Ph.D. in Development Studies, The Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland: A four-year programme, the Ph.D. in Development Studies aims to analyse development issues according to a multidisciplinary approach. It consists of writing and defending a piece of original research constituting an outstanding scientific contribution presented under the supervision of a thesis director.
Besides offering the traditional prospects of graduate teaching and research, this programme opens perspectives of employment within international organisations, NGOs or the public and private sectors.
The programme must be completed in eight consecutive semesters from the date of enrolment and consists of three essential parts:
- Obtaining 18 ECTS credits defined by the curriculum, 12 of which for the compulsory Ph.D. seminar, before the end of the second semester of studies;
- Defence and acceptance of the preliminary thesis dissertation, before the end of the third semester;
- Public thesis defence before the end of the eighth semester, followed by legal deposit registration, three months later at the latest.
Once this is accomplished, the candidate will receive a Ph.D. degree in Development studies.
Specific Admission Conditions
1. Institute students
Only candidates holding of a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute may apply internally to the Ph.D. programme in Development Studies.
In order to be potentially eligible, candidates must:
- Send a complete application file (the deadline will be mentioned later);
- Have obtained a minimum grade of 5 over 6 on the Master’s dissertation;
- Indicate a temporary title and the name of a thesis director on the application form;
- give two letters of recommendation written and sent by the director of the Master’s dissertation and by an academic certifying the quality of the work accomplished during the Master’s programme;
- Submit a brief outline of the issue considered for thesis research.
The decision for admission is taken upon examination of the application file by the Development Academic Unit on the basis of global academic results and of the letters of recommendation.
2. External students
External candidates must satisfy the Institute’s general admissions conditions. In order for their candidacy to the Ph.D. Development Studies programme to be taken into consideration, they must:
- Hold a DEA or a Master’s degree in Development Studies or in a similar field;
- Have written a research dissertation of equal importance as a DEA or a Master’s of the Institute (to be attached to the application file).
The deadline for applications is 31 January.
The decision for admission is taken on the basis of global academic results and of the letters of recommendation.
Scholarships
As Ph.D. studies take a long time and sometimes require travelling or staying abroad, the Institute proposes several excellence scholarships to its Ph.D. students. Application for these scholarships must be received by 31 January at the latest, at the same time as the application file (the application form is directly linked to the online application file).
There is also an opportunity to request a scholarship during the studies. The ad hoc form is then to be sent for 30 May.
Ph.D. students may furthermore apply for a position as a teaching assistant, which will allow them to acquire valuable experience on university teaching and research.