership in social sciences education, research, and advocacy.

Delivered over two years in English, the Dual Master’s degree concentrates on international urban development issues. The first year is taught in Paris within the Master's program Governing the Large Metropolis (GLM) at Sciences Po's Urban School, and the second year at the School of Habitat Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai. At the end of the 2 years, the successful students will be awarded two Master’s degrees, one from Sciences Po and one from TISS.

Sukriti Issar, Academic Director of the Dual Degree Program in Global Urban Development at Sciences Po, said: “Graduates of this double degree will be uniquely placed to analyze different urban contexts, to propose novel solutions to urban problems, and to have an interdisciplinary foundation in urban policy and governance”.

Manjula Bharathy, Academic Director of the Dual Degree Program at TISS, added: “It is the only global program that will grant a Dual Degree in Urban Development with training in India and Europe. It offers students an extraordinary opportunity to be trained in two of the world's most dynamic metropolitan areas, Mumbai and Paris, each a vast laboratory for urbanism, and sharing many of the key challenges of cities today”.

The curriculum ensures that the students develop substantial work experience alongside their academic journey. At Sciences Po, they must complete a collective group project with an external partner organization. Every year, local authorities, companies, institutions, NGOs, and consultancy firms submit real work cases to Sciences Po students. A study trip to an international metropolis is also organized for students to grasp the area's economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues and meet local stakeholders. In the second year at TISS, the professional immersion takes place through internships in policy practices or on-the-ground urban studios in Mumbai.

After graduation, Indian students will have the opportunity to pursue a career in France as they will be eligible for a 2-year post-study visa (APS), but they can choose to work in India or any region of the world. The Urban School has connections with urban professionals and research groups around the globe, including in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Mexico City, Istanbul, Cairo, Manila, Mumbai, New Delhi, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Jakarta, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Nairobi, and Johannesburg amongst others.

Students will pay the tuition fees of Sciences Po during their first year of study and the fees of the School of Habitat Studies at TISS during the program's second year. Funding opportunities are available for the first year: the Charpak Scholarship, run by the French Embassy; the RD Sethna Loan Scholarship by the RD Sethna Scholarship Fund; and the We Make Scholars Loan Scholarship.

Interested students in the Dual Degree program in Global Urban Development between Sciences Po and TISS have until April 7, 2024, to submit their application on Sciences Po’s website. They are also welcome to contact Sciences Po’s office in India for personal guidance on their application.

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE