International Relations and Political Science Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Overview

Areas of Study

The International Relations and Political Science programme of Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies offers students the possibility of completing a master’s degree through two programmes – a stand-alone two-year master’s programme, designed for students wishing to develop expertise in international relations; and a fast-track master’s programme, which transfers advanced students into doctoral research after three semesters.

Students are equipped with the analytical tools and substantive background to understand a wide range of political topics. Engaging with multiple approaches and methods, students have the opportunity to take courses from a number of sub-fields, including:

• comparative politics

• conflict studies

• political economy

• international governance

• methodology

The master's programme is made up of a standard sequence of core courses, as well as several sub-field survey courses; in addition, there are numerous electives that can be taken. During the second year of studies, each student writes a master's thesis or, if he/she is enrolled in the fast-track programme, transitions into the coursework that prepares him/her for writing a dissertation prospectus for doctoral research.

Teaching takes place in small classes, where students are encouraged to foster a sense of inquiry, critique and argument. Students have extensive access to political science faculty, both regular professors in the department as well as visiting professors.  This, as well as the analytical strengths of the curriculum, the proximity to various international governmental and nongovernmental organisations in Geneva, and the broad geographical and cultural range of students in the programme, make for a solid and rewarding grounding in the field.