According to article 2 of an 18 December 1989 decree, the mission of Institutes of Political Studies is to contribute to the training of higher civil servants as well as executives in the public, para-public and private sectors, notably in the State and decentralized communities, and to develop the research in political and administrative sciences.

[4] The academic course lasts five years, at the end of which a student graduates with the Diploma of Sciences Po Bordeaux (which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree) and with one of eighteen Masters offered by the institute.

It also proposes double degree programs with the universities of Stuttgart (Germany), Turin (Italy), Coimbra (Portugal), Madrid (Spain), Hong Kong (China), Moscow (Russia), Kingston (Jamaica) and Quebec (Canada).

[11][12] Although these institutes are more expensive than public universities in France, Grandes Écoles typically have much smaller class sizes and student bodies, and many of their programs are taught in English.

International internships, study abroad opportunities, and close ties with government and the corporate world are a hallmark of the Grandes Écoles.

Many of the top ranked schools in Europe are members of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE), as are the Sciences Po institutes.

Degrees from Sciences Po are accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles[15] and awarded by the Ministry of National Education (France) (French: Le Ministère de L'éducation Nationale).

The online registration dates for the events are usually between January and February of each academic year, the entrance exams take place between April and May.

Since 2006, with the support of the Regional Council of Aquitaine, the Rectorate of the Academy of Bordeaux and the ACSE, the institute has set up a social diversification program through an integrated preparation system in 24 secondary schools in the region of Aquitaine in order to promote access to the establishment of pupils from less favored social categories.

Because of this initiative, 30% of its students has received a scholarship of Tertiary Education, highest rate among the 9 Institutes of Political Studies in France.

During the two years of master, at least one semester is devoted to an internship, which normally lasts for 6 months to prepare students for their future career.

There are three specific preparations available for initial training (after the diploma, a bachelor's degree or a master's degree) or in continuing education (employees, civil servants): These examinations included the National School of Administration, the National Institute of Territorial Studies (INET) and the School of Higher Studies in Public Health (EHESP); IEP has developed a range of continuing education courses for elected officials, executives of public, parapublic and voluntary organizations as well as corporate executives.

In order to diversify its training offer, Bordeaux Political Institute has for several years embarked on a policy of developing a summer thematic schools .

In the recent past, these thematic schools have also strengthened a number of institutional partnerships, notably with the French Association of Political Science, the CNRS or the University of Laval.

Four new lecture halls were named after Jacques Ellul, Étienne de La Boétie, Aliénor d'Aquitaine and Simone Veil.

Other societies: a Campus Radio, Podcasts, a wine casting club, entrepreneurship association, newspapers, political groups, cultural exchange clubs, student unions, Think tanks.... A large number of former students have pursued a successful career in politics, senior civil service, media, scientific research or business in France and around the world.