International Development, Law & Economics Studies

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies:
Located in the cosmopolitan city of Geneva, Switzerland, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is a leading institution of research and higher education dedicated to the study of world affairs, with a particular emphasis on the fields of international relations and development issues. The Graduate Institute offers a range of master's degree courses and PhD programs in the fields of international affairs, development studies, international economics, political science, international law, international economics and international history. We provide a bilingual English-French working environment and are home to a diverse and vibrant group of students and faculty from all over the world.

Master's Degree Courses (2 years):
The curricula of our two-year Master programmes is regularly updated to reflect new global challenges and to incorporate evolutions in the fields of social and human sciences while also providing the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in international careers.

The two interdisciplinary Masters are designed for students interested in professionally oriented education who wish to take a step toward a career in international affairs or development work. Our five disciplinary Master programmes aim to provide students with expertise in a key discipline as well as open the door to a PhD or an academic career.

- Master in International Affairs Degree Course (Interdisciplinary):
The Master in International Affairs offers an interdisciplinary approach to international relations. The programme proposes a combination of theoretical preparation in International Economics, International History, International Law and Political Science as well as interdisciplinary seminars and workshops providing the technical tools necessary for effective analysis and decision-making. Focuses include multilateral cooperation, regional integration, security and conflict management as well as global security.

- Master in Development Studies Degree Course (Interdisciplinary):
The Master in Development Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach focusing on development policies and practices. Students acquire in-depth knowledge and expertise in North-South relations and global development issues, including: climate change and environmental damage, natural resources and energy supply, security and armed conflict, global migration, globalisation, poverty and inequality, public health, commercial and financial flows as well as development.

- Master in Anthropology and Sociology of Development Degree Course:
The Master in Anthropology and Sociology of Development is a programme designed for students interested in the comparative study of global issues from below, from the margins, and across borders. It explores development in a critical and forward-looking manner as pertaining to all regions in the world including the Global South. Courses in the programme equip students with analytical and methodological tools in anthropology and sociology to explore four key themes: Power and conflict; space, population and mobility; social movements and transformations; culture and identity.

- Master in International Law Degree Course:
The Master in International Law provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for rigorous analysis of contemporary international legal issues. The curriculum covers both public and private international law and focuses on dispute settlement, economic law, environmental law, human rights, humanitarian law, international criminal law, state responsibility, territory and sovereignty and other subjects.

- Master in International Economics Degree Course:
The Master in International Economics combines a focus on economics with the Institute’s multidisciplinary teaching in other key subjects to give students a broader view of economic policy. Courses cover trade, development, econometrics, macroeconomics, financial crises, monetary and financial systems, natural resource economics, climate change, regional integration, migration, economic history and more.

- Master in International History Degree Course:
Combining traditional and innovative perspectives, the Master in International History provides a historical background in a range of the Institute’s areas of specialisation. Courses cover the history of international relations and non-governmental organisations, global history, transatlantic relations, European integration, Asian and African history, minorities, nationalism, the history of economic development, and terrorism.

- Master in International Relations and Political Science Degree Course:
The master programme prepares students for doctoral studies, research activities and careers dealing with different aspects of international relations which require strong analytical and research skills, whether in the public or private sector. Courses cover political economy, multilateral governance, applied game theory, security policy, environmental regulation, conflict and cooperation, gender politics, political violence, sovereignty, intervention and humanitarianism, qualitative methods, statistics and other topics.

PdD Programmes (4 years):
The Institute’s PhD programme is of a statutory duration of four years. It gives students personal research experience and the opportunity to produce an original scientific contribution of high academic quality which often ends up being published. After completing their course of study, our PhD holders go on to academic careers in the fields of higher education and research, or become experts working for international and non-governmental organisations, private sector entities, or national administrations.

- PhD in Anthropology and Sociology of Development:
The PhD programme is designed to take a maximum of four years after the master programme. During their doctoral studies, candidates are required to obtain 24 course credits and defend a preliminary thesis dissertation before completing fieldwork and writing their doctoral thesis.

- PhD in International Law:
The PhD programme in International Law offers high-level training that prepares graduates for academic careers or executive and research positions in the public or private sectors. Students work closely with a world-renowned faculty composed of both academics and practitioners from many different legal traditions. Classes and seminars are offered in all areas of international law.

- PhD in Development Economics:
Our unique PhD in Development Economics programme provides state-of-the-art training for outstanding economists who wish to focus on developing countries. Two compulsory doctoral seminars, one in micro-development, the other in macro-development, ensure that students are both rigorously trained and well-rounded. Two advanced econometrics classes guarantee that students possess the empirical skills needed to conduct original research.

- PhD in International Economics:
The PhD programme in International Economics offers advanced training focusing on trade and international monetary economics in addition to other key contemporary issues in the economics field. As part of the programme, students produce a thesis that represents a substantial contribution to the discipline which also serves to strengthen their ability to combine independent research with formal methodologies and the tools of modern economics for a future career in this area.

- PhD in International History:
The PhD programme in International History is for students with a strong commitment to these areas and a proven ability to carry out independent research work. It helps prepare graduates for an academic career or for research-oriented positions in the public or private sector. Courses cover the history of international relations and nongovernmental organisations, global history, transatlantic relations, European integration, Asian and African history, minorities, nationalism, the history of economic development and terrorism.

- PhD in International Relations and Political Science:
The PhD programme in International Relations / Political Science is designed to prepare students for a career in international relations involving close contact with research. The programme gives students the range of skills needed to produce their doctoral thesis and to carry out and understand in-depth research after their studies. Courses cover political economy, multilateral governance, applied game theory, security policy, environmental regulation, conflict and cooperation, gender politics, political violence, sovereignty, intervention and humanitarianism, qualitative methods, statistics and other topics.

For further information on our graduate programs in Geneva, please e-mail us via our Contact Page.