Location: The Fletcher School, Tufts University, the United States of America
Located at Tufts University, the world-famous Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy is a graduate school that explores the study and practice of international relations to the highest possible level. Humanitarian aid and humanitarianism are one of the many sub-topics of international relations that world-class academics and their students research in this institution. The Ph.D. program in International Relations at the Fletcher is one of the most well-known international relations programs in the world, hiring extremely qualified candidates to produce top-notch research. Importantly, this program is designed not only to answer to some of the most burning questions in academia but also to respond to concrete policy issues.
Ph.D. students at the Fletcher school choose their primary field of study among several broadly defined themes such as comparative politics, development economics, gender analysis in international studies, human security, or international security studies. In order to shape their degree towards humanitarian aid and action, candidates are invited to choose humanitarian studies as their secondary field of study. A number of professors working at the Fletcher School specialize in this research cluster and can provide appropriate Ph.D. supervision to candidates who come forward with original dissertation topics. Within this research cluster, students are particularly encouraged to pursue a critique of the humanitarian aid system and enhance our knowledge of the nature of humanitarian crises.
The Fletcher School admits only highly-qualified candidates to their Ph.D. program. In particular, candidates are expected to hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field. In addition, it is also desirable that the candidate has had some practical experience in the field. To apply, prospective candidates have to submit their academic transcripts, three letters of recommendation, resume, personal statement, supplemental essays, GRE and English language test score as well as their Master’s thesis. Furthermore, all candidates are also asked to submit a 1,500-word long Ph.D. dissertation proposal and to successfully contact a prospective supervisor who works at the school prior to the submission of their application.
All candidates are free to submit a scholarship application form to compete to any stipend funding available. Further information about research and teaching assistantships and awards is available on the website.