The Institute strives to support its students throughout the duration of their studies, to the extent of its ability. It does so through financial aid (below) and paid jobs (teaching assistantships, research assistantships and administrative positions). In 2014, nearly half of our students received direct or indirect financial support from the Institute.
In particular, the Institute makes extensive efforts to assist its doctoral students. We aim to make financial aid available to all first year doctoral students with documented financial need. In subsequent years, doctoral students may apply for a teaching or research assistantship. The option of applying for a scholarship also remains open during the four-year programme, particularly in the final year to help with the completion of the thesis.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Institute awards entrance scholarships and in-course scholarships. In-course
scholarships are only awarded to students respecting the deadlines set out by the Institute Regulations for their study programme.
- Scholarships are awarded or renewed on the basis of academic achievement, and take account of financial need (except in the case of tuition scholarships).
- Candidates who receive financial assistance from another source, which exceeds the cumulative amount provided for in Article 8, are not eligible for a full Institute scholarship.
- Students holding a teaching assistant position at the Institute or the University of Geneva are not eligible for an Institute scholarship.
- Scholarship holders wishing to accept gainful employment during the academic year are required to choose between this employment and the full scholarship. They may accept both concurrently provided the total amount received does not exceed by more than 10,000.- Swiss francs the amount of the full scholarship.
- Only candidates to the Graduate Institute’s regular Master and PhD programmes are eligible to apply
- Scholarship allocation is based on academic merit and financial needs
- Merit is evaluated through the application for admission. Financial needs are assessed by reviewing the applicant’s sources of income and asset information.
- Scholarships are awarded for one year, their renewal is not automatic and will depend on the review of all applications submitted to the Scholarship Committee the following year.
To apply for the renewal of a full scholarship, Master’s students must have achieved a grade point average of at least 4.75 per semester or academic year in their first year of study. For PhD students, eligibility will depend on the student making good progress in his/her research, duly confirmed by the respective thesis director.
Offered Benefits
The Institute deploys invests considerable resources in financial aid, with the goal of attracting talented scholars from around the world, regardless of origin and financial ability. While other institutions generally offer only tuition reduction, the Institute also provides a large number of cost of living scholarships of CHF 18,000 each.
We expect all of our students to contribute toward the cost of their education. Therefore, and in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity, each recipient of a full scholarship is required to pay an annual tuition fee of CHF 1,000.
Financial aid is awarded by the Scholarship Committee on the basis of a written application documenting financial need; by exception, a few merit-based scholarships are awarded each year on the basis of academic excellence.
Financial aid may take the following forms:
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A full scholarship in the amount of CHF 18,000, which corresponds to the minimum living costs for one year;
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A partial scholarship in the amount of CHF 9,000;
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A merit scholarship awarded on the basis of academic excellence; it may be associated with a paid position as a teaching assistant or with need-based tuition reduction. An annual tuition fee of CHF 1,000 is charged in all cases.
In addition, tuition reduction may be awarded in combination with all types of scholarships.
Scholarships are awarded for one year and may be renewed on the basis of a documented application, in accordance with the resources available at the Institute. Full scholarships for Master degree students are generally renewed for a second year, following review of the student’s financial situation, provided that the s/he is in good academic standing and depending on the availability of financial resources.
