Students

Get an inside look at what it is like to pursue a master's degree at the Graduate Institute.

Class Representatives

The class representatives respond to and assist with academic concerns of students, and represent the programme to relevant administrators. If you have any questions about student life at the Institute, please feel free to contact one of our class representatives.

 

Henri Weindel

 

Henri Weindel | class 2021-2023

 

Louka Morin-Tremblay

 

Louka Morin-Tremblay | class 2020-2022

 

Master in International Affairs | Student Perspectives

Candice White

 

Candice White from Canada | Trade and International Finance (Class 2019)

My education at the Graduate Institute has been overwhelmingly positive. Coming from a non-political science background to the Master in International Affairs, I have been able to quickly learn the basics of international relations and find my niche studying international trade. The interdisciplinary approach of the programme with workshops and research projects allows you to gain both academic and practical skills in a short amount of time. In addition, there is no shortage of exposure to top professors, organisations and conferences in International Geneva that allow you to expand your network and knowledge outside the classroom.

Gianluca Gygax

 

Gianluca Gygax from Switzerland | Environment, Resources and Sustainability (Class 2019)

During my Bachelor of Science in Geography at the University of Zurich I learned about the physical processes of the environment and its consequences on the planet and ourselves. The better my understanding of global climate, the more I became interested in the social and political processes connected to the environment. Thus, when finding out about the Graduate Institute’s Interdisciplinary Master, I knew it would provide me with the opportunity to complement my undergraduate studies. What I like most about the Interdisciplinary Master is the variety of classes offered by professors with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. Among the wide range of courses offered, I especially enjoy having the possibility to set the focus on the thematic topic that suits my interests best. Together with ‘International Geneva’, the MINT programme fully prepares me to tackle the interconnected challenges of today.

Purujith Gautam

 

Purujith Gautam from India | Global Security (Class 2020)

I chose the Graduate Institute for its international reputation, diverse student body, esteemed faculty and fantastic job prospects. So far the Institute has lived up to all my expectations and has been a truly wonderful place to learn and grow. The program has been truly unique in its demand for students to think both practically and theoretically. A class session might involve discussion of texts, or a debate about policy implementation and effectiveness.

The institute also has an impressive lineup of speakers and conferences that take place almost every evening. It gives students a chance to hear from, and connect with real practitioners in various contemporary fields.

I look forward to completing my journey at IHEID and then continuing to stay in touch with the global network of alumni!

  

The Mentorship Programme

 

The Mentorship Programme began as a student-led initiative in 2015. It is designed to support incoming MIA and MDEV students with their transition to life at the Institute and in Geneva. To do so, this programme matches incoming students (mentees) with seasoned second-year students (mentors).
Second-year mentors share guiding experiences with their mentees on topics including (but not restricted to):

  • Planning courses
  • Accessing student services
  • Understanding administrative processes
  • Getting to know the Graduate Institute and Geneva
  • Providing tips for a successful start to the academic year

 

Ravini Gunasekera

 

Ravini Gunasekera | Mentorship Coordinator, MIA

Ravini is your coordinator for the MIA programme. She is currently pursuing a specialisation in Trade and International Finance at the Institute. She completed her undergraduate degree in Economics at University College London. She is from Sri Lanka and her interests include dance and theatre.

 

 

Apoorva Sekhar

 

Apoorva Sekhar | Mentorship Coordinator, MDEV

Apoorva is your coordinator for the MDEV programme. She is currently pursuing a specialisation in Power and Conflict at the Institute. She completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology from St. Xaviers College, Kolkata, India. She is from India and her interests include cinema, photography and literature.

 

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    Student Placement after graduation

     

    Information gathered since 2008 shows that after graduation, students studying the Master in International Affairs have been employed in all four sectors:

    • The professional preferences of our MIA students after graduation are equally distributed across the public and the voluntary sector, followed by the private sectors.
    • Most of our students working for the public sector are attracted by international organisations (62%), followed by foreign governments and the Swiss Federal Administration, which together account for 31%.
    • Almost one-third of our alumni opt for a career in the voluntary sector, from which 57% work in NGOs. 20% use their acquired academic knowledge to improve policy making by working at various think tanks.
    • Almost half of our students working for the private sector are employed by SMEs or similar types of companies, whereas 19% of our alumni working within this sector are recruited by banking, finance and insurance organisations.
    • 6% of our master graduates either continued their studies towards a Ph.D. or conducted research work as part of an academic institution.
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    Student toolbox

    Get all information you need as student at the Graduate Institute

    Stories about our students

    Learn more about the student-led association Essaim d'Accueil.
    Erdal Kaplan talks about his position as Teaching Assistant for the Interdisciplinary Programmes.
    MIA student Nahom Teklewold Gebremariam explains how he combined his studies with advocating for the rights of youth in Ethiopia.
    Discover the story of MIA student McPherlain Chungu designing a project to tackle gender-based violence in Zambia.