WHAT STUDYING IN GENEVA LOOKS LIKE
In this article, you will discover some useful facts about the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, located in Geneva, Switzerland.
The different buildings composing the university are known by the name of “petals”. This is because of their particular architecture, which mirrors the shape of that part of the flowers.
FAST FACTS
- Founded in 1927
- Subjects covered: arts, sciences, and humanities organized in different master programs, either disciplinary or interdisciplinary, and PhDs.
- Programs: 2 interdisciplinary master programs, 5 master programs, 6 disciplinary PhDs.
- The Graduate Institute is the oldest school in the field of international affairs in continental Europe.
- The Graduate Institute boasts acclaimed alumni and faculty, including one former UN Secretary-General, 7 Nobel Prize recipients, a Pulitzer Prize winner, numerous ambassadors, foreign ministers, and heads of state.
FAMOUS ALUMNI
- Kofi Annan – former secretary-general of the United Nations and 2001 Nobel Peace Prize recipient
- Rafael Grossi – Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency
- Leonid Hurwicz – Polish American economist and mathematician, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 2007
- Micheline Calmy—Rey – Foreign Minister of Switzerland
- Philipp Hildebrand – Former president of the Swiss National Bank
FEES & FINANCIAL AID
The fees for non-resident students amount to CHF 8,000 per year. If you are a resident, this lowers to CHF 5,000 per year.
The Graduate Institute offers financial aid. This can materialize through a tuition fee reduction, or a partial or a full scholarship.
You can read more about financial aid and specific scholarships here
There is also the chance to get employed by the institute as a teaching assistant, a research assistant, or as part of the administrative staff of the Institute.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Deadlines for disciplinary masters and PhDs:
- Early-bird deadline: 15 November
- Regular Deadline: 15 January
- Late admission deadline: 1 March
Deadlines for interdisciplinary master programs:
- Regular deadline: 15 January
- Late admission deadline: 1 March
In terms of supporting documents, you will need to provide your CV, proof of language proficiency, a motivation letter, recommendation letters, and a transcript of your academic record. In the case of a Ph.D. application, you will also need to submit a thesis proposal in the relevant field.
STUDENT LIFE AT THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE
The Graduate Institute community is a very vibrant and active one, characterized by the presence of different student associations and committees. The leading /general student association is called GISA and, according to the themes and areas of interest, it branches off into:
- The professional development committee
- The Environmental Committee
- The Human rights, peace, and conflict initiative
- The Global Health Initiative
- The Critical theory reading group
- The feminist collective
And many others.
The Graduate Institute Press is also very active within the Institute and deals with different themes, both academic and informative.
SPORTS & OTHER FACILITIES
The student residences of the Graduate Institute are equipped with private gyms. Moreover, the Institute holds different partnerships with the University of Geneva to let its students use the University’s facilities to perform other kinds of sports other than the gym.
The Institute has a modern library located in Maison de la Paix. In addition, the student residences are characterized by common places and areas dedicated to studying activities.
Furthermore, the Graduate Institute Student Support Service is very active in the well-being of students. They periodically contact all the students with emails, reminding them whom to contact in case of any kind of necessity – either physical or mental.
LIVING IN GENEVA?
Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland. Situated where the river Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. It is a global city, a financial center but also an important center for diplomacy.
LANDMARK BUILDINGS
Maison de la Paix not only hosts the Graduate Institute, but also the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining, and the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces.
TRANSPORT
The Graduate Institute can easily be reached either by train, by bus, or by tram. Other options are walking or cycling. University accommodations are extremely close to the university and the city itself is not big.
POSITION & ENTERTAINMENT SIGHTS
The graduate institute is located in a very strategic position: it is close to the lake and to the center of International Geneva. The United Nations and the WTO, like many other international organizations, are located near the Institute.
In terms of green spaces nearby, The Botanic Garden lies just behind the Institute.