Our Summer School is designed to give students from around the world a taste of graduate studies in the field of international affairs.
Courses are taught by our world-renowned faculty in the heart of International Geneva. This dynamic setting provides students with unparalleled access to international organisations and enriching opportunities to discuss with field experts.
SUMMER SCHOOL ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Join our summer school at the Geneva Graduate Institute for an immersive experience in the heart of international Geneva. You will gain practical tools to navigate a changing world while engaging with faculty and high-level practitioners.
The programme combines lectures, workshops, visits to international organisations, and networking opportunities, giving you both academic insight and hands-on exposure to global affairs.
Participants can also earn 3 ECTS credits per week in a choice of 4 thematic modules.
Directed by Davide Rodogno
This module examines the evolution of diplomacy from its traditional state-led configuration and processes to the new emerging set of issues and actors shaping the plural new diplomacies. Through a combination of conceptual and practical sessions, participants go through a deep-dive into these fast-changing issues, with particular attention to new spaces of diplomatic engagement, technological tools and expanding multistakeholder governance.
Directed by Delidji Eric Degila
This module will explore how the global governance of complex and intertwined challenges such as human mobility, global health, or social justice is reshaped in an evolving world. A particular emphasis will be put on the growing role and influence of actors often portrayed as "subaltern" players, notably Africa. New international arrangements to address transnational challenges will be discussed, including issues related to intellectual property, pandemics preparedness or forced migration. To this end, successful innovative partnerships will be explored to tackle global challenges by bringing together public and private actors.
Directed by Ugo Panizza
This new module delves into the complexities of economic globalisation and the emerging trends of fragmentation, offering participants a comprehensive understanding of global economic dynamics. Through a combination of expert lectures, interactive discussions, and field visits, the module covers key topics such as trade, financial globalisation, debt in developing countries, sustainable finance, and international investment. The programme begins with a deep dive into global trade and its implications for economic integration. Financial globalisation and its impacts are explored alongside sessions on geoeconomics, and finance, offering participants a nuanced view of how global forces shape financial systems and policymaking. The module also addresses pressing issues such as debt in developing countries, highlighting challenges and strategies for sustainable growth.
Directed by Jérôme Duberry
This module explores the transformative effects of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) on international relations and democratic systems. Participants will engage with critical topics such as the proliferation of disinformation, the challenges of AI governance and regulation, outer space security concerns, and the evolving landscape of digital diplomacy. Designed for those eager to understand and address the intersection of technology, democracy, and international affairs, this programme fosters informed leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Registration to :
Participation in the programme will be confirmed upon payment of the tuition fees.
The Institute does not provide any financial support for participation in the Summer School.
Expenses such as accommodation and food are not covered in the tuition fees; participants are responsible for these costs.
Applying for a tourist visa is sufficient for the Summer School participants.
Consult the following page to check the requirements to enter Switzerland according to your nationality.
Once admitted, you can contact us to receive a formal invitation letter for your visa request, if needed.
We offer several options to make your stay comfortable: short stays at Villa Barton, rooms in our student residences (sublets), and UNIGE residences.
Our team will do their best to support you in finding the right place.
Kindly email us at summeraffairs@graduateinstitute.ch so that we may provide you with the Student Subletting sheet.
Just as international as it is Swiss, Geneva makes up for its size with its vibrant, international community and its abundance of opportunities.
Students benefit from excellent networking opportunities, career exposure, high-quality healthcare and a safe urban environment. The city combines international and non-governmental institutions, multinationals, and a thriving financial and trading sector with outstanding quality of life, efficient public transport, and easy access to Europe via rail and a nearby international airport.
Nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva and close to the Alps, it also offers endless outdoor activities, from water sports to hiking and skiing.
Yes! Build your Summer School your way. It’s à la carte, totally flexible, and pricing scales down the more modules you choose.
Earn 3 ECTS credits per module by completing the final course assignment.
You’ll receive an official certificate confirming your ECTS credits from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Whether these credits can be transferred is up to your home institution, so we recommend checking with them ahead of time.
Regretfully, we cannot offer financial aid in the Summer School. Upon request, however, we can provide you with a letter for a sponsorship request.
Applications for the 2026 cycle closed on June 12.
Once you get your invoice, you have 30 days to complete the payment.
Life happens! If you need to cancel, just email us at summeraffairs@graduateinstitute.ch.
Refunds are:
All courses are in person, so you can immerse yourself in Geneva’s international atmosphere, and maybe even cool off with a post-class jump in the lake.
Each applicant must read and accept these Terms and Conditions when registering for a module offered by the Geneva Graduate Institute.
1. Definition
Summer School modules are short-term academic courses offered by the Geneva Graduate Institute during the summer.
Modules are delivered in-person at the Maison de la Paix.
Full course descriptions and details are available here.
2. Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
a. Language Proficiency
Applicants are expected to be proficient in English, although English language certificates are not required.
b. Academic Background
Applicants must either:
c. Supporting Documents
Each application must include:
3. Applications and Enrolment
4. Accommodation
More information here (Housing tab).
5. Tuition Fees and Payment
6. Duties and Obligations of Participants
7. Certificate and Transcript
8. ECTS Credits
9. Cancellation by the Geneva Graduate Institute
10. Cancellation by the Participant
If a participant cancels, interrupts, or withdraws early from the programme, the following fees apply:
11. Insurance and Other Costs
12. Waiver of Responsibility
The Geneva Graduate Institute’s liability — whether in contract or tort — is limited to gross negligence or willful misconduct by a University collaborator acting within the scope of their official duties.
All further liability, including indirect or consequential damages, is expressly excluded.
13. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction
Any dispute arising in connection with the Geneva Graduate Institute that cannot be settled amicably shall be submitted exclusively to the Courts of Geneva, under Swiss law.
By submitting an application, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
