Secret Encounters: Inside France's Elite Spy Training at Sciences Po

At Sciences Po Saint-Germain, a campus on the outskirts of Paris, an unusual educational program trains France’s next generation of spies. Professor Xavier Crettiez, leading the course, admits he seldom knows the real identities of his students, a fact that highlights the discreet nature of their profession. The program, officially known as the Diploma of Intelligence and Global Threats, started in collaboration with the Academie du Renseignement following France’s 2015 terrorist attacks, aiming to bolster the ranks of the French intelligence services.

This unique course spans 120 hours over four months and is particularly attractive to both aspiring spies and corporate security professionals, costing around €5,000. Curriculum topics cover critical issues such as organized crime, Islamic terrorism, and political violence, emphasizing the identification and management of threats.

In the classroom, students mix backgrounds, with ages ranged from early twenties to mid-forties. Those attending include current intelligence agents—easily identifiable as they tend to cluster together—but the younger cohort represents a growing interest in intelligence roles, with recent increases in female students. A 21-year-old student, Alexandre Hubert, and others express motivations to understand global conflicts and national security from a perspective beyond Hollywood’s depiction of espionage.

As the French secret services expand, with approximately 20,000 agents now operating, interest from private sectors—especially in cybersecurity and defense—is intensifying, as firms seek graduates to counter threats in a high-stakes landscape. Oddly enough, even as the appeal of working in intelligence grows, professors like Crettiez stress that few will experience the action-packed lifestyles depicted in spy films; most roles are primarily desk-based. Students must be French citizens to apply, further underscoring the course’s national significance in strengthening France’s intelligence capabilities.

In a summary of their motivations, there is a palpable sense of patriotism and a desire to pull back from modern security threats. However, the professor remains vigilant, noting that not every application may come with pure intentions—especially from international recruits—indicating the delicate balance of training in such a sensitive field.