Within international and development studies, anthropology and sociology are indispensable for the comparative study of global concerns in both margins and centres of power and across their boundaries. The PhD in Anthropology and Sociology aims to provide students with theoretical perspectives and methodological tools to explore the social and cultural systems that influence, and are influenced by, policy interventions, especially – but not exclusively – in the field of development and international affairs.
Our four-year doctoral programme is tailored to students with a strong commitment to anthropology and sociology and a demonstrated capacity for independent research. Through the foundational doctoral seminar, a weekly departmental seminar series and further opportunities to participate in cross-departmental colloquia, we offer a vibrant and welcoming intellectual community for PhD students. During their doctoral studies, candidates will obtain 24 course credits and defend a preliminary thesis dissertation before completing fieldwork and writing their doctoral thesis.
The Department of Anthropology and Sociology offers a fast track entry to our doctoral programme on an exceptional basis. A student may be considered for a fast track position if he or she has substantial prior training in Anthropology and/or Sociology (for instance, a BA in either discipline) and has demonstrated excellence in our master’s programme. In general, we encourage students to follow our full MA programme of coursework and training before applying to the doctoral programme. We are convinced that this allows them to profit most from our unique approach to the major global issues of our time and to carry out their own empirical research based on the solid theoretical and methodological training that we offer as a Department.
The Graduate Institute offers competitively awarded funding for PhD students through scholarships and teaching assistant positions. In addition, a number of our students have been successful in obtaining funding for their studies through external grants, such as the Swiss government’s Doc.CH grants. Emphasising theoretical innovation along with empirically grounded research, the PhD programme prepares students for an academic career or for research-oriented positions in the public, private or nonprofit sectors. Recent PhD graduates from our programme are pursuing postdoctoral research at the University College London and the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen.
The P8 programme, initiated by Swissuniversities in 2019, aims to enhance digital skills in education. Specifically focused on supporting universities, the programme offers workshops for PhD students from the Geneva Graduate Institute. These workshops combine traditional presentations with practical exercises to impart knowledge and skills, creating new learning opportunities. While these workshops do not provide academic credits, students who attend and complete a workshop will receive a certificate. Further information regarding upcoming workshops and our previous workshops can be found on the Libguide.
