Conflict in Ukraine: A Three-Year Long Investment in Knowledge at Sciences Po
Since March 2022, Sciences Po has been providing a sanctuary for 68 Ukrainian refugee students, offering them a chance to continue their education on its campuses in Dijon, Paris, Reims, and Nancy. These students hail from partner universities in Ukraine, specifically the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Taras Shevchenko University.
The influx of Ukrainian students is part of the "CIVICA for Ukraine" project, a European initiative that includes five Ukrainian universities. The European Commission's Erasmus+ programme has provided nearly 350,000 euros of scholarships to enable Sciences Po to welcome these students.
The project was launched in December 2022, with the aim of protecting Ukraine's academic potential and supporting higher education collaboration with EU universities after the war. Sciences Po is a participant in this alliance, a European University of Social Sciences.
In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, causing widespread turmoil in Europe and around the world. Despite the challenges, Sciences Po remains committed to supporting the Ukrainian academic community. Its researchers continue to study the conflict from an academic perspective three years after the Russian invasion.
Tuition fees for Master's degree students at Sciences Po are fully funded by donors, and an exceptional Master's admissions procedure was introduced, with substantial financial aid made available for students who were enrolled at Sciences Po at the time of the invasion.
Since January 2025, Dmytro Kuleba, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister, has been teaching a course on wartime diplomacy at the Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) to students enrolled in the Master's programs International Security and International Governance & Diplomacy.
In addition, Sciences Po professors have been teaching courses on a voluntary basis for Ukrainian students from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) since autumn 2023.
As of mid-2025, Sciences Po continues to support Ukrainian students primarily through its overall financial aid programs, offering over 19.5 million euros annually in scholarships and social support to nearly 40% of its students.
Among the generous contributors to Sciences Po's efforts are the Stanton Foundation, the Fondation Vinci pour la Cité, Eurazeo, and numerous individual donors. In 2022, Sciences Po welcomed Ukrainian researcher Ievgeniia Gubkina as part of the institutional programme PAUSE, providing her with academic affiliation, urgent housing, and administrative support.
Sciences Po's commitment to international students and strong engagement in political and conflict research indicate ongoing indirect support and scholarly attention to Ukraine and the war. While there is no explicit mention of a dedicated Ukrainian student support program or a specific Ukraine-focused research center, Sciences Po's activities suggest a continued focus on the region.
In a significant development, Sciences Po has expanded its partnership network in Ukraine with the signing of exchange partnership agreements with Taras Shevchenko University (2022) and the Kyiv School of Economics (2024).
This article provides a snapshot of Sciences Po's ongoing efforts to support Ukrainian students and researchers, offering a glimpse into the university's dedication to international education and conflict research.
Science is a part of the learning process for the Ukrainian refugee students at Sciences Po, who are provided with scholarships as part of the "CIVICA for Ukraine" project. The education-and-self-development of these students is strongly prioritized by Sciences Po, as demonstrated by the offering of courses by Sciences Po professors to students from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
