ISSEP

What ISSEP does

ISSEP (Institut de Sciences Sociales, Economiques et Politiques) is a privately held French higher education institution headquartered in Paris's 1st arrondissement with a secondary location in Lyon. It is positioned as "l'autre école de science politique," explicitly marketing itself as an ideological alternative to Sciences-Po and attracting students, professionals, and political staffers seeking curricula with traditional and intellectually heterodox framing. The school offers a portfolio of five educational programs: a three-year Bachelor in political science and project management (BAC+1 to BAC+3), a two-year Magistère at master's level (BAC+4 to BAC+5), a one-year evening professional training program for elected officials' collaborators, and two continuing education modules (Communication and Management). A dedicated research arm, CAP (Centre d'Action Politique), publishes political analysis, and an alumni network, "Le Club," provides job postings, internships, and professional connections for students and graduates. Faculty includes credentialed academics and senior public figures such as Dr. Patrick Louis (President of the scientific council), General Frédéric Beth (former Inspecteur Général des Armées), and Dr. Yves-Marie Adeline.

ISSEP generates revenue primarily through tuition fees across its degree and continuing education programs, supplemented by donations collected via its website — the institution explicitly states it receives no public funding. There is no publicly disclosed pricing; the model is one-time tuition payments per program plus a recurring donation stream. The go-to-market is a mix of sales-led recruitment through the school's website, event-driven open days (primarily in Lyon), and a community-led referral channel via Le Club alumni. The school maintains an active social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn, hosts an annual Gala (4th edition held at Abbaye Paul Bocuse), and stages external conferences to reinforce its brand within a politically defined niche. The school holds Qualiopi certification for training actions, supports iOS and Android mobile applications, and is operationally active, with enrollment open for the 2026 academic year and a new municipal-election intensive training program launched in Lyon in early 2025 to address the 2026 election cycle.

Name

ISSEP

Legal name

Institut de Sciences Sociales, Economiques et Politiques

Website

https://issep.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISSEP is a private French higher education institution in Paris offering Bachelor, Magistère, and continuing education programs in political science and project management, serving students and political professionals as an ideological alternative to Sciences-Po.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Political Science Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project, Program & Portfolio Management Certifications (EDAAANAB)

Keywords

• Political science education
• Higher education programs
• Project management training
• Professional training programs
• Continuing education modules

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Bachelor tuition fees: Three-year undergraduate program (BAC+1 to BAC+3) in political science and project management. Revenue generated from student tuition payments.
2. Magistère tuition fees: Two-year graduate program (BAC+4 and BAC+5) in political science and project management. Revenue from tuition fees for students who have completed BAC+3.
3. Professional training (Collaborateurs d'élus): One-year professional training program in evening classes for students with a licence (BAC+3) or working professionals. Revenue from professional development tuition.
4. Continuing education modules: Short-term modules in Communication and Management for professionals, including electoral campaign training. Revenue from module-based training fees.
5. Donations: The school explicitly states it receives no public funding and relies on donations to support its development. Donations are collected through the website.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ISSEP is a private higher education institution that delivers degree and professional training programs in political science and project management. Its portfolio includes a three-year Bachelor (BAC+1 to BAC+3), a two-year Magistère (BAC+4 and BAC+5), a one-year evening program for elected officials' staff (Collaborateurs d'élus), and continuing education modules in Communication and Management. It also runs CAP, its research and political analysis pole, and Le Club, an alumni network.

Product overview

ISSEP (Institut de Sciences Sociales, Economiques et Politiques) is a private higher education institution offering a portfolio of five distinct educational programs. The core offerings include a three-year Bachelor in political science and project management, a two-year Magistère (master's level), and a one-year professional training program for elected officials' collaborators. The institution also provides continuing education through two specialized modules: Communication (covering electoral campaigns) and Management. Additionally, the CAP (Centre d'Action Politique) serves as ISSEP's research and think tank division. Together, these programs prepare students for leadership roles in both private enterprise and public affairs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAP: Le CAP is the research pole of ISSEP
• Le Club

Products and services

• Bachelor Science politique et management de projet

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% employability one year after graduation for magistère graduates
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Université Paris-Dauphine: Paris-based university specializing in management, economics, and applied social sciences (including political science-adjacent programs). Comparable as a higher education competitor in the same Paris geography targeting similar students.
• HEC Paris: France's top-ranked business school. Although broader in scope (business/management focus rather than political science), HEC competes with ISSEP for the same high-achieving French students preparing for executive careers in business and public affairs.
• ESSEC Business School: Major French grande école with a management curriculum and campuses in the Paris region. Comparable as a private higher education competitor targeting the same French pre-bac and bac+3 student pool.

Direct peers

• Sciences Po: The dominant French political science higher education institution, explicitly named by ISSEP as the establishment alternative it positions against. Both schools offer undergraduate and graduate programs in political science preparing students for public affairs careers.
• IESEG School of Management: Private French business school with campuses in Lille and Paris, offering bachelor and master programs. Comparable as a private, tuition-funded higher education institution competing for similar French and international students.
• Paris School of Business (PSB): Paris-based private business school offering bachelor, master, and MBA programs with a management focus. Comparable as a similarly sized private French higher education competitor in the same city.
• Sciences Po Lyon (IEP de Lyon): Regional Institut d'Études Politiques located in the same city as ISSEP's Lyon office, offering a comparable political science curriculum. Direct overlap in geography and program content, particularly for students in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
• INSEEC U. (formerly INSEEC): Large private French higher education group offering bachelor and master programs in business, management, and political science-adjacent fields. Closely comparable as a private, tuition-funded French higher education business model.
• Sciences Po Strasbourg (IEP de Strasbourg): Another regional IEP in the Sciences Po network, offering bachelor and master-level political science programs. Comparable in curriculum focus, target student segment, and outcome positioning.
• Sciences Po Grenoble (IEP de Grenoble): Regional IEP offering political science and international studies programs. Comparable as a public-sector political science peer competing for the same pool of French bac+3 students considering private vs. public alternatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISSEP_France
• Facebookfacebook.com/IssepFrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-des-sciences-sociales-economiques-et-politiques
• Instagraminstagram.com/issep.france

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ISSEP