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France trains next generation of spies at Sciences Po
A Paris university has become an unlikely hub for intelligence training, mixing ordinary students with undercover agents in a unique diploma program. Professor Xavier Crettiez, who leads the course, admits he often doesn't know the real identities of his pupils.
The discreet campus
Sciences Po Saint-Germain, on the outskirts of Paris, offers an unassuming setting for a spy school. Its early 20th-century buildings, surrounded by busy roads and imposing metal gates, exude secrecy. The university's Diplôme sur le Renseignement et les Menaces Globales (Diploma of Intelligence and Global Threats) brings together traditional students in their early 20s and active members of France's intelligence services, typically aged 35 to 50.
A decade of growth after terror attacks
The program was developed a decade ago at the request of French authorities, following the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. The government launched a major recruitment drive for intelligence agencies and asked Sciences Po to create a course to train new spies and upskill existing agents. The Académie du Renseignement, the training arm of France's secret services, collaborated on the curriculum.
Private companies quickly took interest, sending security staff to the course and hiring its younger graduates. The diploma consists of 120 hours of classwork over four months, costing external students-including spies and corporate placements-around €5,000 ($5,900; £4,400).
Curriculum: From jihadism to corporate espionage
The course focuses on identifying and countering global threats. Key topics include the economics of organized crime, Islamic jihadism, business intelligence, and political violence. Lecturers include a former DGSE (France's foreign intelligence agency) official who served in Moscow, a former French ambassador to Libya, and a senior Tracfin (anti-money laundering) official. The head of security at energy giant EDF also teaches a module.
Professor Crettiez, who specializes in political radicalization, notes a significant expansion in France's intelligence services. He estimates around 20,000 agents work in the "inner circle," comprising the DGSE (France's equivalent of MI6 or the CIA) and the DGSI (domestic intelligence, akin to MI5 or the FBI). However, threats extend beyond terrorism.
"There are the two main security agencies, but also Tracfin, which specializes in money laundering. It's preoccupied with the surge in mafia activity, especially in southern France, including corruption in public and private sectors driven by illegal drug profits."
Xavier Crettiez, Professor at Sciences Po
Classroom dynamics: Spies and students
This year's class has 28 students, including six active intelligence agents. The spies stand out-they cluster together during breaks and avoid engagement. One agent, speaking on condition of anonymity, describes the course as a "fast-track stepping stone" for promotion from office work to field operations. Another appreciates the academic environment, calling it a source of fresh ideas. All agents sign attendance sheets with only their first names.
Younger students, like 21-year-old Alexandre Hubert, seek a deeper understanding of economic tensions between Europe and China. "James Bond's glamour is irrelevant," he says. "The real job is about analyzing risk and counteracting it." Valentine Guillot, also 21, was inspired by the French TV spy drama Le Bureau. "This course opened my eyes to a world I only knew from fiction," she says. "Now I'm eager to join the security services."
Nearly half the class is female, a shift from past decades. Sébastien-Yves Laurent, a lecturer specializing in technology and espionage, notes that women's interest in intelligence is relatively new. "They see it as a way to make the world better," he says. "Patriotism is a common thread among these students-something rare 20 years ago."
Strict entry rules and suspicions
French citizenship is mandatory for applicants, though dual citizens are occasionally accepted. Professor Crettiez remains cautious. "I regularly receive applications from very impressive Israeli and Russian women with stellar CVs," he says. "Unsurprisingly, they're rejected immediately."
A recent class photo revealed the spies' wariness-they turned their backs to the camera. While the agents and students appear fit and disciplined, Crettiez dispels the myth of James Bond-style adventure. "Most intelligence jobs are desk-bound," he clarifies. "Few recruits end up in the field."
Private sector demand surges
Corporate interest in the diploma continues to grow. Defense and aerospace firms, as well as luxury brands, hire graduates to counter cybersecurity threats and sabotage. Recent alumni have joined companies like telecom operator Orange, aerospace giant Thales, and LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton, Dior, Dom Pérignon, and Krug.
