Sciences Po Rennes runs a certified center at which students can prepare for the three competitive exams of France’s National Institute of Public Service (INSP).
The INSP preparation center program is a selective degree course for students who have completed their fourth year of study at Sciences Po. Successful program participants are awarded a Master of Public Policy and their political science degree. Students who hold a Master’s degree can also enroll.
The Center also welcomes applicants from the public and private sectors who have passed the preliminary exam organized by the INSP and are enrolled in Rennes in the ‘intern’ (concours interne) or ‘third’ (troisième concours) exam preparation programs.
The Center provides excellent preparation for other high-level national, regional and hospital civil service exams, such as that of the National Institute of Territorial Studies (INET) and exams to become parliamentary administrators, advisors to regional chambers of accounts or commissioners for the armed forces.
Students in the Civil Service second-year Master’s program (M2) can choose an optional module for which they write a research paper under the supervision of a research professor on a subject related to public administration and public policy. When it is chosen in semester one, this optional module replaces two modules in the exam preparation program.
The teaching team is composed of research professors, high-level officials and members of administrative, financial and other supervisory authorities. Classes run from October to June on a full-time basis. Lectures focus on subjects included in the INSP entrance exam and include a special module on how to prepare for the INET entrance exam.
Students prepare for the entrance exams through academic learning, methodology and role play.
- SUBJECTS COVERED:
The program is divided into modules (UE) that reflect the structure of the INSP entrance exam.
- Entrance exam preparation:
- An operational study (note opérationnelle) in public law
- An operational study (note opérationnelle) in economics
- Contemporary issues
- Short questions and answers on public finances, social security, European Union related issues, international issues
- A case study on challenges of ecological and digital transitions
- Secondary entrance test preparation
- Languages (English, German, Spanish)
- Interviews
A “Prep’INET” course (UE) combines all course material focused on regional issues.
- APPROACH:
Lectures and tutorials on the dissertation or essay (note sur dossier). Additional preparation for entrance exams and secondary entrance tests is provided in the form of ‘khôlles’, or mock oral exams on various subjects. Preparation for the interview component of entrance exams is also available.
Training in writing entrance exams takes place throughout the year and includes four mock exam sessions (known as ‘galops’). Over the course of one week, students ‘sit’ the exams in real-life conditions.
Tailored preparation and individual reviews are provided for entrance exams once candidates know they have passed.
In partnership with ENS Rennes and Université de Rennes.
The INSP prepares civil servants for executive positions in various departments of the national civil service (except engineering and technical positions).
INSP graduates access a wide range of career opportunities both in France and abroad, in fields at the heart of public service, including central and peripheral ministerial services, préfectures, embassies and administrative and financial authorities.
Major entities of the national public service open to graduates include:
- Conseil d’état
- Cour des comptes and Chambres régionales des comptes
- Inspection Générale des finances
- Civil administrators
- administrative courts
- Diplomatic and consular service
The Civil Service program also provides excellent preparation for other civil service exams, including:
- the INSP entrance exam
- the INET entrance exam
- Parliamentary administrators
- Advisors to regional chambers of accounts
- Commissioners for the armed forces
- Advisors to administrative courts
- the Ecole des hautes études en santé publique exam / Hospital Director
- Director of a social healthcare establishment or medical/social establishment (D3S)
- Ecole nationale supérieure de la sécurité sociale
- Ecole nationale supérieure de la Police
- Ecole nationale d’administration pénitentiaire
- Gendarme officer
- Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure
- Banque de France
- the Direction générale des Finances publiques exam
- Customs services
- Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF)
- Office de protection des réfugiés et apatrides (OFPRA)
