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MA at Geneva School of Diplomacy?
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Reply 40
For the certified copies, I ended up going to a notary (my bank does it for free) to get some things certified as true copies. My high school, for example, only gives its graduates one diploma and can't make another copy even if the first is lost, so I couldn't provide them with their two copies of my high school diploma.
I'm not sure which is better or how it would be determined - both have good job prospects. I think the Graduate Institute may require higher grades but Geneva School of Diplomacy puts a lot of emphasis on work experience.
I just graduated from a university in Boston after 3 years, although I took the middle year off to figure out what I wanted to do after college.
I'm not sure which is better or how it would be determined - both have good job prospects. I think the Graduate Institute may require higher grades but Geneva School of Diplomacy puts a lot of emphasis on work experience.
I just graduated from a university in Boston after 3 years, although I took the middle year off to figure out what I wanted to do after college.
Reply 41
gregmb
OP
7
Hmm, I wonder if notarization is necessary, or if a signature from the schools upon a photocopy is sufficient.
Reply 42
I'd assume that a stamped and signed copy from the university would be fine.
Reply 43
Just a clarification: I didn't have any work experience when I got into the GSD. And my grades where not fantastic (at all). I just managed to send an email to the director (you can find his email address on the website of the school...) where I explained I was super-motivated, I would attend all the classes and, basically, that I wanted to change the world. Apparently, I learnt latter that the director sent an email to the management team, saying (quote): "get this kid, I don't care about his grades or anything else". And it's thanks to him - and some other professors - that I got into the UN right after graduating. So, once again, if you're motivated and want to work in an active way in the IR, go to the GSD. If you want to write about the IR and become a good academic, go to the Graduate Institute. Forget about the rest.
Good luck people.
B.
Good luck people.
B.
Reply 44
Sunflower52, im considering to apply to Graduate Institute Geneva, but heard that its not participating in any kind of rankings and it seems easy to get there, so wondering if its worth to spend 2 years there and whether its internationally recognized as well as i'm not sure i will pursue my career in Geneva. Or is it still better to apply at University Geneva or Zurich?
Anybody could advice, please?
Many thanks
Anybody could advice, please?
Many thanks
Reply 45
olga1985
Sunflower52, im considering to apply to Graduate Institute Geneva, but heard that its not participating in any kind of rankings and it seems easy to get there, so wondering if its worth to spend 2 years there and whether its internationally recognized as well as i'm not sure i will pursue my career in Geneva. Or is it still better to apply at University Geneva or Zurich?
Anybody could advice, please?
Many thanks
Anybody could advice, please?
Many thanks
I think the Degrees are accredited by the University of Geneva or something along those lines... Personally looking at the Alumni I'd reckon it has to be recognised within the area, given so many graduates are working in International Organisations.
Reply 46
Just randomly been searching for masters degrees even though ive just finished my first year at the Uni of birmingham. How do you feel these two institutions rank against british unis?
Reply 47
Shuky, i was wondering exactly the same. My first choice was uni of Manchester followed by Nottingham, so wondering whether this institution could be considered to provide the same quality and recognition?!
On ther hand, u can't really compare those, cause Graduate Institute is specialising in International Studies.
On ther hand, u can't really compare those, cause Graduate Institute is specialising in International Studies.
Reply 48
olga1985
Shuky, i was wondering exactly the same. My first choice was uni of Manchester followed by Nottingham, so wondering whether this institution could be considered to provide the same quality and recognition?!
On ther hand, u can't really compare those, cause Graduate Institute is specialising in International Studies.
On ther hand, u can't really compare those, cause Graduate Institute is specialising in International Studies.
No i meant in terms of their graduate degrees.
Reply 49
I am currently a student at the Geneva School of Diplomacy, in the MA programme, and there are a lot of things I didn't know/inquire about before I started.
The school has currently no formal academic accreditation. Right now the school is simply registered as a school and has a quality certificate, but no formal academic process is vouching for the schools academic quality. I think the school is trying to get some form of accreditation through some universities in the UK, which should be concluded soon though. Its definitely something to inquire about before you start.
Also the curriculum is made up on the fly every trimester. My second trimester starts in 3 weeks and I have no idea what classes I will be taught, much less what they are about. This definitely sucks. Plus none of our books for the first trimester arrived within the first two weeks, some never came actually.
And least and last, there is no library or student facilities. For research students are told to use the UN Library and the Graduate Institute/IHEID library. Both are awesome, but GSD does not even have its own access to even the most basic IR online journals, much less facilities to print or copy stuff.
Yes the faculty is great, especially when it comes to their wealth of experience in the IR field. But on the flip side some don't know how to teach, and are thus easily pushed around by students. Some classes lack total structure due to this.
The school is definitely great to make contacts and set yourself up to work in the IR field after graduation, but if you are concerned about the academic validity of your degree and might want to pursue a Ph.D. with it inform yourself prior to going there.
The school has currently no formal academic accreditation. Right now the school is simply registered as a school and has a quality certificate, but no formal academic process is vouching for the schools academic quality. I think the school is trying to get some form of accreditation through some universities in the UK, which should be concluded soon though. Its definitely something to inquire about before you start.
Also the curriculum is made up on the fly every trimester. My second trimester starts in 3 weeks and I have no idea what classes I will be taught, much less what they are about. This definitely sucks. Plus none of our books for the first trimester arrived within the first two weeks, some never came actually.
And least and last, there is no library or student facilities. For research students are told to use the UN Library and the Graduate Institute/IHEID library. Both are awesome, but GSD does not even have its own access to even the most basic IR online journals, much less facilities to print or copy stuff.
Yes the faculty is great, especially when it comes to their wealth of experience in the IR field. But on the flip side some don't know how to teach, and are thus easily pushed around by students. Some classes lack total structure due to this.
The school is definitely great to make contacts and set yourself up to work in the IR field after graduation, but if you are concerned about the academic validity of your degree and might want to pursue a Ph.D. with it inform yourself prior to going there.
Reply 50
Hi, Ive just stumbled on this thread purely by chance really as Im researching into potential Masters degrees to do next year. Im 26 and graduated with a 2:1 in IR almost three years ago so Ive had the chance to ponder whether doing a Masters is what I would really like to do. I wanted to go into International Development with the intention of either working for an international NGO or the UN. I have found it really difficult despite going abroad to get field work experience and yes, if you have aspirations to do the above then you have to do a Masters.
However, Ive had to think what Masters degree would give me the best possible chance or opportunities at the end of the day given the current climate. I havent come across the Geneva School of Diplomacy before and read through the thread of enquiries to this post. I still have the desire to crack the UN but for one, would doing a Masters with GSD pay off in terms of job prospects? And the fees seem pretty steep -is there any financial help available?
And Norwalker - appreciate your honesty and reply to the thread putting another prospective on the situation, how come you signed up to do this?
However, Ive had to think what Masters degree would give me the best possible chance or opportunities at the end of the day given the current climate. I havent come across the Geneva School of Diplomacy before and read through the thread of enquiries to this post. I still have the desire to crack the UN but for one, would doing a Masters with GSD pay off in terms of job prospects? And the fees seem pretty steep -is there any financial help available?
And Norwalker - appreciate your honesty and reply to the thread putting another prospective on the situation, how come you signed up to do this?
Reply 51
Norwalker
I am currently a student at the Geneva School of Diplomacy, in the MA programme, and there are a lot of things I didn't know/inquire about before I started.
The school has currently no formal academic accreditation. Right now the school is simply registered as a school and has a quality certificate, but no formal academic process is vouching for the schools academic quality. I think the school is trying to get some form of accreditation through some universities in the UK, which should be concluded soon though. Its definitely something to inquire about before you start.
Also the curriculum is made up on the fly every trimester. My second trimester starts in 3 weeks and I have no idea what classes I will be taught, much less what they are about. This definitely sucks. Plus none of our books for the first trimester arrived within the first two weeks, some never came actually.
And least and last, there is no library or student facilities. For research students are told to use the UN Library and the Graduate Institute/IHEID library. Both are awesome, but GSD does not even have its own access to even the most basic IR online journals, much less facilities to print or copy stuff.
Yes the faculty is great, especially when it comes to their wealth of experience in the IR field. But on the flip side some don't know how to teach, and are thus easily pushed around by students. Some classes lack total structure due to this.
The school is definitely great to make contacts and set yourself up to work in the IR field after graduation, but if you are concerned about the academic validity of your degree and might want to pursue a Ph.D. with it inform yourself prior to going there.
The school has currently no formal academic accreditation. Right now the school is simply registered as a school and has a quality certificate, but no formal academic process is vouching for the schools academic quality. I think the school is trying to get some form of accreditation through some universities in the UK, which should be concluded soon though. Its definitely something to inquire about before you start.
Also the curriculum is made up on the fly every trimester. My second trimester starts in 3 weeks and I have no idea what classes I will be taught, much less what they are about. This definitely sucks. Plus none of our books for the first trimester arrived within the first two weeks, some never came actually.
And least and last, there is no library or student facilities. For research students are told to use the UN Library and the Graduate Institute/IHEID library. Both are awesome, but GSD does not even have its own access to even the most basic IR online journals, much less facilities to print or copy stuff.
Yes the faculty is great, especially when it comes to their wealth of experience in the IR field. But on the flip side some don't know how to teach, and are thus easily pushed around by students. Some classes lack total structure due to this.
The school is definitely great to make contacts and set yourself up to work in the IR field after graduation, but if you are concerned about the academic validity of your degree and might want to pursue a Ph.D. with it inform yourself prior to going there.
Thank you Norwalker for these inputs.. I am also looking at pursuing my Ph.D. after the masters program. How much does non accreditation play a role in this.
Also this information has got me rethinking about GSD now. How much of an effect this will have on the masters degree weightage
Reply 52
I'm a third year at warwick Uni, UK. I applied for my Masters to GSD and got accepted.
I'm wondering if it's that good. Geneva Graduate Institute seems to be better, but it's 2 years and I missed the deadline for application. Would you guys recommend to study in GSD?
I'm wondering if it's that good. Geneva Graduate Institute seems to be better, but it's 2 years and I missed the deadline for application. Would you guys recommend to study in GSD?
Reply 53
I feel like I must enter the debate, since I graduated from the Graduate Institute recently, and I am well aware of the reputation of both GSD and the Graduate Institute.
In a nutshell, the Institute has a pretty good reputation worldwide - although the school's size limits the reach of its sway - and it has a stellar faculty. It's strongest departments are international law and political science. The premises are so so at the moment, but this should change when the new campus opens in 2012. A lot of the school's students come from the top universities of the world. I think that this may be the best indication of the perception people have of the school.
GSD is, as far as I'm concerned, not much of a uni at the moment. Don't get me wrong, it probably has potential, but it is perceived in Geneva as a school that admits rich kids that cannot get into a good program. I think the only positive side of going there is the contacts you can make. But hey, you will also make contacts at the Institute or any other decent uni, and you will also get an education that will not cause people to raise their eyebrow. In short, I think that portraying it as a good uni is a bit misleading, and this should be known because grad school is a big investment.
And to reply to carcass2, I doubt that GSD has produced ambassadors, and this is not because of what I think of it. Rather, this seems pretty unlikely because the school has only opened its doors some 8 years ago, meaning first graduates entered the job market 6 years ago. It takes a bit more time to rise to the position of ambassador.
In a nutshell, the Institute has a pretty good reputation worldwide - although the school's size limits the reach of its sway - and it has a stellar faculty. It's strongest departments are international law and political science. The premises are so so at the moment, but this should change when the new campus opens in 2012. A lot of the school's students come from the top universities of the world. I think that this may be the best indication of the perception people have of the school.
GSD is, as far as I'm concerned, not much of a uni at the moment. Don't get me wrong, it probably has potential, but it is perceived in Geneva as a school that admits rich kids that cannot get into a good program. I think the only positive side of going there is the contacts you can make. But hey, you will also make contacts at the Institute or any other decent uni, and you will also get an education that will not cause people to raise their eyebrow. In short, I think that portraying it as a good uni is a bit misleading, and this should be known because grad school is a big investment.
And to reply to carcass2, I doubt that GSD has produced ambassadors, and this is not because of what I think of it. Rather, this seems pretty unlikely because the school has only opened its doors some 8 years ago, meaning first graduates entered the job market 6 years ago. It takes a bit more time to rise to the position of ambassador.
Reply 54
@ sammytar "not cause people to raise their eyebrow"
could you explain this?
So i wondering if anyone has any picture of GSD? i cant seem to find any , and if anyone knows anything else about a new campus opening in 2012
and how much is a yearly tuition for the master degree in IR, for say an American , but i also have EU citizenship
?
could you explain this?
So i wondering if anyone has any picture of GSD? i cant seem to find any , and if anyone knows anything else about a new campus opening in 2012
and how much is a yearly tuition for the master degree in IR, for say an American , but i also have EU citizenship
?
Reply 55
Hi, I'm very curious about GSD at the moment. Does anyone on TSR currently attend (or has anyone here attended in the past)?
Reply 56
Read your inbox I emailed you about GSD!!!
Reply 57
I am a UN worker in Geneva of 20 years standing - and about to finish my MA in International Relations. As a Genevan resident for so long, I know that the Graduate Institute is the premier school of its kind in the world. Tuition is much lower because all University of Geneva fees are low - it is still one of the best IR schools in the world. I was told that I may have trouble getting in to the doctoral programme even with my GPA of 4.0 and 20 years UN work experience.
The GSD - a campus I drive by twice a day to get to work so I know it exists - does not have the reputation that the GI has. How can it? It's new. As far as I can tell, it still isn't accredited. It is on a different plane from the GI. And, instead of me worrying about getting into the GI, the GSD has been bombarding me with email offers of doctoral placement for a year and I haven't even formally applied there yet.
But there are positives to each. Yes, the GSD is mainly a place to network to get a job. Academically, it is not up there with the GI.
Personally, I would love to go to GI. I may apply just to see if I'd get in. But I know that for me the only option would be the GSD, simply because I don't have to be a full-time student there. I need to work. So paying higher tuition fees but keeping a full-time job going is financially appropriate for me. I am about to contact them yet again to ask about accreditation. I won't apply until the school is accredited formally. But I wish I could go to the GI - that is the academic pinnacle.
The GSD - a campus I drive by twice a day to get to work so I know it exists - does not have the reputation that the GI has. How can it? It's new. As far as I can tell, it still isn't accredited. It is on a different plane from the GI. And, instead of me worrying about getting into the GI, the GSD has been bombarding me with email offers of doctoral placement for a year and I haven't even formally applied there yet.
But there are positives to each. Yes, the GSD is mainly a place to network to get a job. Academically, it is not up there with the GI.
Personally, I would love to go to GI. I may apply just to see if I'd get in. But I know that for me the only option would be the GSD, simply because I don't have to be a full-time student there. I need to work. So paying higher tuition fees but keeping a full-time job going is financially appropriate for me. I am about to contact them yet again to ask about accreditation. I won't apply until the school is accredited formally. But I wish I could go to the GI - that is the academic pinnacle.
(edited 14 years ago)
Reply 58
18
This is interesting, I had heard of the GI because they were at my uni's career fair, but I didn't even know the GSD existed. I'll subscribe to the thread to see if there's more to know about both.
I'm currently doing Russian and Arabic, and I'm interested in development, but I'm not quite sure what kind of experience I should try to get before applying for Masters degree. I intend to take a gap year after my undergraduate and try to find some internships for NGOs, ideally in the Middle East, but apart from that, I'm a bit at loss as to what I should do do increase my chances?
I'm currently doing Russian and Arabic, and I'm interested in development, but I'm not quite sure what kind of experience I should try to get before applying for Masters degree. I intend to take a gap year after my undergraduate and try to find some internships for NGOs, ideally in the Middle East, but apart from that, I'm a bit at loss as to what I should do do increase my chances?
Reply 59
People I know studying in Geneva often describe the Geneva School of Diplomacy as an overpriced school for rich Americans...make of it what you will.
The Graduate Institute has always been mentioned by my colleagues at other NGOs where the Geneva School of Diplomacy was never once mentioned as a place I should put in an application.
The Graduate Institute has always been mentioned by my colleagues at other NGOs where the Geneva School of Diplomacy was never once mentioned as a place I should put in an application.
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