Specific Scholarships

The Graduate Institute strives to support talented scholars from around the world.  Financial aid packages for master students may include cost-of-living scholarships, tuition reduction and/or a paid position, in various proportions. Aid is awarded with consideration to both financial need and academic merit. A number of special scholarship opportunities are available to master students who meet specific eligibility criteria.

It is not possible to apply directly for a specific scholarship, such as those benefiting students from our partner institutions or sponsored by individual benefactors. In its evaluation, the Financial Aid Committee identifies financial aid awardees who meet specific criteria for such scholarship schemes and allocates the scholarships accordingly.

THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE, GENEVA REFUGEE SCHOLARSHIP

 

Deeply concerned by the magnitude of the migratory crisis and the fate of tens of thousands of people in war zones who are seeking refuge in places such as Switzerland, the Graduate Institute has decided to support refugees in Switzerland holding a B or F permit and wishing to pursue their master degree studies by offering them a full annual scholarship amounting to CHF 20,000 to cover living expenses, with the possibility of a tuition fee reduction depending on the candidate’s financial means. 

One refugee scholarship is available in each academic year for one new master programme student.

Criteria

  • Applicants should have been granted a Swiss Refugee status (Permit B) or have a Provisional Admission for Foreigners status (Permit F)
  • Applicants must provide a letter from the Swiss Government confirming refugee status or provisional admission in Switzerland
  • Applicants must be resident in Switzerland
  • Priority will be given to those who meet the above criteria, however, if unable to find a candidate, the search will be expanded to anyone who has been/or who is a refugee in a country other than Switzerland.
  • Applicants must be accepted into one of the master study programmes at the Institute
  • Only new students may apply: those already enrolled are not eligible to apply

Application for the scholarship

  • Candidates must apply for one of the study programmes at the Institute and specify in their motivation letter that they want to apply for the Graduate Institute, Geneva Refugee Scholarship
  • The main requirement to apply for one of our master programmes is a Bachelor's degree, or a degree deemed equivalent, in the social sciences
  • Candidates must also meet the Institute’s language requirements

Candidate Assessment

The candidates’ eligibility is assessed by the Financial Aid Committee according to the application file, which includes documents justifying financial needs and a motivation letter. The committee pays particular attention to academic results, the motivation letter and the request for financial aid, but also to references and other relevant information.

Application Deadline

15 January 

For questions related to study programmes or admission: prospective@graduateinstitute.ch
For help in the application process, please contact the Migration Initiative: gisa.migrationinitiative@graduateinstitute.ch

Specific Scholarship

Refugee Scholarship Flyer

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Specific Scholarship

Bourse de l’IHEID pour réfugiés

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Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for PhD candidates


The Swiss government awards various types of scholarships to foreign doctoral students, through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).

The list of countries in which you can apply for a Swiss government scholarship, along with country-specific application deadlines, as well as details of the application procedure, are available on the web pages of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, under Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

To be eligible for this scholarship at the Geneva Graduate Institute, you must be enrolled in our PhD programme already. You will then have the opportunity to apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship during the first year of your doctoral studies. The Scholarship Office will provide more information after your admission is confirmed. All our PhD students receive a financial support package from the Institute; this financial support will be available to enrolled PhD students in their first year. If you then obtain the Swiss Government Excellence Scolarship, it will replace the Institute's suppport package in the second, third, and fourth years of your doctoral programme.

For information about applying for admission to one of our PhD programmes, please read this page.

Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada scholarship 

 

In order to support the education of Afghan women, the Association Arghosha Faraway Schools and the Geneva Graduate Institute have partnered to offer postgraduate scholarships to talented Afghan women students admitted to a master programme at the Institute. 

Conditions

  • The scholarship is open to all Afghan women, without consideration of social class, ethnic and regional origin, or religion.
  • Applicants must be Afghan women, living in Afghanistan or have close ties with Afghanistan.
  • Applicants must meet the Geneva Graduate Institute’s admission requirements. The main requirement to apply for one of the Institute’s master programmes is a bachelor’s degree, or a degree deemed equivalent, in a discipline relevant for the programme. Candidates must also meet the Institute’s language requirements.
  • Candidates must send their applications for the Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship to the Steering Committee (see procedure below). Then, the selected candidate must apply for one of the Institute’s master programmes and be admitted to receive the scholarship. The two procedures are independent.

For more information.

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Flyer

Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship for Afghan women

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How to Apply

 

Complete the online application for admission, including the general scholarship application pages.

Admitted candidates, whose profile match the specific eligibility criteria for these scholarships, will automatically be considered. Applicants are not required to contact their home universities. Foundations do not accept direct solicitations.