Switzerland · Master's
University of St. Gallen (HSG)
MA in International Affairs and Governance (MIA)
University of St. Gallen (HSG)
Deadline detail: April 30 (autumn semester), November 30 (spring semester)
Course Overview
St. Gallen is the most employer-connected university in the German-speaking world — the Financial Times has ranked its Master's in Management first globally for years — and the MIA applies that machinery to the public and international sector. The programme sits at the intersection of political science, economics, law and management: international political economy, governance and regulation, development and sustainability policy, diplomacy and negotiation, plus a genuinely rigorous quantitative and economics core that distinguishes it from softer IR degrees.
The English track is fully taught in English, and roughly half the cohort is international. St. Gallen's alumni network is the practical asset — it is unusually dense in Swiss and European corporate, consulting and public-sector leadership, and the university runs structured recruiting on campus. Swiss public university tuition remains modest (about CHF 3,300 a semester for international students at HSG), so the real cost driver is Swiss living expenses, not fees.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree with a strong grade average in political science, economics, law, international relations, business or a related field.
- check_circle Applicants whose Bachelor's does not cover the required economics, quantitative methods and social science credits may be admitted with prerequisite conditions or asked to sit the HSG admission assessment.
- check_circle Motivation letter and CV; internships or work in government, multilaterals, NGOs or consulting are weighed positively.
- check_circle Two references, and certified transcripts and degree certificates.
- check_circle Non-EU applicants should apply in the earlier of the two windows — Swiss student visa processing from Colombo takes eight to twelve weeks and cannot be rushed.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall, or TOEFL iBT 100 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency accepted.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English — a Medium of Instruction letter is accepted from Sri Lankan universities.
- check_circle German is not required for the English track; free German courses are available and improve local internship access.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CHF) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per semester, international) | CHF 3,300 /semester | Rs. 1,221,000 /semester |
| Total Tuition (typical 3-4 semesters) | CHF 11,500 | Rs. 4,255,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, St. Gallen) | CHF 21,000 /yr | Rs. 7,770,000 /yr |
| Health Insurance & Residence Permit (per year) | CHF 1,700 /yr | Rs. 629,000 /yr |
| Total Programme Investment (approx. 21 months) | CHF 51,200 | Rs. 18,944,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
MIA graduates go into management and strategy consulting, the public sector and international organisations, development banks, corporate public affairs and sustainability, and financial regulation — the split between private and public destinations is roughly even, which is unusual for an international affairs degree and reflects the economics-heavy curriculum. Switzerland grants non-EU graduates a six-month permit to seek work, and Swiss employers hiring at this level are used to the process. Sri Lankan graduates return into policy and strategy roles at the Central Bank, Treasury and the Board of Investment, the multilaterals in Colombo, corporate strategy and public affairs at John Keells, Dialog, MAS and the banks, and consulting.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.