Sciences Po Aix
Sciences Po Aix is a French public Grande École founded in 1956 in Aix-en-Provence, offering a five-year Master's-level diploma, eight Master's tracks, and specialized programs including an intelligence studies chair, serving roughly 1,800 undergraduate, graduate, continuing-education, and international students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersAix-en-provence, France
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sciences Po Aix does
Sciences Po Aix is a French public higher education institution (Établissement public d'enseignement supérieur) founded by decree on 27 March 1956 in Aix-en-Provence and operated under the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. It functions as a Grande École in the humanities and social sciences, member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles and founding member of the Réseau ScPo (seven elite IEPs). Its core portfolio comprises a five-year Diplôme (Bac+5, Master's-level) across four tracks (general, Franco-German, Air and Space School, continuing education); a Licence d'Administration Publique delivered in apprenticeship mode; eight Master's programs with 15 specializations; a Mastère Spécialisé Renseignement housed within the Chaire Renseignement; and CPAG preparatory classes producing ~90 civil-service laureates annually. Supporting products include 14 in-house certificates, custom short courses, VAE validation, and three international programs (CEP, PEPA, PEPS).
Underlying technology is limited and conventional: the WordPress-based website sciencespo-aix.fr, an Equinox digital campus portal (equinox.sciencespo-aix.fr), a candidature/inscription portal, the Brussels' World Simulation serious-game platform (bws-game.eu) created in 2018 for EU legislative simulation, and Matomo analytics. The 1,800-student institution operates three Aix-en-Provence sites (Saporta, Marceau Long, Philippe Séguin) supported by a teaching/administrative core of roughly 124 staff plus 450 part-time instructors and 49 doctoral researchers.
Revenue is diversified across government channels (Ministry of Higher Education and Research; Conseil Régional Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur; Conseil Général des Bouches-du-Rhône), student tuition and CVEC fees, corporate patronage underwriting the Chaire Renseignement (including a major French space group's defense and security executive), apprenticeship/alternance contracts, continuing-education unit-pricing, and event sponsorship (NATO, Ministère des Armées). The go-to-market motion combines competitive entrance examinations (concours) at years 1, 2, and 4, an annual Open Day, and recruitment via 25 lycée partner schools domestically plus 142 partner universities across 42 countries internationally.
Sciences Po Aix firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sciences Po Aix
- Legal name
- Sciences Po Aix
- Website
- https://sciencespo-aix.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Sciences Po Aix is a French public Grande École founded in 1956 in Aix-en-Provence, offering a five-year Master's-level diploma, eight Master's tracks, and specialized programs including an intelligence studies chair, serving roughly 1,800 undergraduate, graduate, continuing-education, and international students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sciences Po Aix industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)
Keywords
Where Sciences Po Aix is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aix-en-provence
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Sciences Po Aix business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Higher Education Funding: As a public higher education institution established in 1956, Sciences Po Aix receives government funding through the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, as well as regional council support from Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur and Bouches-du-Rhone department.
- Tuition and Registration Fees: Students pay tuition fees including the Contribution a la Vie Etudiante et de Campus (CVEC). Fees vary by program and student status. Continuing education programs and professional certificates generate additional revenue.
- Corporate Patronage and Sponsorship (Chaire Renseignement): The Intelligence Chair is primarily funded through corporate patronage. Corporate sponsors receive privileged access to research activities and events. This represents a significant funding stream for specialized programs.
- Training and Professional Education: Revenue from continuing education programs, short courses, custom training, VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Experience), and preparation courses for administrative competitions generate income from professional learners and organizations.
- Apprenticeship and Alternance Programs: Partnerships with public and private sector employers for work-study programs generate revenue through alternating training contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard student contribution for university life and campus |
| Subscription | Annual | Master's degree programs (Bac+5 level) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Continuing education and short courses |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Intelligence Studies programs (Certificat and Mastere Specialise) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sciences Po Aix product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sciences Po Aix is a French public Grande École delivering higher education programs in humanities and social sciences, including a 5-year Diploma (Bac+5), national Master's degrees, the Mastère Spécialisé Renseignement, CPAG civil-service preparatory classes, international study programs (CEP, PEPA, PEPS), continuing education certificates, and Validation of Acquired Experience pathways. It also operates specialized academic units such as the Chaire Renseignement intelligence chair and the Brussels World Simulation pedagogical platform.
Product overview
Sciences Po Aix is a public higher education institution (Grande École) founded in 1956, offering a portfolio of programs across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels. Its core product is the five-year Diplôme de Sciences Po Aix (Bac+5, Master's-level), accessible by competitive entrance exam, alongside national degrees including a Licence d'Administration Publique and a suite of Masters programs. The institution also delivers specialized professional programs — notably the Mastère Spécialisé Renseignement (through its Intelligence Chair), CPAG civil-service preparatory classes, and continuing education certificates. For international audiences, it runs the CEP, PEPA, and PEPS programs. Unique pedagogical offerings include the Brussels' World Simulation (BWS) serious-game platform simulating EU legislative processes for master-level students, and the Chaire Renseignement bringing together academia, intelligence services, and business. A 2025 citizen convention addressed generative AI in education. The institution does not operate a commercial software product but provides educational services and platforms including a digital campus (Equinox).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Diplôme de Sciences Po Aix (5-year Degree) A five-year pluridisciplinary higher education diploma (Bac+5, Master's level) in humanities and social sciences covering general culture, sociology, political science, law, economics, international relations, history, foreign languages, and methodology. Entry by competitive exam at 1st, 2nd, or 4th year. For prospective undergraduates and continuing-education students seeking leadership preparation.
- Licence d'Administration Publique (Bachelor of Public Administration) A national Licence (Bachelor's) degree in public administration delivered in apprenticeship mode, offered as a national diploma through Aix-Marseille Université.
- Masters Programs A portfolio of national Master's degrees (Bac+5) with 8 course types and 15 specialization options, combining advanced knowledge in humanities and social sciences with methodological training, professional integration, internships, and career guidance.
- Mastère Spécialisé Renseignement (Specialized Master in Intelligence) A one-year specialized program (Bac+6) training senior executives in all aspects of intelligence studies, combining 434 hours of theoretical teaching (history, institutional/legal framework, scientific bases of technical intelligence, geopolitics, human intelligence, economic intelligence) with practitioner interventions, a 4-month internship, and a professional thesis. Run through the Chaire Renseignement.
- CPAG – Prépas Concours Administratifs Preparatory classes for French civil-service entrance competitions, with five programs producing approximately 90 laureates per year.
- Continuing Education Programs Continuing education offerings for working professionals and career changers, including the Sciences Po Aix diploma in continuing education, 14 establishment certificates, professional certificates, custom short courses, and Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE).
- Brussels' World Simulation (BWS) A sophisticated pedagogical serious-game platform created in 2018 for master-level students to simulate EU legislative decision-making processes over 10 weeks each year. 150-200 students role-play as Commission, Parliament, Council, NGOs, third countries, lobbies, think tanks, and media to adopt EU regulations or directives on annual themes.
- CEP – Certificat d'Études Politiques A certificate program for international students providing condensed political studies coursework at Sciences Po Aix.
- PEPA – Programme d'Études Politiques Annuel An annual international study program at Sciences Po Aix for international students seeking a full academic year of political studies.
- PEPS – Programme d'Études Politiques Semestriel A semester-length international policy studies program at Sciences Po Aix for visiting international students.
- Chaire Renseignement (Intelligence Chair) A unique French academic chair operating across three axes: training (Specialized Master in Intelligence and Certificate on Intelligence Studies), research (multidisciplinary applied programs, doctoral sessions, seminars, colloquia), and outreach (workshops, summer school, publications). Funded primarily through corporate patronage.
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% professional integration rate within 2 years of graduation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Sciences Po Aix
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Sciences Po Aix technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Sciences Po Aix partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Aix-Marseille UniversitecoreSciences Po Aix is linked to Aix-Marseille Universite by convention, cooperating in research, education, and innovation. The Director of Sciences Po Aix also serves as president of the CRGE PACA. This partnership provides institutional framework, shared resources, and academic recognition.
- Reseau ScPo (Sciences Po Network)coreSciences Po Aix is a founding member of the Reseau ScPo which groups seven elite political studies institutes: Sciences Po Aix, Lille, Lyon, Rennes, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. The network enables student exchanges, joint programs, and collaborative initiatives among France's premier IEP institutions.
- Conference des Grandes Ecoles (CGE)coreSciences Po Aix is a member of CGE which represents 235 elite French grandes ecoles including engineering, management, architecture, political science, journalism, military schools, and health veterinary schools. Membership provides institutional recognition and network access.
- Fondation A*MidexmajorSciences Po Aix is a founding member of the A*Midex foundation, a major institutional initiative supporting excellence in higher education and research in the Aix-Marseille region.
- IMera - Institut d'Etudes AvanceesmajorSciences Po Aix partners with IMera for advanced research initiatives, hosting visiting scholars and participating in interdisciplinary programs in arts, Mediterranean studies, and necessary utopias.
- 142 International Partner UniversitiescoreSciences Po Aix maintains international agreements with 142 universities across 42 countries on 5 continents, including partnerships with institutions such as University of Cambridge, Freie Universitat Berlin, University of Bologna, Waseda University, and many others enabling student mobility and academic exchange.
- Ecole de l'Air et de l'EspacemajorBased in Salon-de-Provence, the Air and Space School provides complementary engineering expertise for Sciences Po Aix's specialized Franco-German and intelligence tracks. The two institutions collaborate on the 'Parcours Ecole de l'air' within the diploma program.
- Centre Franco-Allemand de ProvencemajorFounded on Aix-Tubingen city twinning, the center organizes Franco-German cultural events and supports the Forum Franco-Allemand de la Mediterranee. It provides German language instruction and cultural programming complementary to Sciences Po Aix's Franco-German track.
- NATOmajorNATO supports the annual International Security Colloquium on Southern European Borders as a key event partner, bringing together diplomats, military officials, and academics to discuss Mediterranean security challenges.
- Ministere des Armees (French Ministry of Armed Forces)majorCo-sponsor of the annual International Security Colloquium, bringing military perspective and expertise to discussions on southern European border security.
- Metropole d'Aix-Marseille-ProvenceminorUrban metropolis area partner supporting the International Security Colloquium and regional institutional initiatives.
- GIS Euro-LabmajorAcademic consortium supporting the Brussels World Simulation with research expertise and institutional collaboration on European studies.
- Fondation Robert SchumanminorEuropean studies foundation supporting the Brussels World Simulation with expertise and educational resources on EU policy.
- POLITICOminorEuropean policy media partner for the Brussels World Simulation providing journalistic perspective and media coverage for the simulation program.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sciences Po Aix competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sciences Po Rennes: Réseau ScPo member with the standard 5-year IEP diploma, Master's programs, and international partnerships. Comparable in mission, size, and delivery model to Sciences Po Aix.
- Sciences Po Toulouse: Southern-French IEP within the Réseau ScPo offering the same Sciences Po diploma, Master's tracks, and continuing education programs. Competes with Sciences Po Aix in the southern France student market.
- Sciences Po Paris: The flagship Institut d'Études Politiques and the reference institution within the same Réseau ScPo as Sciences Po Aix. Both deliver the same 5-year Sciences Po diploma and Master's portfolio, share the Sciences Po brand, and compete for the same pool of French bac+2 entrants and international students.
- Sciences Po Strasbourg: Réseau ScPo member offering the same 5-year IEP diploma plus a strong European and Franco-German focus, directly overlapping with Sciences Po Aix's Franco-German track and European/international relations specializations.
- Sciences Po Lille: A fellow founding member of the Réseau ScPo and the most direct regional peer, delivering the same IEP curriculum, Master's programs, and competitive entrance exam in northern France. Directly comparable in scale, structure, and target student profile to Sciences Po Aix.
- Sciences Po Lyon: Another member of the Réseau ScPo with a 5-year IEP diploma, multiple Master's tracks, and international exchange networks. Functions as a near-identical regional competitor to Sciences Po Aix for the same prospective students across France.
Emerging players
- IRIS (Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques): French think tank and executive-education provider in international relations, defense, and security. Comparable to Sciences Po Aix's intelligence and security programs in subject matter and professional audience, though delivered primarily as executive training rather than degree programs.
- EGE (École de Guerre Économique): French private school specializing in economic intelligence, strategic intelligence, and influence, with corporate-sponsored programs. Overlaps meaningfully with Sciences Po Aix's Chaire Renseignement and intelligence-studies offerings, particularly for working-professional learners.
Broad incumbents
- INALCO (Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales): Public French higher-education institution focused on languages, international relations, and area studies. Overlaps with Sciences Po Aix in international relations, foreign language, and area-studies offerings, though it specializes in language/civilization instruction rather than political science.
- Université Paris-Dauphine: Paris-based public university specializing in organizational sciences, economics, and management with strong Master's programs and apprenticeship routes. Comparable as a French public higher-education institution serving a similar professional-track bac+5 student base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sciences Po Aix social profiles
Digital presenceSciences Po Aix financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sciences Po Aix leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Sciences Po Aix funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sciences Po Aix M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sciences Po Aix
What does Sciences Po Aix do?
Sciences Po Aix is a French public Grande École delivering higher education programs in humanities and social sciences, including a 5-year Diploma (Bac+5), national Master's degrees, the Mastère Spécialisé Renseignement, CPAG civil-service preparatory classes, international study programs (CEP, PEPA, PEPS), continuing education certificates, and Validation of Acquired Experience pathways. It also operates specialized academic units such as the Chaire Renseignement intelligence chair and the Brussels World Simulation pedagogical platform.
Is Sciences Po Aix a public or private company?
Sciences Po Aix is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Sciences Po Aix founded?
Sciences Po Aix was founded in 1956.
Where is Sciences Po Aix based?
Sciences Po Aix is headquartered in Aix-en-provence, France, in the Europe region.
How does Sciences Po Aix make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Public Higher Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are tuition and Registration Fees, corporate Patronage and Sponsorship (Chaire Renseignement), training and Professional Education and apprenticeship and Alternance Programs.
Who are Sciences Po Aix's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sciences Po Rennes, Sciences Po Toulouse, Sciences Po Paris, Sciences Po Strasbourg, Sciences Po Lille and Sciences Po Lyon. Emerging players are IRIS (Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques) and EGE (École de Guerre Économique). Broad incumbents are INALCO (Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales) and Université Paris-Dauphine.
Does Sciences Po Aix have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sciences Po Aix.
What industry is Sciences Po Aix in?
Sciences Po Aix's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAB, Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities, with a secondary code of EDAAALAE, Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD). Its NAICS code is 61131 and its SIC code is 8200.