Location: The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva in one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the field of humanitarian law and human rights law. At this institute, qualified students from all over the world get trained to become world-class humanitarian academics and practitioners. Formally, Ph.D. students need to be admitted to a particular disciplinary specialization such as international law, international economics, international relations/political science, international history, anthropology and sociology, or development economics, but can, of course, focus on humanitarian studies in their doctoral research.
At a doctoral level, students can engage in research on humanitarian aid and action by enrolling in the Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and Action Research Cluster offered by the institute. This research track is followed by a great number of professors who also serve as Ph.D. candidates’ supervisors. Some of them also lead important grand-scale projects relating to humanitarian aid with the help of external funding. That said, all Ph.D. students at the academy are given an excellent opportunity to cooperate with some of the leading academics in the field and make their own original contribution to science over the four-year-long course of the study. The Graduate Institute is furthermore interested in educating both academic experts and professionals working for international and national organizations and local administrations, so they gladly accept applications from a variety of profiles.
All applications for Ph.D. studies are submitted online. In addition to completing the online application form, prospective candidates are obliged to provide two academic references and supporting documents, including a proof of a master’s degree in social sciences. Other supporting documents include a motivation letter, resume, academic transcripts and certificates and, importantly, a copy of the candidate’s master dissertation as well as a Ph.D. dissertation proposal. All documents can be submitted in either English or French.
Most Ph.D. students at the Graduate Institute are fully funded by their programs through research assistantships, scholarships, or fellowships. More information about fees and financial aid opportunities is available on the official website.