Which master's specialisation suits a BA graduate in Political Science applying to France?

A Political Science BA supports several genuinely different Master's directions in France, so the real decision is about which career world you want to enter, not whether you are academically qualified, since you are qualified for most of these.

Matching the Masters to Your Career Goal

• Diplomacy, international organisations or NGOs: International Relations or International Affairs is the safest, most natural progression from a Political Science BA.
• Specifically EU institutions, Brussels or Paris based careers: European Studies or EU Affairs is a sharper, more targeted choice given you are already applying to France.
• Government, consulting or think tanks: Public Policy or Public Administration suits candidates who do not necessarily want to become diplomats.
• NGOs, humanitarian work or sustainability: International Development, strengthened if you also bring some economics or statistics background.

What to Watch Out For

Do not assume the programme must be literally titled Political Science; French universities frequently run interdisciplinary Master's programmes where Political Science graduates are a strong fit even when the course name suggests otherwise. Also be careful with anything titled International Law, since that can require an actual law degree, unlike programmes such as Human Rights or International Relations and Human Rights.

This Information Is Also Available On

Campus France, the official French national agency, for its Etudes en France application procedure and the Mon Master application step for international students.

My Advice

India is covered by France's official Etudes en France procedure, so route your application through that process rather than treating it like a domestic French application; language requirements, deadlines and eligible programmes differ substantially by university, and starting your shortlist early matters more here than in most other destinations.