Joint BA/MA Program in Geneva

The Graduate Institute offers and interdisciplinary and disciplinary master’s programs. The interdisciplinary master’s program is the most suitable for Mount Holyoke students.

Interdisciplinary Master’s Program:

The international and development studies master's program focuses on global challenges and their systemic dynamics. Through a combination of scientific excellence, transdisciplinarity, and critical thinking, the program prepares future professionals and decision makers open to the world and able to understand and embrace complexity.

Students choose a specialization from:

• Conflict, Peace and Security

• Environment and Sustainability

• Gender, Race and Diversity

• Global Health

• Human Rights and Humanitarianism

• Mobilities, Migrations and Boundaries

• Sustainable Trade and Finance

Disciplinary Master’s Programs 

Joint BA/MA applicants must demonstrate exceptional preparation and background knowledge to be considered for a disciplinary major. Mount Holyoke's liberal arts education best prepares students for success in the interdisciplinary Master's program (above).

• Anthropology and Sociology approaches the study of international affairs and development by inquiring into how social and cultural life, as well as political and economic practices, are shaped across multiple spatial and temporal scales.

• International History explores the modern world through transnational histories, taking into account a multiplicity of perspectives.

• International Economics is a highly competitive program organized into three tracks: (i) International Finance, (ii) Development and (iii) International Trade. GRE scores required for application.

• Political Science/International Relations equips students with the analytical tools and substantive background to understand a wide range of political topics, including comparative politics, conflict studies, political economy, international governance, and methodology.

• International Law includes in-depth training in international law with complementary courses in economics, history, political science, anthropology and sociology.

Mount Holyoke students should submit the College’s Request to Study Abroad in my.mtholyoke and the accompanying, separate Geneva paper application to the selection committee at the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives by November 30. The selection committee determines which students the McCulloch Center recommends to the Graduate Institute. Recommended students then apply directly to the Graduate Institute by January 15. Admission is decided on by the Graduate Institute on the basis of the overall application file with priority given to academic achievement, recommendations and letters of motivation.

The fall semester of the senior year is treated like a study abroad program. For Fall 2023, the program fee is $11,000. It covers tuition at the Graduate Institute and is paid to Mount Holyoke. In addition, students are responsible for living expenses, airfare, books, etc. Room and board are estimated at CHF 1,800/month (approx $2,000). Students are eligible for Laurel Fellowships depending on their financial need. Students who have already received Laurel funding for a semester abroad are generally not eligible to apply for Laurel Funding again.

Mount Holyoke does not offer financial support for the fifth year of study, though students may apply to the Graduate Institute for financial aid according to the Graduate Institute's regulations and practices. Students are responsible for paying tuition and fees directly to the Graduate Institute as well as room and board and other incidental costs. The total cost for the fifth year is estimated at CHF 26,000. This includes tuition (CHF 8,000) plus room and board and other expenses.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to apply to this selective program, Mount Holyoke College students must meet the following requirements:

• Meet Mount Holyoke’s general requirements for academic leave of absence

• Have a GPA of at least 3.5

• Must have completed 96 credits of coursework by the end of their junior year

Additionally, students should ordinarily remain at Mount Holyoke during their junior year.

The program is designed for senior year fall in Geneva, senior year spring at Mount Holyoke and return to Geneva for the academic year after completing the BA at Mount Holyoke. It is not possible to alter this sequence. Students intending to graduate in December will not be able to participate in this program.

Successful candidates will be receive an offer of accommodation in the Graduate Institute’s Student House for the fall senior year semester. Students prepare their own meals in the Student House.

For the Master’s year, students choose either private accommodation or student residences.

Students applying for the joint BA/MA program must submit their application to Mount Holyoke by November 30 of their junior year. Mount Holyoke will recommend students to the Graduate Institute, and students will need to apply to the Institute by January 15.