Sustainable Finance and Development

Entry requirements

To be eligible for the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development programme, applicants must possess a bachelor degree preferably in economics or finance or a major in economics or finance.  

Assessment happens on a rolling basis. Once applicant submits a complete file, it will be presented to the admission’s board.

Application process

To apply for the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development, applicants must complete an online application form.

In addition, the following supporting documents must be sent:

• A curriculum vitae (in English or French);

• A letter of motivation describing why you wish to pursue the MAS in Sustainable Finance and Development (1 page maximum);

• GRE/GMAT – in case you haven’t received your official GRE/GMAT score, you may report the unofficial one. We accept online versions of the tests and there is no minimum score to apply.

• Copies of official transcripts of all grades obtained in all university exams, accompanied by grade scales and their values;*

• Copies of all university diplomas and qualifications obtained;*

• English language test results. NB: French is not required for the MAS Programme;

• Two reference letters (in French or English) are also required. The applicant must nominate two referees and will be asked to provide the professional email addresses of their referees on the application form. Once the applicant has validated their application, the nominated referees will automatically be prompted to upload their reference letters.

* a certified translation (in English or French) must be provided for all documents.

The following documents can also be sent although those are not compulsory for admission :

• A copy of the page(s) of your passport with your surname, first name and nationality;

• A recent passport-sized photograph

Terms and conditions

English

All students must have an excellent command of English. Students whose mother tongue is not English, who do not have secondary or post-secondary qualifications taught in English, or who have not spent a minimum of one year studying full time at university level in English, must provide a certificate to prove their mastery of English.  

Recognised tests and scores

TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language)

• Internet-test : 100

• Paper-test : 600

• Computer based test : 250

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) : 7.0

CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English, Cambridge English, part of the University of Cambridge) : A-B-C

CAE (Cambridge Advanced English, Cambridge English, part of the University of Cambridge) : AB

 

Accommodation
 

The Graduate Institute offers excellent housing options in the heart of international Geneva. We are pleased to announce that, as of autumn 2020, the Institute will be able to offer accommodation to all its students. Please contact the Programme Manager for questions related to your housing application.

Cost of living

Residence permit and VISA

All students are required to apply for a student residence permit (Permis B) from the Office Cantonal de la Population (OCP) within 8 days of their arrival in Switzerland.
 
Information on the application procedure can be found with:
 
Service des étrangers
Rue David-Dufour 3
1211 Genève 8
Tel.: +41 (0)22 327 48 88
Fax: +41 (0)22 327 75 91
 
Depending on your country of origin, you may also need a visa to enter/stay in Switzerland. If you are a citizen of an EU/EFTA country, you do not need a visa to enter Switzerland but will still need to apply for a residence permit.

The Federal Office for Migration’s website provides a list with an overview of travel documents and visa provisions for entry into Switzerland. You can also contact the main Swiss embassy or consulate in your country. The costs for a residence permit and visa vary but can be up to 300 CHF.