Turkish national Defne Gonenc has been awarded the Graduate Institute Alumni scholarship for this academic year. The scholarship was made possible by donations from the Institute’s alumni community in the fundraising campaign “Les étudiants sont notre avenir !” launched by the Institute last year.

Defne is pursuing a PhD in International Relations and Political Science at the Institute. Defne says, “I chose the Institute because it is located in Geneva, a research hub, and has excellent connections to the city’s international organisations. The fact that it is so multicultural also influenced my decision”.

Before coming to the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Defne completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at Cambridge University where she received scholarships both from Cambridge University as well as the European Commission under its Jean Monnet Programme.

She was the valedictorian of her graduating class at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara where she received an undergraduate degree in International Relations. During her studies in Ankara she spent a semester abroad at Sciences Po in Paris, which she says inspired her to continue her studies in Europe.

Defne added, “My professors are very interested in my work and my progress, and they are all approachable and friendly. So far it is like being in a small family. I would not have been able to come to the Institute without this scholarship”.