Switzerland · PhD
Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)
PhD in International Relations / Political Science
Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)
Course Overview
The Geneva Graduate Institute is embedded in International Geneva — the UN Office at Geneva, WTO, WHO, UNHCR, ILO, ICRC, WIPO and several hundred NGOs and missions are within walking or tram distance — and the doctoral programme is structured to use that. Research areas span international security and conflict, international political economy and trade governance, global governance and international organisations, human rights and humanitarian action, and development politics. Doctoral candidates routinely take research posts, consultancies and fieldwork placements inside the institutions they study.
Funding is the reason this is worth a serious look from Colombo. IHEID awards a large number of PhD scholarships covering tuition plus a living stipend, and additional Swiss routes — the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, SNSF-funded project positions and Institute research assistantships — stack on top. Tuition itself is low by Anglophone standards. The programme is English-medium; French is useful in Geneva but not a requirement.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Master's degree in international relations, political science, economics, law, history or a cognate social science, with distinction-level results and a research thesis.
- check_circle A rigorous research proposal (typically 10-15 pages) with a defined question, literature positioning, method and feasibility — the doctoral committee weighs this most heavily.
- check_circle Alignment with the research interests of a faculty member who could supervise; identify and reference them explicitly.
- check_circle Academic CV, writing sample, and two to three academic references.
- check_circle Admission is highly competitive with a small annual intake; applications close in mid-January for the September start.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall, or TOEFL iBT 100 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your previous degree was taught and assessed entirely in English — a Medium of Instruction letter is accepted from Sri Lankan universities.
- check_circle The doctorate is conducted in English. Reading knowledge of French is helpful for Geneva-based archival and institutional work but is not an admission condition.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CHF) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, before scholarship) | CHF 2,000 /yr | Rs. 740,000 /yr |
| IHEID PhD Scholarship (where awarded) | Tuition + living stipend | Tuition + living stipend |
| Living Expenses (per year, Geneva) | CHF 24,000 /yr | Rs. 8,880,000 /yr |
| Health Insurance & Residence Permit (per year) | CHF 1,800 /yr | Rs. 666,000 /yr |
| Total 4-Year Cost (unfunded — apply for funding) | CHF 111,200 | Rs. 41,144,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Graduates take academic posts in international relations departments worldwide, research and policy roles across the UN system, WTO, ICRC and the development banks, positions in foreign ministries and diplomatic services, and senior analysis roles at think tanks and international NGOs. Geneva's institutional density means many candidates are already working inside those organisations before they defend. Switzerland allows non-EU graduates six months to seek employment after completion, and doctorate-level roles are the ones most likely to clear the labour-market test. For Sri Lankan candidates the return path runs through the Foreign Ministry, the Permanent Mission in Geneva, the UN and ICRC country offices, IPS and Verité Research, and faculty positions in international relations and political science at Colombo, Peradeniya and Jaffna.
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PhD in Sociology
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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.