The Geneva Graduate Institute (Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, IHEID) is a Swiss postgraduate institution in Geneva that teaches master’s and PhD programmes in international affairs and development.[1] It was founded in 1927 and is constituted as a private-law foundation that receives subsidies from the Swiss Confederation and the canton of Geneva.[1][2] We could not confirm a QS World University Rankings 2027 position.
Master’s tuition is CHF 5,000 a year for Swiss residents and CHF 8,000 for non-residents. PhD students pay CHF 3,000 in the first year and CHF 1,000 in later years under the standard Institute package.[3] English at level C1 is required; French is not an admission condition.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Geneva Graduate Institute; long form Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)[2] |
| Location | Maison de la paix, Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2 (mail: Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A, Case postale 1672, CH-1211 Geneva 1)[5] |
| Type | Private-law foundation; Swiss, government-accredited institution of higher education that receives subsidies from the Swiss Confederation and the canton of Geneva. Postgraduate only (master’s and PhD) apart from a study-abroad semester[1] |
| Founded | Opened in autumn 1927 as the Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI), first director Paul Mantoux; the current foundation was established in 2007[2] |
| Students | Nearly 1,100, about a third of them PhD students (Wikipedia, undated)[6] |
| Faculty | 153 (Wikipedia infobox, undated)[6] |
| Alumni | Over 25,000 members in over 100 countries[7] |
| Programmes | One interdisciplinary master’s (Master in International and Development Studies, MINT) and five disciplinary master’s and PhD programmes: Anthropology and Sociology, International Economics, International History and Politics, International Law, International Relations/Political Science[8] |
| Research | 13 research centres and 13 research clusters[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed (no overall position found in the sources we read) |
| Tuition, master’s | CHF 5,000 per year (Swiss residents) · CHF 8,000 per year (non-residents); year not named on the page[3] |
| Tuition, PhD | Standard Institute package: CHF 3,000 in year 1, CHF 1,000 per year after that[3] |
| English requirement | CEFR C1 or higher (e.g. IELTS Academic 7.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 100)[4] |
| Official website | graduateinstitute.ch |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the Geneva Graduate Institute
The Institute opened in autumn 1927 as the Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI), with Paul Mantoux as first director; William Rappard is credited as a driving force behind its creation.[2] It describes itself as the first academic institution in the world entirely devoted to the study of international affairs.[1]
In 2006 the University of Geneva recognised the new institution’s full autonomy and its power to award diplomas, including doctorates, and in 2007 the Foundation for the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies was established.[2] Wikipedia adds that the Institute absorbed the Graduate Institute of Development Studies in 2008 and was renamed accordingly.[6] The Institute’s own history page gives 2007 for the foundation and does not mention 2008.[2]
The campus is the Maison de la paix in Geneva.[5] The Institute lists over 25,000 alumni in over 100 countries.[7]
How is the Geneva Graduate Institute ranked?
We found no overall position for the Institute in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026; QS blocks automated access and none of the sources we read gives one. Wikipedia lists results that apply to single areas: the Foreign Policy rankings of master’s and PhD programmes (20th for both in 2024), and QS subject rankings 2026: Development Studies 45th, Politics 95th, Law and Legal Studies 101–150.[6]
The Institute’s own pages that we read name no ranking. Rankings differ by publisher and year, and a subject position is not an overall position. How we compile rankings. For the Swiss list, see universities in Switzerland.
What can you study at the Geneva Graduate Institute?
The Institute offers one interdisciplinary master’s and five disciplinary master’s and PhD programmes:[8]
- Master in International and Development Studies (MINT): interdisciplinary, with a common core and a choice of seven broader themes.
- Anthropology and Sociology
- International Economics
- International History and Politics
- International Law (the section header also mentions an LLM)
- International Relations / Political Science
The PhD takes four years: the first three semesters are in residence and the defence is at the end of the eighth semester. Students in International Economics, International Law and International Relations/Political Science can apply in their first semester for a Fast Track that combines the master’s and PhD in the same discipline.[8] Other offers are a summer school, exchange programmes and executive education.[7]
How much does the Geneva Graduate Institute cost?
| Programme and group | Per year |
|---|---|
| Master’s, Swiss residents | CHF 5,000 |
| Master’s, non-residents | CHF 8,000 |
| PhD, government or national foundation package, Swiss residents / non-residents | CHF 5,000 / CHF 8,000 |
| PhD, Institute package | CHF 3,000 in year 1, CHF 1,000 per year afterwards |
| PhD, employed on a Swiss National Science Foundation project | CHF 3,000 |
| PhD, 3-year Swiss Excellence Scholarship | CHF 1,000 for 3 years |
These amounts come from the Institute’s fees page, which names no academic year (its banner says 2025, the footer 2026). The academic year runs from September to June.[3] The page does not state a registration fee or per-semester amounts; contact the Scholarships Office for those.[3]
Financial aid and other costs
The Institute lists master’s scholarships of up to CHF 20,000 over two years or tuition reductions, and a PhD scholarship of CHF 20,000 a year paid as CHF 2,000 a month from September to June.[3] The application fee is CHF 100 for the January round.[4] The Institute offers student housing in its own residences; prices are in 2026–27 price lists we could not read.[10] For wider costs see our Study in Switzerland guide.
Undergraduate Semester Programme
The study-abroad semester costs CHF 15,000 for 30 ECTS, plus a CHF 1,000 deposit within 30 days of admission.[9]
How do you apply to the Geneva Graduate Institute?
The application page we read targets the September 2027 intake.[4]
- Master’s: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, held or awarded before enrolment. Disciplinary programmes expect a relevant discipline or significant relevant coursework; the interdisciplinary master’s welcomes many backgrounds.[4]
- PhD: a master’s degree in a relevant discipline, a thesis proposal and a copy of the master’s thesis or a substantial research paper. PhD in Economics applicants must submit valid GRE results.[4]
- Documents: official transcripts and degree certificates, two or three referees (preferably academic), a motivation letter and a CV of one to two pages.[4]
Faculty committees assess the whole file. The Institute sets no minimum GPA, and decisions are final.[4] We give no deadlines here because they change every year.
Which language level do you need?
English at CEFR level C1 or higher is required. Accepted are IELTS Academic (7.0 overall with 6.5 in each section on one test), TOEFL iBT (total 100 with minimum section scores of 19, 20, 20 and 24) and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (185 overall, at least 180 per part). Linguaskill, Duolingo and other tests are not accepted.[4]
Native speakers and applicants with at least one year of full-time university study taught entirely in English are exempt.[4] French is not an admission condition. Applicants below B1 must take a three-week intensive course before the first semester and weekly classes in the first year; others take a placement test.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Geneva Graduate Institute cost?
A master’s costs CHF 5,000 a year for Swiss residents and CHF 8,000 for non-residents. PhD students pay CHF 3,000 in the first year and CHF 1,000 in later years under the standard Institute package.[3]
Is the Geneva Graduate Institute public or private?
It is a private-law foundation that is a government-accredited Swiss institution of higher education and receives subsidies from the Swiss Confederation and the canton of Geneva.[1]
Do I need French to study at the Graduate Institute?
No. French is not an admission condition; English at C1 is. Applicants below B1 in French take an intensive course before the first semester.[4]
Does the Graduate Institute offer a bachelor’s degree?
The programmes we read are master’s and PhD. The Institute runs an Undergraduate Semester Programme for students enrolled elsewhere, which awards no degree.[9]
Is the Geneva Graduate Institute in the QS World University Rankings?
We could not confirm an overall QS World University Rankings 2027 position. Wikipedia lists QS subject positions for 2026, for example Development Studies 45th.[6]
More about studying in Switzerland
- Switzerland: best universities
- Study in Switzerland: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Switzerland
- Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH)
- EPFL
- ETH Zurich
- FHNW
- Franklin Switzerland
- HES-SO
- IMD Business School
- Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
- University of Basel
- University of Bern
- University of Fribourg
- University of Geneva
- University of Lausanne
- University of Lucerne
- University of Neuchâtel
- University of St.Gallen (HSG)
- University of Zurich
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
- Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
Sources
[1] Geneva Graduate Institute: Who we are (page without a date; copyright 2026)
[2] Geneva Graduate Institute: History of the Institute (page without a date; copyright 2026)
[3] Geneva Graduate Institute: Fees and financial aid (page without a date; academic year not named)
[4] Geneva Graduate Institute: Application requirements (page without a date; targets the September 2027 intake)
[5] Geneva Graduate Institute: Visiting us (page without a date)
[6] Wikipedia: Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (student and faculty figures undated; rankings; 2008 merger; secondary source)
[7] Geneva Graduate Institute: Study (page without a date)
[8] Geneva Graduate Institute: Master and PhD programmes (page without a date; refers to the September 2027 intake)
[9] Geneva Graduate Institute: Undergraduate Semester Programme (page without a date; copyright 2026)
[10] Geneva Graduate Institute: Housing, our rooms (page without a date; price lists labelled 2026-27)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.