phd in international relations and diplomacy canada

Ph.D. Degree

The Department of Political Science at McMaster University offers the Ph.D. degree in the fields of Comparative Public Policy and International Relations.

The public policy specialization will include courses and comprehensive examinations in:

• Approaches and methods for policy analysis
• A Policy field
• and at least two political systems (one of which may be Canada)

The international relations specialization will include courses and comprehensive examinations in:

• International Relations Theory
• International Political Economy
• Globalization and Transnationalism

Graduands can expect to be qualified to conduct research and teach at the university level in comparative public policy or in international relations and in one other field of political science in Canada.

A. Admission Procedures

Admission to the Ph.D. program normally will require an M.A. degree with an average of at least an A- from a recognized university. Applicants must complete the required online McMaster Admission Form, arrange to have 3 academic references submitted to the Department, submit one original transcript(s) from all universities and evidence of English proficiency where required, i.e., TOEFL, and submit a 500 word statement of their research interests and reasons for choosing McMaster University for their Ph.D. degree in Political Science. The deadline for submission of applications is February 1 .

B. Degree Requirements

Normally, candidates for the Ph.D. will:

• Complete 18 units (6 half courses) of course work beyond the M.A. level
• Demonstrate reading and research competence in an approved language other than English.
• Complete the required comprehensive examinations in Public Policy or International Relations and one other field; and
• Submit a thesis on an approved subject and defend it by oral examination.

Required Courses

For students in public policy.

• POL SCI 783 / Comparative Public Policy
• POL SCI 784 / Quantitative Political and Policy Analysis
• POL SCI 796 / Research Design and Methods

For Students in International Relations

• POL SCI 772 / Theories of International Politics
• POL SCI 774 / Global Political Economy

Additional Information

Other approved courses will be drawn from other departmental courses, and courses offered by other departments and schools. At least three of these selected units should be from Major Field 2.

All courses are half courses (three units) unless otherwise specified.

C. Supervisors and Supervisory Committees

Successful applicants will be assigned a temporary supervisor of studies upon admission. Not later than six months following arrival, a supervisory committee for each Ph.D. student will be appointed by the Graduate Committee, on the recommendation of the student and a willing thesis supervisor. This committee will consist of at least three members: a thesis supervisor, one other member of the Department and a third member, whose scholarly interests include the area of the student’s main interest, and who may be from outside the Department.

D. Comprehensive Examinations

Students in the Ph.D. program will write comprehensive examinations in two fields:

Students will write comprehensive examinations in two fields – international relations and a second field drawn from one of Canadian politics, comparative politics, political theory, or public policy.

Major Field 1

In the International Relations field, students will write an examination covering the following subfields of international relations:

• International relations theory / State of the Field
• Global Political Economy
• Globalization, governance and security

In addition, students must write a major paper that provides a review of current literature in an area of international relations approved by the student’s supervisor. Normally, this paper must be submitted prior to the written comprehensive examinations.

Major Field 2

To be selected from:

• Canadian Politics
• Comparative Politics
• Public Policy
• Political Theory

Students are normally required to have completed at least three units beyond the M.A. level at McMaster in this area prior to writing their comprehensive examination.

Normally, students will write their Major Field 1 exam in August of their first year and their Major Field 2 exam in December of their second year. Accordingly, the major paper that comprises part of the International Relations field will be submitted in December of that year.

E. Other Regulations

Applicants should consult the Graduate Calendar for a complete listing of Regulations for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy.

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Global Governance (PhD)

The world faces increasingly complex problems that have taken on global significance, including conflict and peace building, humanitarian crises and intervention, international economic inequality and instability, and global environmental change. Students in the PhD program understand the issues facing humanity and will develop both the research and leadership skills to examine how these problems are addressed at the global level. And are the mechanisms adopted to address them effective and just?

The PhD in Global Governance, offered jointly by Laurier and the University of Waterloo at the Balsillie School of International Affairs , is a unique opportunity for examination of power and authority in the global arena. Our graduates will pursue careers as researchers, scholars or practitioners working domestically or internationally in private sector positions, national or local governments, not-for profit agencies, think tanks and the media.

Program Highlights

• Study at one of Canada’s leading graduate schools for international studies, the Balsillie School of International Affairs .
• The Laurier PhD in Global Governance offers six areas of specialization .
• Opportunity to gain teaching experience in a master's level course.
• Eligible students admitted to study full-time in the PhD program will receive a minimum of $30,000 for the first year, and $27,000 a year for the subsequent three years.
• Additional financial support can be accessed through external scholarships, teaching or research assistantships and/or faculty-funded studentships.

Program Details

Joint university phd program with an interdisciplinary focus.

Graduate students in the program examine the variety of actors, institutions, ideas, rules, and processes that contribute to the management of global society. In addition to international organizations and inter-state relations, the study of global governance examines the various non-state actors as well as the realities of contemporary life that contribute to the establishment and functioning of global rules, norms and institutions.

The Global Governance PhD program interrogates the concepts, tools, and assumptions that have served scholars in the past and assesses new approaches for addressing contemporary and future challenges.

For further information, refer to the Graduate Handbook: Joint Laurier-UW Global Governance PhD Program .

Program Structure

PhD students will also complete the following milestones. The expected time to completion of the PhD is four years.

Comprehensive Examinations

Normally, candidates must write comprehensive examinations in two areas within 16 months of starting the program. Normally, students will write comprehensive exams in September at the start of their second year.

The first examination will be on Global Governance and will test the breadth and depth of a student’s comprehension of the leading literature. For their second examination, students will choose to write a comprehensive examination in one of the six fields of the program.

Students can only write an examination in a field if they have completed two courses, one of which must be a “core course” in that field.

Dissertation Proposal

Normally, students will complete and have approved a doctoral dissertation proposal by the end of February of their second year in the program. Completion of the proposal will normally involve a formal presentation and defence of the proposal to the Supervisory Committee. Normally, committee members and the student will also complete their second Annual Progress Report following the defence/approval of the dissertation proposal.

Within one week after completion of the presentation and defence, the student will make any final changes to the proposal that arise from the defence and provide the respective Program Director or Associate Director as well as the respective Program Graduate Coordinator/Program Officer with a copy of the final proposal for their records and the student’s file.

Normally, the doctoral dissertation research proposal will be no more than 30 pages or approximately 15,000 words, exclusive of bibliography. A proposal will include the following: a statement of the principal research question(s) and a justification of the question or questions; an outline of the principal theoretical orientations that are framing the research questions; a detailed outline of the research methods and steps to be taken to obtain answers to the research questions; an assessment of the likely contribution to knowledge of the dissertation research; a timetable for completion of the research.

Laurier students are required to complete the Dissertation Proposal Approval form .

Dissertations: Multiple Manuscript Thesis Guidelines

Doctoral theses can take various forms. The traditional thesis is a sole-authored document with various chapters. However, some theses – the multiple manuscript thesis – consist of a collection of papers that are published or submitted for publication; any such thesis must comply with the following guidelines:

• The multiple manuscript thesis must comply with the policies and guidelines of the student’s host institution.
• Any multiple manuscript thesis must contain at least three articles.
• At least two of the articles must be single-authored, and one may be co-authored provided the student first obtains approval from their supervisor committee, preferably at the time of the proposal defence. If an article is co-authored by the student and authors, the relationship should be explicitly stated with regards to the nature and extent of contributions to the work by all parties involved.
• There must be a common theme among the three articles that is explained in the introduction and conclusion.
• All articles must be of a publishable quality. Acceptance of a manuscript from a journal is separate from and does not constitute acceptance or approval by the advisory committee.

Research and Courses

Research focus and specialization fields.

Students will choose to specialize in one of the six fields in the program. To prepare for the comprehensive exam in that field, they must select at least two courses from their chosen field. Of these two, at least one course must be a course identified as “core” for that field.

Conflict and Security

This field is concerned with the referent objects of security and associated threats; the causes and management of conflict; and the global governance challenges of human, state, societal, national, international, ecospheric, and global security.

Courses in this stream examine the theory and practice of security at all levels of analysis.

Global Environment

This field is concerned with the global governance of environmental issues. Courses in this stream examine contemporary dilemmas relating to the ways in which environmental challenges are being addressed and managed by multiple agents through a range of transnational institutions and governance structures, both existing and proposed. Conceptual issues and debates, set within the context of a variety of internationally significant sustainability challenges, are investigated. Multilevel governance of these challenges at the international, regional, national and local levels are examined.

Key topics covered include: global climate change, agriculture and food security, international water resource management and environmental aspects of the global economy.

Global Justice and Human Rights

This field is concerned with the study of the relationship between global governance and issues of global justice and human rights.

Courses in this stream explore themes such as: the practical and ethical challenges that international human rights and relief organizations encounter when operating in the global south; theoretical approaches to understanding global justice as a contemporary social justice issue, with a particular focus on the cultural constructs relating to conceptions of freedom, obligation, and community; and contemporary debates in the field of human rights, such as those related to cultural relativism and universal human rights, human rights and foreign policy, the place of economic rights, the relationship between gender and human rights, and human rights and retrospective justice.

Global Political Economy

This field is concerned with the governance of the global economy and contemporary issues in international economic relations. Courses in this stream focus on the theoretical and public policy debates relating to governance of the global economy, as well as the evolution of international trade policy.

Topics covered include: international finance and intellectual property rights; labour and environmental standards; the control of illicit economic activity; the removal of tariffs on goods and services; and current efforts to integrate services, investment, and intellectual property into the trading regime through the increasing overlap of trade policy with monetary, competition, cultural, environmental and labour policies.

Global Social Governance

This field examines the prospects for the supranational governance of social issues with a particular focus on the political and philosophical underpinnings of transnational social policy cooperation.

Topics covered include: the implicit and explicit prescriptions for and impact upon national social policy of intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN and Bretton Woods Institutions), international non-governmental organisations and international private actors (such as TNCs and consultancy companies); the contribution of supranational organisations, international NGOs and other global actors to the global discourse on social policy; the role of private actors and global public-private partnerships in global health policy; the development of systems of transnational social redistribution, social regulation and social provision and empowerment; and the methods and concepts used by development agencies to assess the social policy of countries and shape their interventions.

Multilateral Institutions and Diplomacy

This field is concerned with the formal and informal practices, institutions and organizations which generate global governance.

Courses in this stream focus primarily on the theory, practice and machinery of international organization, public policy, and diplomacy. Topics covered include organization theory, multilateral co-operation, foreign policy, diplomatic history, global social and public policy, representation and negotiation.

Core Program Requirements

All students will complete six courses, including the following four mandatory courses: the global governance core course, an economics component, the history component, and Research Methods. Students are required to maintain an overall average of 80% in the course phase.

• Core Course Component: GV710: Globalization and Global Governance (Laurier registration) or GGOV700: Globalization and Global Governance (UW registration). Must be completed in the first term of registration in the program.
• Economics Component: GV730: Economic Analysis and Global Governance (Laurier registration) or Econ637: Economic Analysis and Global Governance (UW registration). Students who have higher-than-second-year macro/microeconomics are required to take an economics course other than GV730/Econ637.
• History Component: GV720: The History of Global Governance (Laurier registration) or HIST605: Global Governance in Historical Perspective (UW registration).
• Research Methods: GV701: Research Methods (Laurier registration) or GGOV701: Research Methods (UW registration).

See a full list of all PhD in Global Governance courses .

"I see the Balsillie School as a unique institution that provides students and scholars with the academic and experiential foundations to lead Canadian and international organizations in pursuing the most effective paths to global security and harmony."

Ann Fitz-Gerald, director, Balsillie School of International Affairs

Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.

• Start: Fall (September)
• Format: Full-time
• Application deadline:  January 15 (international applicants), April 30 (domestic applicants)

Please note: The application portal for our September 2025 intake is now open for all applicants. First round of consideration for all complete applications will be given to those received by January 15, 2025. We may continue to adjudicate domestic applications until April 30, 2025 or until the program is full.

Admission Requirements

• A master’s degree in political science, history, economics, international development studies, international peace studies, globalization studies, environmental studies, or a related field with a minimum A- standing.
• Applications are reviewed by the graduate program committee, which considers all prior university grades, a statement of research interests and letters of reference.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency in English prior to admission.
• Contact a prospective faculty advisor prior to submitting your application.

Note : It is a requirement of the application process, that you contact a prospective faculty member who shares your interests and would be a supervisor "in principle" for your PhD, should you receive an offer of admission. This must be done in advance and the information must be included on the Application Summary of the online application.

The idea of "in principle" means a professor has reviewed your statement of intent and your CV, and agrees "in principle" to supervise your doctoral dissertation. Sometimes, after the successful acceptance of an offer, another professor may be deemed to be more a suitable advisor; on the basis of this determination, it is possible to change supervisors in the early stages of your PhD program.

Application Checklist

After you have submitted your OUAC application , paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from [email protected] advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS) .

The application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.

An application for admission to our PhD program in Global Governance must include:

• The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
• Be sure you can respond "yes" to the question, "Have you spoken with any faculty at WLU?" and include the faculty member's name.
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Documents must be dated within the past six months.
• A completed statement of intent.
• A resume of your academic and work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
• A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your master's thesis or a paper written for a graduate course.
• Completed reference forms . Three academic references are required. Note: Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.

Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS .

Your Next Steps

Questions? Contact Maureen Ferraro, program officer, at [email protected] or 226.772.3122.

“The BSIA is a strong and supportive community in which I thrived as a student. I benefitted from the mentorship of a multidisciplinary faculty, exchanges with a diverse group of students, and comprehensive support that allowed me to network easily. I chose this program for its research and policy emphasis, and I made the right choice”

Ousmane Aly Diallo (PhD '2020) Researcher, Francophone West Africa, Amnesty International 

Balsillie School of International Affairs

As a hub in a global network of scholars, practitioners and students, the Balsillie School of International Affairs aims to develop new solutions to humanity’s critical problems, improve global governance now and in the future, and enhance the quality of people’s lives around the world. Founded in 2007 by philanthropist Jim Balsillie, the Balsillie School is an equal collaboration with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. 

The Balsillie School is a proud affiliated member of APSIA .

Tuition and Funding

Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

Graduate Tuition and Funding

"With contributions from several university-based partners, ASPIRE provides graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with informative, hands-on professional skills training essential for degree and post-degree success."

Brent Wolfe , Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

The program is committed to providing students with the interdisciplinary skills for a wide range of careers in the field of global governance.

We provide the students with opportunities to gain relevant international work experience, whether as a visiting scholar at a top-ranked university or as a fellow at a leading think tank. In addition to the academic curriculum, we offer supplementary "professionalization" programming and are normally able to offer funds to support field research and travel to academic conferences.

Graduates of the Joint-PhD Program in Global Governance have gone on to tenure-track positions at a number of universities in Canada and abroad. Many others are pursuing a career in leadership positions for the Government of Canada, non-government agencies, think tanks or the private sector.

• Defence Scientist, Defence Research and Development Canada
• Program Manager, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Researcher for Amnesty International
• Global Social Policy Researcher, Public Health Agency of Canada
• Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
• Researcher, Career and Education Advisor, Canada Accent Immigration
• Assistant Professor, University of New Brunswick
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Schulich School of Law
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oslo
• Research Director, Cascade Institute
• Deputy Director, Policy and Economics at Canadian Dairy Commission
• Research Associate and Lecturer, University of Kassel
• Founder, Go To Jupiter Productions Inc.
• Senior Lecturer, City University, UK
• Lecturer, Leiden University
• Senior Project Manager, MEDA
• Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh

Your Path to Post-Degree Success

ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace .

Learn about the interests of our faculty members. If you are looking for more information about this program, have questions, or want to set up a meeting, contact a member of our team . 

Alison Blay-Palmer Professor UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies

Paula Butler  Instructor

Winnie Chan Instructor

Jonathan Crush Professor

Simon Dalby Professor (Retired)

Timothy Donais Associate Professor

Alistair Edgar Associate Professor Associate Dean, School of International Policy and Governance

Nick Garside Instructor 

Patricia Goff Associate Professor

Jeff Grischow Associate Professor

Derek Hall Associate Professor   

Jenna Hennebry Associate Professor

Ken Jackson Associate Professor

Jurek Konieczny Professor

Alex Latta Associate Professor

Terrence Levesque Professor

Colleen Loomis   Associate Professor  Co-Director, PhD in Global Governance Director, Master of International Public Policy

Sara Matthews Associate Professor

Audra Mitchell Professor Canada Research Chair in Global Political Ecology

Alison Mountz Professor  Co-Director, International Migration Research Centre

Amjad Rabi  Instructor 

Kim Rygiel Associate Professor  Co-Director, International Migration Research Centre

Pierre Siklos Professor

Debora VanNijnatten Associate Professor

Margaret Walton-Roberts Professor

Alan Whiteside Professor (retired)

Randall Wigle Professor Emeritus

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Programs and courses

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Doctorate in Philosophy International Development

The School of International Development and Global Studies (SIDGS) offers an interdisciplinary graduate program leading to the degree of PhD in International Development. The program caters to students from both academic and professional backgrounds, and is offered in both English and French. In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have the right to produce their work, their thesis, and to answer examination questions in French or in English. The program is offered on a full-time basis.

Two fields are offered in the PhD Program:

• Development Theory and Critique
• Development Policy and Practice

Further information on the fields and research interests of the professors is posted on the program website .

The program operates within the framework of the general regulations in effect for graduate studies. 

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the  specific requirements  webpage.

Admission to the PhD program is governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies. 

To be considered for admission, applicants must:

• Hold a master’s degree or equivalent in International Development Studies or in a related discipline. Examples of related disciplines include Economics, Education, Geography, Law, Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology.
• Have achieved a minimum average of 80% (A-) calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines.

Language Requirements

An active knowledge of French or English is essential. Applicants must indicate in their application the language in which they intend to take the majority of their courses. Applicants whose first language is other than English or French and who have completed their BA and MA degrees in a language other than English or French must provide proof of their level of competence in one of these languages. In the case of English, applicants must have a TOEFL score of 100 or an equivalent score on another test. In the case of French, the applicant must obtain a level of F7 on the Immersion Admission Test administered by the University of Ottawa’s Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI). The School of International Development and Global Studies (SIDGS) reserves the right to conduct an interview and to require a test in either language. If a student’s doctoral research requires knowledge of a language other than French or English, the School may require proof of such knowledge.

Fast-Track from Master's to PhD Program

Students enrolled in the MA program in Globalization and International Development may be allowed to fast-track to the PhD program in International Development without being required to write a master’s thesis, provided they meet the following conditions:

• Completion of six master’s courses (18 units) including at least three courses in Globalization and International Development with a minimum average of 8/10 overall and 8.5/10 in three Globalization and International Development courses.
• Satisfactory progress in the research program.
• Submission of a well developed research plan that must include, at a minimum, a thesis proposal and background literature review.
• Written recommendation from the proposed PhD thesis supervisor.
• Recommendation by the PhD studies committee.
• Approval of the vice-dean (graduate studies) of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Students must request permission to fast-track during the fourth term of enrollment or earlier and, if approved, must enroll in the PhD in the fifth or, at the latest, in the sixth term. To receive the doctorate, students must successfully complete 30 units of courses (MA + PhD), the comprehensive examinations, the thesis proposal and the thesis. The total number of course units required may be reduced by six, as determined by the PhD Studies Committee.

The requirements of the PhD program in International Development include successful completion of 12 units of coursework, two comprehensive examinations, a thesis proposal and a thesis.

Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2018-2019 calendars  for the previous requirements.

The optional course is selected from the program’s list of SIDGS graduate courses. Under exceptional circumstances, students may select a course from another graduate program with permission of both the DVM doctoral program director and the director of the other program.

Subject to the successful completion of all the course requirements, enrollment in the Comprehensive Examination ( DVM 9995 ) is permitted.

The thesis proposal, prepared under the direction of the thesis supervisor, must be defended to the satisfaction of the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC). The proposal must normally be successfully completed by the end of the fifth term. In the event of failure, the proposal can be resubmitted and defended the following term at the latest. A second failure leads to withdrawal from the program. The proposal must be successfully completed before submitting it to the Research Ethics Board (if required) and before undertaking any independent data collection.

Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC)

During the first term, a thesis advisory committee (consisting of the thesis supervisor and at least two other professors) is assigned in consultation with the student. At least two of the committee members must be professors within the School of International Development and Global Studies (SIDGS). The composition of the committee is confirmed at the end of the first year. This committee is responsible for approving the thesis proposal and for advising the student throughout the program.

Additional Requirements

The requirements outlined above are a minimum. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to add up to two other courses if considered essential in light of the student’s academic background.

Research at the University of Ottawa

Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:

• Creating a sustainable environment
• Advancing just societies
• Shaping the digital world
• Enabling lifelong health and wellness

From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.

Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences

The Faculty of Social Sciences represents a place of excellence in knowledge creation, research and training. Driven by both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, research at the Faculty is rich, innovative and varied, contributing to the depth of understanding and breadth of discussions on a variety of issues nationally and internationally.  This research, whether it be fundamental, theoretical, applied or action-oriented, is generated by our renowned expertise, ultimately culminating in applications designed to influence individual communities and the betterment of society.

We have identified five research themes which collectively represent a large proportion of the research undertaken at the Faculty of Social Sciences:

• International Studies
• Francophonie
• Public Policy
• Health, Well-Being
• Justice, Society

Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Citizenship and Minorities (CIRCEM) , Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) , Centre for Public Management and Policy , Centre for Research on Educational and Community Service (CRECS) , Centre on Governance (COG) , Human Rights Research and Education Centre (affiliation) , Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies and Institute for Science, Society and Policy .

For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb . 

IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.

DVM 5100 Understanding International Development and Globalization (3 units)

Study of leading theories and debates on the meaning, challenges and possibilities of development and globalization. Analysis and discussion of the different aspects of development and globalization, including its cultural, political economic, security, legal and territorial implications. Interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on discussion and evaluation of key texts.

Course Component: Seminar

DVM 5101 Research Methods (3 units)

Research methods in international development and global studies. Analysis of epistemological foundations as well as ethical and practical issues associated with qualitative, quantitative and mixed research methodologies. Discussions of key aspects of research proposal development (stages, formulating sharp research questions, nature of a literature review).

DVM 5171 Monitoring and Evaluation (3 units)

The main approaches to development monitoring and evaluation of policies, programs and projects, which may include cost-benefit analysis, randomized controlled trials, qualitative evaluations, performance narratives, attribution analysis, outcome mapping, utilization-focused evaluation, participatory monitoring and evaluation. Consideration of links between monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Follows the guidelines of the International Development Evaluation Society (IDEAS).

Course Component: Lecture

DVM 5172 Gender-based Analysis (3 units)

Tools and critical analysis skills necessary for examining power dynamics and biases in gender relations, and commonly applied by major development organizations. Focus on human rights and gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) tools, gender mainstreaming techniques, and innovative approaches that will prepare students for conducting gender analyses.

DVM 5173 Financing for Development Initiatives (3 units)

Practical consideration of the modalities and issues associated with financing development initiatives. Particular attention will be paid, on the one hand, to the principal institutional sources of finance, such as multilateral, bilateral, public and public-private sources, and on the other hand, to innovative financing mechanisms such as microfinance, micro-insurance, social impact investing, crowdfunding, and public-private blended finance.

DVM 5500 Comprendre le développement international et la mondialisation (3 crédits)

Étude des principaux débats et théories sur le sens, les défis, et les possibilités du développement et de la mondialisation. Analyse et discussion des divers aspects du développement et de la mondialisation, des répercussions culturelles, politiques, économiques et juridiques ainsi que des conséquences sur les territoires et la sécurité. Approche interdisciplinaire mettant l'accent sur l'étude et l'évaluation de textes clés.

Volet : Séminaire

DVM 5501 Méthodes de recherche (3 crédits)

Méthodologies de recherche au sein des études du développement international et de la mondialisation. Analyse des fondements épistémologiques ainsi que des enjeux éthiques et pratiques des méthodologies quantitatives, qualitatives et mixtes. Discussion d'aspects clefs de l'élaboration du projet de recherche individuel (étapes d'élaboration, qualité d'une question de recherche, nature d'une revue de littérature).

DVM 5571 Suivi et évaluation (3 crédits)

Les principales approches de suivi et d’évaluation des politiques, programmes et projets de développement, incluant les analyses coûts-bénéfices, les essais aléatoires contrôlés, les évaluations qualitatives, le récit explicatif des performances, l’analyse d’attribution, la cartographie des incidences, l’évaluation axée sur l’utilisation, ainsi que le suivi et l’évaluation participatifs. Connecter les résultats issus des processus de suivi, d’évaluation et d’apprentissage. Élaboré autour du cahier de charges de l’International Development Evaluation Society (IDEAS).

Volet : Cours magistral

DVM 5572 Analyse axée sur le genre (3 crédits)

Les outils et les compétences d'analyse critique couramment utilisés par les principales organisations de développement pour étudier les dynamiques de pouvoir et les biais entourant les relations de genre. Accent sur des outils tels l’analyse comparative entre les sexes plus (ACS+) et les droits de la personne, l’intégration de la dimension de genre (mainstreaming) et les approches novatrices, et vise à préparer les étudiants à effectuer des analyses de genre.

DVM 5573 Financement des initiatives de développement (3 crédits)

Étude pratique des modalités et des enjeux du financement des initiatives de développement. L’attention sera portée, d’une part, sur les principales sources institutionnelles de financement telles que le financement multilatéral, bilatéral, public, privé et public-privé, et, d’autre part, sur les mécanismes de financement innovants, tels que la micro-finance, la micro-assurance, les investissements à forts impacts sociaux, les financements communautaires, et les financements mixtes privés-publics.

DVM 5910 Stage en mondialisation/Développement international / Internship in Globalization/International Development (3 crédits / 3 units)

Stage au Canada ou à l'étranger en milieu de travail. Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant) par un professeur du programme en fonction du rapport écrit et de l'évaluation du superviseur de stage. / Workplace internship in Canada or abroad. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory) by a professor in the program based on the written report and the evaluation of the internship supervisor.

Volet / Course Component: Stage / Work Term

Préalable : réussite des 12 crédits de cours obligatoires du programme. Exclusion : étudiants inscrits dans l'option coop. / Prerequisite: Successful completion of the 12 compulsory units in the program. Exclusion: Students registered in the co-op option.

DVM 5999 Exigence de langue / Language (3 crédits / 3 units)

Noté S (satisfaisant) ou NS (non satisfaisant). / Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).

Volet / Course Component: Cours magistral / Lecture

DVM 6101 Economic Growth, Private Sector and Social Inclusion (3 units)

Understanding economic development, including the roles of the private sector and public policy, particularly in terms of their impact on economic growth, living standards, social inclusion, poverty and inequality, and human development.

DVM 6102 Livelihoods, Resources and Sustainability (3 units)

Interaction between society and nature. Consideration of how power shapes the use of resources such as land, water, food, or energy, and on how livelihoods adapt to environmental change in various rural and urban contexts. Theoretical lenses include commons theory, social ecological resilience, political ecology, and political economy.

DVM 6103 Conflict, Transitions and Peace (3 units)

Relationships between insecurity, transitions, peace and development. Key debates on links between development and security or, conversely, between insecurity, conflict and development. Different critical perspectives on the security-development nexus. Issues surrounding human (in)security, as well as key debates on transitions and peace.

DVM 6104 Social Movements, Equity and Human Rights (3 units)

Social movements, civil society, and informal networks, their roles, actions and impacts in the struggle against the vicious cycles of inequality and vulnerability in developing countries. Themes include class, gender, ethnicity, citizenship and migration.

DVM 6105 International Development Programming: Results-Based Approaches (3 units)

The evolving international policy context for development effectiveness; results-based management for different actors and modalities (national strategies, program-based approaches, projects); how to practice RBM through the programming cycle (design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, etc.); RBM in different contexts (e.g. in middle-income countries versus fragile and conflict-affected states); limits of RBM-based approaches.

DVM 6110 Directed Studies in Globalization and International Development (3 units)

DVM 6111 Special Topics in Economic Growth, Private Sector and Social Inclusion (3 units)

DVM 6112 Special Topics in Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainability (3 units)

DVM 6113 Special Topics in Conflict, Transitions and Peace (3 units)

DVM 6114 Special Topics in Rights, Social Movements and Power (3 units)

DVM 6115 Special Topics in Professional Skills for International Development and Globalization (3 units)

DVM 6120 Special Topics in International Development (3 units)

DVM 6501 Croissance économique, secteur privé et inclusion sociale (3 crédits)

Comprendre le développement économique, notamment à travers les rôles du secteur privé et des politiques publiques, ainsi que leurs impacts sur la croissance économique, le développement humain, l'inclusion sociale, la pauvreté et les inégalités.

DVM 6502 Modes de vie, ressources et durabilité (3 crédits)

Relation entre les sociétés et la nature. Une attention particulière est accordée à la manière dont les relations de pouvoir orientent et déterminent l'utilisation de ressources comme la terre, l'eau, la nourriture et l'énergie ainsi qu'à la manière dont les moyens d'existence s'adaptent aux changements environnementaux dans des contextes ruraux et urbains variés. Les diverses approches conceptuelles incluent la théorie des biens publics, la résilience sociale et écologique, l'écologie politique et l'économie politique.

DVM 6503 Conflit, transitions et paix (3 crédits)

Les relations entre l'insécurité, les transitions, la paix et le développement. Les débats principaux portant sur les liens entre développement et sécurité ou, à l'inverse, entre insécurité, conflit et développement. Les différentes perspectives critiques quant à la connexion entre sécurité et développement. Enjeux associés avec l'(in)sécurité humaine, ainsi que les débats actuels en matière de transition et de paix.

DVM 6504 Mouvements sociaux, équité et droits humains (3 crédits)

Rôles, actions et impact des mouvements sociaux, de la société civile, et des réseaux informels dans la lutte contre le cercle vicieux de l'inégalité et de la vulnérabilité dans les pays en développement. Les thèmes abordés comprennent les questions de classe, de genre, d'ethnicité, de citoyenneté et de migration.

DVM 6505 La programmation en développement international : Les approches axées sur les résultats (3 crédits)

Le discours de l'efficacité de la coopération internationale comme contexte clé; les approches axées sur les résultats (AAR) pour divers acteurs et modalités (stratégies nationales, approches programmatiques, projets); les AAR dans le cycle de programmation (conceptualisation, planification budgétaire, mise en oeuvre, suivi et évaluation, etc.); les AAR dans divers contextes (ex. économies a revenu moyen versus États fragiles); limites des approches AAR.

DVM 6510 Études dirigées en mondialisation et développement international (3 crédits)

DVM 6511 Thèmes choisis en croissance économique, secteur privé et inclusion sociale (3 crédits)

DVM 6512 Thèmes choisis en environnement, ressources naturelles et durabilité (3 crédits)

DVM 6513 Thèmes choisis en conflit, transitions et paix (3 crédits)

DVM 6514 Thèmes choisis en droits, mouvements sociaux et pouvoir (3 crédits)

DVM 6515 Thèmes choisis en connaissances profession. pour le développement international et la mondialisation (3 crédits)

DVM 6520 Thèmes choisis en développement international (3 crédits)

DVM 6998 Mémoire / Research Paper (6 crédits / 6 units)

Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research

Préalables : DVM 5500 , DVM 5501 . / Prerequisites: DVM 5100 , DVM 5101 .

DVM 8108 Research Seminar in International Development (3 units)

Study of advanced techniques of qualitative and quantitative methods used in development research and analysis. Methods examined include the use of statistical analysis, comparative methodology, case study selection, discourse analysis, interview techniques and focus groups, and participative methods.

DVM 8111 International Development Theory, Policy and Practice (6 units)

Integrated study of the major theories and policies and practice in international development. Focus on the major texts that constitute the canon of international development studies. Key theories and approaches will include imperialism/colonialism, modernization theory, structuralist economics, dependency theory, neoliberal/neoclassical economics, and post-modern and post-colonial theory. Study of policy formulation and the role of strategic planning in the global South. Emphasis will be placed on how international institutions and policy documents impact upon the global South and how, in turn, changes in domestic and international environments shape these institutions and actors. Various political planning approaches are also examined.

The courses DVM 8111 , DVM 8109, DVM 8110 cannot be combined for units.

DVM 81111 International Development Theory, Policy and Practice (Part 1 of 2)

Integrated study of the major theories and policies and practice in international development. Focus on the major texts that constitute the canon of international development studies. Key theories and approaches will include imperialism/colonialism, modernization theory, structuralist economics, dependency theory, neoliberal/neoclassical economics, and post-modern and post-colonial theory. Study of policy formulation and the role of strategic planning in the global South. Emphasis will be placed on how international institutions and policy documents impact upon the global South and how, in turn, changes in domestic and international environments shape these institutions and actors. Various political planning approaches are also examined. (Part 1 of 2)

The courses DVM 81111 , DVM 8109, DVM 8110 cannot be combined for units.

DVM 81112 International Development Theory, Policy and Practice (Part 2 of 2) (6 units)

Integrated study of the major theories and policies and practice in international development. Focus on the major texts that constitute the canon of international development studies. Key theories and approaches will include imperialism/colonialism, modernization theory, structuralist economics, dependency theory, neoliberal/neoclassical economics, and post-modern and post-colonial theory. Study of policy formulation and the role of strategic planning in the global South. Emphasis will be placed on how international institutions and policy documents impact upon the global South and how, in turn, changes in domestic and international environments shape these institutions and actors. Various political planning approaches are also examined. (Part 2 of 2)

Prerequisite: DVM 81111 . The courses DVM 81112 , DVM 8109, DVM 8110 cannot be combined for units.

DVM 8508 Séminaire de recherche en développement international (3 crédits)

Étude des techniques avancées en méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives utilisées en matière de recherche et d'analyse en développement. Les méthodes examinées incluent l'utilisation des outils statistiques, la méthodologie comparative, la sélection d'études de cas, l'analyse de discours, les techniques d'enquêtes et d'interviews de publics cibles, et les méthodes participatives.

DVM 8511 Théories, politiques et pratiques du développement international (6 crédits)

Étude intégrée des principales théories, politiques et pratiques en développement international. Accent sur les textes et documents phares des études en développement international. Les théories et approches clés incluront l'impérialisme / colonialisme, la théorie de la modernisation, l'économie structuraliste, la théorie de la dépendance, l'économie néolibérale / néoclassique, le post-modernisme et le post-colonialisme. Étude de la formulation des politiques et du rôle de la planification stratégique dans les pays du Sud. L'accent sera mis sur l'influence des institutions internationales et des documents de politique dans le Sud, et sur la manière dont les changements de l'environnement national et international façonnent ces institutions et acteurs. Diverses approches de planification politique seront également examinées.

Les cours DVM 8511 , DVM 8509, DVM 8510 ne peuvent être combinés pour l'obtention de crédits.

DVM 85111 Théories, politiques et pratiques du développement international (partie 1 de 2)

Étude intégrée des principales théories, politiques et pratiques en développement international. Accent sur les textes et documents phares des études en développement international. Les théories et approches clés incluront l'impérialisme / colonialisme, la théorie de la modernisation, l'économie structuraliste, la théorie de la dépendance, l'économie néolibérale / néoclassique, le post-modernisme et le post-colonialisme. Étude de la formulation des politiques et du rôle de la planification stratégique dans les pays du Sud. L'accent sera mis sur l'influence des institutions internationales et des documents de politique dans le Sud, et sur la manière dont les changements de l'environnement national et international façonnent ces institutions et acteurs. Diverses approches de planification politique seront également examinées. (partie 1 de 2)

Les cours DVM 85111 , DVM 8509, DVM 8510 ne peuvent être combinés pour l'obtention de crédits.

DVM 85112 Théories, politiques et pratiques du développement international (partie 2 de 2) (6 crédits)

Étude intégrée des principales théories, politiques et pratiques en développement international. Accent sur les textes et documents phares des études en développement international. Les théories et approches clés incluront l'impérialisme / colonialisme, la théorie de la modernisation, l'économie structuraliste, la théorie de la dépendance, l'économie néolibérale / néoclassique, le post-modernisme et le post-colonialisme. Étude de la formulation des politiques et du rôle de la planification stratégique dans les pays du Sud. L'accent sera mis sur l'influence des institutions internationales et des documents de politique dans le Sud, et sur la manière dont les changements de l'environnement national et international façonnent ces institutions et acteurs. Diverses approches de planification politique seront également examinées. (partie 2 de 2)

Préalable: DVM 85111 . Les cours DVM 85112 , DVM 8509. DVM 8510 ne peuvent être combinés pour l'obtention de crédits.

DVM 8950 Thèmes choisis en développement international / Special Topic in International Development (3 crédits / 3 units)

Étude approfondie d'une problématique ou d'un sujet lié aux tendances émergeantes en développement international. / In-depth examination of a question or topic linked to emerging trends or research areas in international development.

Préalable: connaissance active soit du français soit de l’anglais et connaissance au moins passive de l’autre langue. / Prerequisite: Active knowledge of either English or French and at least a passive knowledge of the other language.

DVM 8955 Lectures dirigées / Directed Studies (3 crédits / 3 units)

Cours individuel ayant pour objectif d'approfondir les connaissances de l'étudiant dans un domaine particulier ou de lui permettre de se familiariser avec un nouveau domaine. Le sujet est déterminé et développé en consultation avec le professeur responsable et en conformité avec les directives du département. Le travail remis dans ce cours doit être différent de ce qui a pu être soumis dans d'autres cours, y compris le projet de thèse, le mémoire ou la thèse. Il y a une limite d'un cours de lectures dirigées par étudiant et la permission n'est accordée que dans des circonstances exceptionnelles. Préalable : Permission du responsable des études doctorales. / Individual course aimed at deepening a student's knowledge of a particular area or at gaining knowledge of a new area. The topic is selected and developed in consultation with the supervising professor in accordance with departmental guidelines. The work submitted for this course must be different from that submitted for other courses, including the thesis proposal, the master's research paper or the thesis. Maximum of one directed readings course per student and permission granted only under exceptional circumstances.

Permission du Département est requise. / Permission of the Department is required.

DVM 9995 Examen de synthèse / Comprehensive Exam

Préalables: Réussite de toutes les exigences de cours. / Prerequisites:Successful completion of all course requirements.

DVM 9998 Projet de thèse / Thesis Proposal

Préalable : DVM 9995 . / Prerequisite: DVM 9995 .

Undergraduate Studies

For more information about undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your faculty .

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

For more information about graduate studies at the University of Ottawa, please refer to your academic unit .

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International Relations & Development Studies

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International Relations

International relations have had a profound impact on the world in which we live. While international relations sometimes seem remote and rarified - diplomats sending dispatches to their home governments and summit meetings between heads of government - they are a part of people's daily consciousness and experience. Canadian peacekeepers in Afghanistan; global warming; nuclear weapons testing in North Korea; global initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS; earthquakes in South America; the World Wide Web; spring break in the Dominican Republic; SARS; the dizzying price of filling your gas tank: in the 21st century people around the world are connected in so many ways. These kinds of connections have long existed - although not always in such an instantaneous or intensive way - in an international environment marked by conflict, cooperation, and change.

The Honours Specialization in International Relations examines the connections between peoples and states in historical and contemporary contexts. It is an interdisciplinary program - unique in Canada - between Political Science and History. It is also a rigorous program for high achieving students. The study of international relations prepares students for careers in the field of international relations, including international development, international law, foreign affairs reporting, and the foreign service.

Graduates of the International Relations Program

Students graduating from the International Relations Program have gone on to study in post-graduate programs in law, journalism, history, public history, political science, development studies, security studies, global migration, and global studies. They attend universities in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain and have been the recipients of prestigious grants and awards.

Two of recent graduates of the International Relations program (Aaron Joshua Pinto and Nicholas Schiavo) were recently featured in Open Canada's future foreign policymakers 2018.  Read more about it here .

Joint Program

A proud collaboration between

International Relations Lawson Hall, room 2201 London, ON N6A 5B8 Canada Western University London, Ontario T. 519 661 3645

Department of History

Department of Political Science

School of Graduate Studies

Global affairs, program overview.

The Master of Global Affairs (MGA) is a two-year professional program, consisting of four sessions of coursework and a compulsory summer internship.In the first year, students pursue core courses in the five pillars of the program: Global Security, Global Development, Global Justice and Human Rights, Global Markets and Innovation Policy.

Students may also be interested in combined degree programs:

• Law, Juris Doctor / Master of Global Affairs (JD/MGA) or
• Master of Business Administration / Master of Global Affairs (MBA/MGA)

Quick Facts

“U of T houses some of the country's best academics.”

PhD in International Relations

Engage in problem-driven research with a truly global focus

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in International Relations trains scholars to conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research across key areas of international affairs and political science. A combination of in-depth hands-on fieldwork and comprehensive theoretical study enables Fletcher's PhD students to uncover the meaningful questions that ultimately shape both their future research and their careers.

Developing tomorrow's thought leaders

With approximately 50 students engaged in coursework or research, the PhD program is an integral and vibrant component of the Fletcher community. Working alongside our world-renowned faculty, Fletcher doctoral candidates acquire the theoretical and practical skills needed to produce research that will help shape future discourse on international relations. After completing their degrees, graduates go on to successful high-level careers in academia and research, and in the non-profit, government, and private sectors.

Fletcher’s PhD candidates come from around the world, bringing perspectives and experiences that inform their research and goals.  Get to know their stories and learn how they plan to shape the future of international affairs.

After completing their degrees, doctoral graduates go on to successful high-level careers in academia and research, and in the non-profit, government, and private sectors.  They make their impact on an array of fields, often maintaining a presence in both academia and practice.

Fletcher PhD students move through three program phases on their way from admission to graduation. They start with classes, arranged within a structured curriculum that still allows significant flexibility in course selection. When their class requirements are complete, students take comprehensive exams, and then move on as PhD candidates to research and write a dissertation.

Shaping Your PhD Through Coursework

In shaping their curriculum, students start with a primary field of study, through which they develop a depth of expertise unique to their interests. The primary fields of study that support PhD studies are:

• Comparative and Regional Studies
• Gender and Intersectional Analysis
• Human Security and Humanitarian Affairs
• International Business
• International Development and Environmental Policy
• International Security

Students build on their primary field of expertise by developing a breadth of foundational knowledge in a second field of study, which can be any of the  fields offered at Fletcher  or might be a self-designed field. Regardless of their choice of field, all students also pursue foundational courses in international relations theory and in research methodology. The two fields of study later become the basis for comprehensive exams.

Students seeking additional opportunities to individualize their studies may cross-register for up to a quarter of their classes at another graduate school at Tufts University or at Harvard University.

Students who have received their master's degree at another institution generally pursue twelve courses at Fletcher, with limited opportunities to have prior coursework applied to their degree. Those who possess a MALD generally pursue an additional four courses, for a total of twenty courses for the two degrees.

Demonstrating Knowledge Through Comprehensive Examinations

Students demonstrate mastery of their subjects through comprehensive examinations, composed of a written exam in each of the two fields of study and an oral exam that integrates the material from the two areas. Students generally sit for their comprehensive examinations within a year of completing their coursework.

Developing and Writing a Dissertation

Once they have passed their comprehensive exams and achieved PhD candidacy, students move on to propose, research, and write a dissertation. The completed dissertation should bear evidence of independent research and constitute a substantial contribution on the subject. When the dissertation is complete, the PhD candidate participates in a public oral defense of the dissertation.

Additional Graduation Requirements

In addition to the steps detailed above, students in the PhD program:

• Demonstrate proficiency in a second language.
• Submit a master's thesis for evaluation by a Fletcher faculty member. This could be a master's thesis written prior to enrollment at Fletcher, or a thesis written during the first year at Fletcher.

Length of Time Required to Receive the PhD

Once they have completed their coursework, PhD students generally take about five years to complete the degree, but the exact time varies according to the scope of each candidate's research, the amount of time devoted to PhD studies, and the time needed to research and write the dissertation.

Professional Development Opportunities

Fletcher's Office of Career Services  works with PhD students interested in a career in international relations practice. Our graduates have pursued careers at a wide range of institutions and organizations. For those focused on the academic job market, Fletcher offers support at a variety of levels. Fletcher faculty and the Office of Career Services support job candidates with career advice, professional development, and general assistance.

To develop teaching skills, students can participate in Tufts University’s three-week summer intensive  Graduate Institute for Teaching  and then to co-teach a class with a faculty mentor. Many students have also developed and taught classes in the University’s  Osher Institute  or  Experimental College .

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12 Universities in Canada offering International relations degrees and courses

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Are you looking for International relations courses? Here you can find course providers offering full-time, part-time, online or distance learning options.

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Western University (Ontario)

THE World Ranking: 201

Alexander College

Acadia university.

University of Warwick

THE World Ranking: 106

University of Waterloo

THE World Ranking: 158

University of Windsor

THE World Ranking: 501

Mount Allison University

University of Toronto

THE World Ranking: 21

Trinity College in the University of Toronto

The University of British Columbia

THE World Ranking: 41

University of Calgary

St. Thomas University

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Graduate School

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

General information, program offerings:.

• Joint Degree

Director of Graduate Studies:

Graduate program administrator:.

The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) offers a distinctive curriculum that strikes a careful balance between theory and practice. Graduate students spend time developing analytical skills and acquiring a substantive knowledge about the world's most important domestic and international issues.

The School has a diverse faculty representing a wide range of disciplines and expertise, with 20 affiliated research centers and programs.

The School's resources enable students to earn graduate degrees without incurring indebtedness, thereby making it more feasible to pursue careers of public service in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Graduate Programs

The principal graduate program of the school is a two-year curriculum leading to the degree of Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.). Students can earn a dual degree in public affairs and law (M.P.A./J.D.) after four years of study at SPIA  and a collaborating law school. The School also offers a dual degree in business (M.P.A./M.B.A) with the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. 

The School also has a graduate program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in public and international affairs, as well as a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) for mid-career professionals.

Additional departmental requirements

Ph.D. – sample of written work, 25 page maximum. Applicants are required to select an academic subplan when applying.

MPA– Course list. 4 page policy memo. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

MPA – J.D. – Course list. 4 page policy memo. 2 page joint degree statement. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

MPA - MBA – Course list. 4 page policy memo. 2 page joint degree statement. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

MPP – 4 page policy memo. Applicants are required to select a field when applying. Mid-career professionals are required to have a minimum of 7 years’ experience.

MPA and MPP - Must have 3 letters of recommendation: preference for 1 professional letter, 1 academic reference letter, and 1 letter from a faculty member, administrator, or professional who can comment on the applicant's commitment to public service.  

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d., program description.

The purpose of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs' doctoral program is to train top-quality researchers in critical areas of public policy.  It offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs in two research clusters: Security Studies; and Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP).  The goal is to enroll eight students per year in the program, with four in each research cluster.

Core courses and individual requirements are determined by the faculty in each cluster. Both clusters require advanced politics and econometrics training for social science research.  A student in the STEP cluster must take at least eight courses in the first two years, and a minimum of three courses must come from within SPIA or from science or engineering departments, selected with approval of the primary adviser and the faculty coordinator of the STEP Ph.D. cluster.  A student in the Security cluster takes 12 courses during the first two years.  All students are required to maintain an overall grade average of 85 (B) or higher to remain in the Ph.D. program.  Full requirements are available on the SPIA website.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Writing Requirement

Students are required to complete an original research paper of publishable quality.

General exam

The examination covers two fields identified by the student in consultation with a faculty committee and includes two written components.  Students in both clusters may be required to complete an oral examination, depending on their performance on the written components. Students are expected to complete all parts of the general examination by the end of the second year.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully completes all coursework and the general examination.  It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that the M.A. requirements have been met.

A six-hour teaching assignment (precepting), usually following the general examination, is required.

Post-Generals requirements

A written research prospectus is required.

Dissertation and FPO

After a candidate successfully completes the general examination and defends the written prospectus, the Ph.D. program committee approves entry into the dissertation phase of the program.  

The student prepares a dissertation for review by the faculty. Departmental acceptance of the dissertation qualifies the candidate for the final public oral examination.  The Final Public Oral (FPO) examination is required by University regulations, and is conducted after the dissertation has been recommended for acceptance by the School.

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the FPO examination completed.

Program Offering: M.P.A.

The Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.) offers rigorous preparation for international and domestic policy careers.

This two-year, full-time residential program cultivates among its students and graduates a lasting commitment to public service.

Through its core curriculum and a wide variety of elective courses, students learn analytical skills that address the political, economic, quantitative, behavioral and normative aspects of complex policy problems. 

Each M.P.A. candidate selects a policy field in which to specialize from the school’s four fields of concentration: international relations, international development, domestic policy, and economics and public policy. Students may also earn a joint degree in public affairs and law (M.P.A./J.D.), or in public affairs and business (M.P.A./M.B.A.). Certificate programs offer additional areas of specialization in fields such as health policy; science, technology, and environmental policy (STEP); and urban policy.

Significant financial aid resources are dedicated to enable SPIA students the opportunity to receive graduate degrees without incurring loan indebtedness and to launch them into public service careers in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Students must complete 16 full-term courses in an approved plan of study, attaining an overall average in the 16 courses of 80 or better. The overall average includes actual grades in courses taken Pass/D/Fail. The curriculum of the M.P.A. program includes seven required core courses that address skills and techniques needed for the systematic study of public policy problems. The courses cover political analysis, quantitative methods, and economic and behavioral analysis. 

Additional requirements

Policy Workshops Graduate policy workshops are a unique part of the SPIA graduate curriculum.

Policy workshops provide students with an opportunity to use the analytical skills they have acquired in the first year in the program to analyze complex and challenging policy issues, usually for real clients. Each workshop consists of about 10 students who work in teams to evaluate a policy challenge.

The workshops emphasize policy implementation, and it is this emphasis that distinguishes them from regular courses. The goal of the workshops is to understand a policy issue in great depth and to make policy recommendations that are both creative and realistic, given the relevant institutional and political constraints.

Policymaking in Diverse Societies half-term course All students must take at least one half-term course that focuses on policymaking in diverse societies during the two-year course of study.  A list of pre-approved courses will be made available to students each academic year.

Required summer course in Race, Power and Inequality  All students must take a summer course (SPI 500) Race, Power and Inequality which precedes all other core courses and is integrated into the four-week summer program. This is a for-credit half-term course, with mandatory PDF grading.

Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE) In late January, before spring semester courses begin, first-year M.P.A. students are required to take part in a policy project called the Integrated Policy Exercise, or IPE.

The IPE requires students to apply the skills they acquired in the fall term core courses. They are given briefing materials to review in advance and are then required to submit a comprehensive memo in response to a set of specific policy questions. The IPE is a trial run for the first-year qualifying examination (QE1).

Qualifying Examination 1 (QE1) In early May, at the end of the second semester, students are required to take the QE1, a graded exercise that closely parallels the IPE.

The QE1 requires an integrated use of all the analytical skills acquired in the first-year core curriculum.

Qualifying Examination 2 (QE2) Second-year students are required to take and pass a second qualifying exam (QE2) in their chosen field of concentration at the end of the second year.

Internship  Students must successfully complete an internship approved by the Internship Committee.

Program Offering: M.P.P.

The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs offers a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree for mid-career professionals who are rising leaders in international and domestic public policy.  This residential program is designed for mid-career professionals with seven or more years of public service experience in government agencies or nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad.

The M.P.P. program provides rigorous training in economic, behavioral, political, and organizational analysis. Students may also choose to specialize and earn a certificate in one of the following: health and health policy (HHP); science, technology, and environmental policy (STEP); or urban policy (UP).

To qualify for the degree, M.P.P. candidates must successfully complete eight courses.

A typical M.P.P. program of study will include a specialization in one of the school’s four fields of concentration:

• International Relations
• International Development
• Domestic Policy
• Economics and Public Policy

All M.P.P. students begin with a six-week summer program that includes intensive courses in microeconomics and statistics, and a policy analysis and leadership seminar.

The summer program is designed to enhance students’ preparation for graduate-level courses. The seminar aims to introduce them to the approaches they will encounter in SPIA courses during the academic year, while also helping them get to know their peers and refine their learning objectives for the year.

Program Offering: Joint Degree

Some students may wish to combine the School's program in public affairs with study for a degree in a related professional field.

A joint M.P.A.-J.D. degree program that combines public affairs with the study of law is offered in cooperation with the law schools of New York University, Columbia, Stanford, and Yale. On occasion, joint programs with other law schools have been approved by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the cooperating law school.

The joint program shortens the time involved in obtaining the two degrees and makes possible an effective combination of the several disciplines involved in public policy analysis. Participating students spend five semesters at the cooperating law school and three semesters at SPIA, thus reducing by two semesters the normal time required to earn the two degrees. Enrollment in the joint program requires a separate application and admission to each school.

For a small number of exceptionally strong candidates, the School will accept applications for a joint program that combines public and international affairs with the study of business administration. Proposals giving a detailed rationale for such a joint program must be submitted at the time of application. At this time, Stanford’s Graduate School of Business is the only cooperating business school. A joint degree programs will normally shorten by one semester the length of time required to complete each of the individual programs.

• Amaney A. Jamal
• David S. Wilcove

Director of Graduate Studies

• Elke U. Weber

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• Susan L. Marquis
• Gary J. Bass
• Roland J. Benabou
• Alan S. Blinder
• Carles Boix
• Charles M. Cameron
• Miguel A. Centeno
• Christopher F. Chyba
• Alin I. Coman
• Janet M. Currie
• Rafaela M. Dancygier
• Navroz K. Dubash
• Pascaline Dupas
• Kathryn J. Edin
• Christopher L. Eisgruber
• Aaron L. Friedberg
• Filiz Garip
• Noreen Goldman
• Bryan T. Grenfell
• Gene M. Grossman
• G. John Ikenberry
• Harold James
• Seema Jayachandran
• Jennifer L. Jennings
• Henrik J. Kleven
• Ilyana Kuziemko
• David S. Lee
• Frances E. Lee
• John B. Londregan
• Denise L. Mauzerall
• Nolan McCarty
• C. Jessica E. Metcalf
• Atif R. Mian
• Helen V. Milner
• Sanyu A. Mojola
• Eduardo Morales
• Andrew Moravcsik
• Layna Mosley
• Michael Oppenheimer
• Pietro Ortoleva
• Elizabeth L. Paluck
• Grigore Pop-Eleches
• Deborah A. Prentice
• Markus Prior
• Emily Pronin
• Laurence Ralph
• Stephen J. Redding
• Richard Rogerson
• Cecilia E. Rouse
• Aysegül Sahin
• Kim Lane Scheppele
• Eldar Shafir
• Jacob N. Shapiro
• Patrick T. Sharkey
• Stacey A. Sinclair
• Paul E. Starr
• Florencia Torche
• Zeynep Tufekci
• James Raymond Vreeland
• Keith A. Wailoo
• Leonard Wantchekon
• Mark W. Watson
• Ismail K. White
• Jennifer A. Widner
• Deborah J. Yashar
• Julian E. Zelizer
• Owen M. Zidar

Associate Professor

• Elizabeth M. Armstrong
• Thomas Fujiwara
• Alexander Glaser
• Adam M. Goldstein
• Jonathan Mayer
• Jonathan F. Mummolo
• Anuj K. Shah
• Hye Young You

Assistant Professor

• Benjamin H. Bradlow
• Pauline Carry
• Amelia M. Frank-Vitale
• Tanushree Goyal
• Naima N. Green-Riley
• John R. Grigsby
• Saad A. Gulzar
• Peter Henderson
• Aleksandra Korolova
• Karthik A. Sastry
• Maria Micaela Sviatschi
• Guadalupe Tuñón
• Andreas B. Wiedemann

Associated Faculty

• Alison E. Isenberg, History
• Guy J.P. Nordenson, Architecture

Lecturer with Rank of Professor

• Robert L. Hutchings
• Ethan Kapstein
• Stanley N. Katz
• W Bentley MacLeod

Professor of the Practice

• Heather H. Howard
• Alicia Adsera
• Lakshmi N. Balaji
• Frederick D. Barton
• Mark Berlin
• Barbara C. Buckinx
• Andrew Buher
• Devanne Béda-Geuder
• Zack Cooper
• Lauren Davis
• Maya Dimant
• Edward P. Freeland
• Varun Gauri
• Arbel Griner
• Jean B. Grossman
• William G. Guthe
• Kerry M. Healey
• Mehmet Hecan
• Sofie Norma Hiltner
• Thomas D. Howes
• Razia Iqbal
• Gregory B. Jaczko
• Steven A. Kelts
• Daniel C. Kurtzer
• Nicholas J. Lotito
• Tom Malinowski
• Robert Malley
• Elliot J. Mamet
• Anastasia Mann
• Carol L Martin
• Eric Medawar
• Daniel J. Meuse
• Timothy J. Nelson
• Deborah N. Pearlstein
• Sebastien Philippe
• Ransford Pinto
• Juan C. Pinzon
• Kenneth Roth
• Leslie J. Rowley
• Thomas A. Shannon
• Arian M. Sharifi
• Alyssa B. Sharkey
• Tsering Wangyal Shawa
• Sarah L. Staszak
• Hannah B. Waldfogel
• Nathaniel Zbaida
• Sam van Noort

Visiting Professor

• Martin S. Flaherty
• Yoto V. Yotov

Visiting Lecturer

• Eduardo Bhatia
• Brendan F. Boyle
• Martha B. Coven
• Salam Fayyad
• Barton D. Gellman
• Pallavi Gogoi
• Dee L. Mewbourne
• Mark A. Milley
• Teddy Nemeroff
• Steven Strauss

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

ENE 549 - Integrated Assessment Modeling for Climate Policy Making (also SPI 583)

Pol 506 - qualitative methods (also spi 595), pop 507 - generalized linear statistical models (also spi 509), spi 500 - race, power, and inequality, spi 501 - the politics of public policy, spi 502 - psychology for policy analysis and implementation, spi 503 - management of non-profit organizations, spi 504 - policy issues and analysis of civil society, non-profits, and philanthropy, spi 505 - financial management in the corporate and public sectors, spi 506 - the sociology of organizations, spi 507b - quantitative analysis for policymakers, spi 507c - quantitative analysis for policymakers (advanced), spi 508a - econometrics for policymakers: applications (half-term), spi 508b - econometrics for policymakers (half-term), spi 508c - econometrics for policymakers (advanced), spi 508d - econometrics and public policy (accelerated), spi 511b - microeconomic analysis for policymakers, spi 511c - microeconomic analysis for policymakers (advanced), spi 512b - macroeconomic analysis for policymakers, spi 512c - macroeconomic analysis for policymakers (advanced), spi 515b - program and policy evaluation, spi 515c - program and policy evaluation: impact evaluation tools, spi 519a - negotiation, persuasion and social influence: theory and practice (also psy 528a), spi 521 - domestic politics, spi 522 - microeconomic analysis of domestic policy, spi 523 - legal and regulatory policy toward markets, spi 524 - the political economy of central banking, spi 525 - public economics and public policy, spi 527a - topics in domestic policy, spi 527b - topics in domestic policy, spi 527c - topics in domestic policy, spi 527d - topics in domestic policy, spi 528a - topics in domestic policy, spi 528b - topics in domestic policy, spi 528c - topics in domestic policy, spi 528d - topics in domestic policy, spi 528f - topics in domestic policy, spi 528g - topics in domestic policy, spi 529 - great leadership in historical perspective, spi 530 - values based leadership, spi 531 - identity, power, and policy, spi 533 - planning theory and process (also arc 535), spi 534 - land use policy and planning, spi 535 - planning methods, spi 537 - urban inequality and social policy (also soc 537), spi 538 - urban economics, spi 539 - urban politics and policymaking, spi 540 - urbanization and development, spi 541 - international politics, spi 542 - international economics, spi 543 - international trade policy, spi 544 - international macroeconomics, spi 547 - the conduct of international diplomacy, spi 548 - weapons of mass destruction and international security, spi 549 - national security policy, spi 550 - phd gateway in security studies, spi 552 - the politics of globalization, spi 555a - topics in ir, spi 555b - topics in ir, spi 555c - topics in ir, spi 555d - topics in ir, spi 555e - topics in ir, spi 555f - topics in ir, spi 556a - topics in ir, spi 556b - topics in ir (also las 566/pol 564), spi 556c - topics in ir, spi 556d - topics in ir (also pol 522), spi 556e - topics in ir, spi 556f - topics in ir, spi 556g - topics in ir, spi 558 - human rights, spi 559 - the rule of law, spi 561 - the comparative political economy of development (also pol 523), spi 562b - economic analysis of development, spi 562c - economic analysis of development (advanced), spi 564 - poverty, inequality and health in the world (also pop 564), spi 565 - social determinants of health (also pop 565/soc 565), spi 566a - topics in health (also pop 566), spi 568 - economics of health in developing countries, spi 571 - topics in development, spi 571a - topics in development, spi 571b - topics in development, spi 571c - topics in development, spi 571d - topics in development, spi 572 - topics in development, spi 572a - topics in development, spi 572b - topics in development, spi 572c - topics in development, spi 574 - making government work, spi 576a - topics in regional and country studies, spi 576b - topics in regional and country studies, spi 581a - topics in economics, spi 581c - topics in economics, spi 582a - topics in economics, spi 582b - topics in economics, spi 582c - topics in economics, spi 582f - topics in economics, spi 585a - topics in step, spi 585b - topics in step, spi 585c - topics in step, spi 586a - topics in step, spi 586b - topics in step (also eeb 516), spi 586d - topics in step, spi 586e - topics in step, spi 586f - topics in step (also cos 586), spi 588 - extramural summer research project, spi 589 - methods in science, technology, and environmental policy, spi 590a - economic perspectives on inequality (half term), spi 590b - politics of inequality and redistribution (half-term) (also pol 598), spi 590c - sociological studies of inequality (half-term) (also soc 571), spi 590d - psychological studies of inequality (half-term) (also psy 590), spi 590s - workshop in social policy, spi 591 - policy workshops, spi 591a - policy workshop, spi 591b - policy workshop, spi 591c - policy workshop, spi 591d - policy workshop, spi 591e - policy workshop, spi 591f - policy workshop, spi 591g - policy workshop, spi 591h - policy workshop, spi 592 - policy workshops, spi 593 - policy analysis: selected topics (half-term), spi 593a - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593b - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593c - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593d - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593e - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also soc 585), spi 593f - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593g - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593h - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593i - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593j - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593k - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593l - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593m - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593n - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593o - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593p - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593q - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593r - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also pop 593r), spi 593s - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593t - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593z - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594 - policy analysis: selected topics (half-term), spi 594a - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594b - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594c - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also pop 594c), spi 594d - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594e - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594f - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594g - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594h - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594i - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594j - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594k - topics in policy analysis (half term), spi 594l - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594m - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594n - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594o - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594p - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594q - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594r - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594s - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594t - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also pop 594t), spi 594u - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594v - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594w - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594x - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594y - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also ene 594), spi 595b - phd seminar: qualitative research design (also pol 509), spi 597 - public policy approaches to health and health care, spi 598 - epidemiology (also pop 508), spi 599 - extramural public policy fellowship.

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• Campus Tour

Doctor of International Relations

-Daria-Romana Pop, Threat Intelligence Analyst at Microsoft (BAIR, Class of 2019)

-Robina Alhneiti, (BAIR, Class of 2017)

-Hussein Aboul-Enein, Director, Head of Middle East at Access Partnership (BAIR, Class of 2017)

-Faaiz Kaamil, (MIR, Class of 2011)

-Marco Marcucci, Communication and Press Office Specialist at NHOA Group (MIR, Class of 2016)

-Louisa Djerroud, (BAIR, Class of 2017)

-Hon. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to Italy (EMIR, Alumni)

-Jon-Mark Walls, Business Development Manager at Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering (BAIR, Class of 2011)

-Ambassador Matern Lumbanga, (DIR, Class 2007)

-Zoé Ryan, Internal Consultant at OECD Investment Division (BAIR, 2017)

-Schuchita Mehta, (BAIR, Class of 2011)

-Noori Obaid Khan, Constituency Assistant at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (EMIR, Class of 2011)

-Donis Sadushaj, Members and Partners Relations at ITU (BAIR, Class of 2018)

-Juan Pablo Cardenal, (EMIR, Class of 2016)

-David Orre, Innovation and Partnership at ITU (MIR, Class of 2017)

-Mariana Suarez, Policy Adviser at New Zealand Embassy in Bogota (MIR, Class of 2016)

-Dr. Kalliopi Ioannidou, (EMIR, Class of 2016)

-Dr. Preethi Amaresh, External Consultant at Africa 21 (DIR, Class of 2023)

-Mayra Ramirez, Program Officer at The Global Fund (MIR, Class of 2021)

-Marcelo Tenza, Director General of Group Solsegur (EMIR, Class of 2023)

-Renée Sauvé-Lemieux, Sevior level Executive Assistant at CTG (MIR, Class of 2015)

-Rawia Khayal, Researcher and Lecturer (DIR, 2023)

-Michael Hasenmueller, Head, Weapons and Ammunitions at Armasuisse (DIR, 2009)

-Suzanne Rosselet, Professor at the American Institute of Applied Sciences in Switzerland (DIR, 2011)

DIR by Research

Dir by dossier, tuition fee.

The Doctorate degree at the Geneva School of Diplomacy is a prestigious, well-rounded programme that offers a unique and exciting intellectual environment for the in-depth and interdisciplinary study of International Relations and Diplomacy.

GSD, Doctor of International Relations and Diplomacy course brings together academic excellence through meticulous independent research and real-world applicability. We confer doctoral degrees on the basis of two distinct modalities:

DOCTOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (DIR) BY RESEARCH

(Dissertation of 80,000 – 100.000 words)

DOCTOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (DIR) BY DOSSIER

The GSD-DIR research programme offers students the option to pursue their doctoral programme by distance. The duration of the programme is 3 years and results in 240 ECTS.

The GSD-DIR by research programme offers a unique and exciting intellectual environment for the in-depth and interdisciplinary study of International Relations and Diplomacy. The programme has already attracted high skilled and experienced students from across the world. Students have developed and are carrying out research in areas as diverse as traditional and new security issues, diplomacy, international affairs, political economy, human rights, geopolitics, post-colonial studies.

GSD post-graduate students work closely with their assigned supervisor and work intensively to develop at the highest level the potential of each candidate, both from methodological and theoretical points of view.

• A BA degree and a MA in a relevant subject (International relations, politics, law, economics, diplomacy). Equivalent overseas qualifications are acceptable.
• If a candidate has an interdisciplinary Master degree they may be asked to undertake a Pre-DIR course to qualify for the Doctor Programme. Please note qualifying for Doctor degree does not guarantee entry in the Doctor programme.
• A solid research proposal of 4000-5000 words in the GSD template. Please   Click Here  to download the template

*The doctor degree is the highest degree we award similar to that of PhD.

The DIR by Dossier is awarded by GSD to leading authorities in the field of study concerned. This prestigious doctorate recognizes scholarly work of high distinction, impact and originality.

• A statement of 1.000 words where the candidate explains and justifies why she/he meets all the requirements for the Award of the GSD DIR by Dossier.
• A collection of 8 scholarly papers published in top international journals or a solely authored book published by a prestigious publishing house or university press (published a maximum of 3 years in advance to the year of the application).
• A copy of the applicant’s passport

For further details, kindly contact the Academic Office via: [email protected] .

TUITION AND EXPENSES – DIR BY RESEARCH

DIR by Research (three years) / CHF 11’000.- per year (CHF 33’000.- total)

TUITION AND EXPENSES – DIR BY DOSSIER

DIR by Dossier / CHF 9’000.-

Application fee/strong>CHF 500.-

Application fee is non-refundable

These fees do NOT include travel, living accommodation, meals, medical or health insurance and the required study trip.

Financing your studies

If you are going to live and study in Switzerland, please keep in mind that Geneva is amongst the most expensive cities in the world. It is important to establish a realistic and sustainable financial plan for the entire period of studies. Of course obtaining a degree is also an investment in your personal development and in your own future. The financial aspect therefore should not be the only factor when deciding to begin or continue your studies in Geneva.

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Application process

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Doctor in International Relations by Research

• Intake * February 2025 September 2025 February 2026
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All documents mentioned above with an asterisk are compulsory.

Upon pressing send we will receive your application, and the applicant will be taken to the payment gateway to make the application fee payment.

If you want to pay by bank transfer, please contact [email protected].

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• Account’s holder: Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations Address: Château de Penthes, Chemin de l’Impératrice 18, 1292 Pregny /Switzerland Name of the bank: UBS SA Address of the bank: 8098 Zurich / SWITZERLAND Account #: 22855816401Q Swift / BIC: UBSWCHZH80A IBAN: CH460022822855816401Q
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Graduate Admissions

Public & international affairs.

The two-year Masters in Public and International Affairs prepares Canada's future leaders for today's global challenges. It has three distinguishing features.  First, it is bilingual, students being required to take one-third of their courses and do their assignments in them in Canada's other official language. Second, it seeks to fuse together theory and practical knowledge. Instructors are both academics and practitioners.  Students learn to write briefing notes and memos to senior government officials.

They do a paid supervised internship with a government department, an international agency, or a non-governmental organization. Those students who wish to pursue an academic career have the opportunity to do a major research paper in their final year. Third, it is multidisciplinary and integrative: students are exposed in their courses to different methodological approaches and skills. The second-year Capstone Seminar is designed to bring together these diverse aptitudes in a dynamic learning environment.

As its name suggests, the MPIA has a strong international component. It encourages second-year students to go on a one-term exchange or to opt for the double Masters degree the MPIA has with the Université de Strasbourg in France. Our programme boasts a very high success rate in placing its graduates in enriching jobs in the federal or provincial civil service, as well as in international organizations or local bodies.       

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Degrees Offered

Masters in public and international affairs (mpia), program length (full-time), program component(s).

• Major research paper
• OR Course work only

Minimum Required GPA

Deadline - fall (full-time applicants only), english proficiency requirement.

Duolingo scores are accepted for Summer 2021, Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 entry only.

Required Forms

En français Informations complémentaires  (PDF) Formulaire d'évaluation (PDF)

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• 3 recommendation(s)

Other Requirements

• Applicants are required to be proficient in at least one language (English or French), with at least a working knowledge of the other language
• Resumé or CV
• Statement of interest (approx. 500 words), in French & English, including Grad Course List
• Seminar paper (5,000 to 7,500 words)

Ways to connect with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Program Supports

Have a program-related question.

Contact the graduate program assistant: yorku.ca/gradstudies/program-contacts/

Have an admission related question? Contact the Graduate Admissions Team

By phone: 416-872-9675

By email:   [email protected]

Upcoming graduate webinars/in-person events for Future Students: futurestudents.yorku.ca/events/graduate

York University Office of Admissions Bennett Centre for Student Services 99 Ian Macdonald Blvd Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 CANADA 

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The state of international relations studies in Canada

From the diversity of its scholars to the most desirable schools, the field has not changed much in recent years, writes Steve Saideman, as he looks at the results of a recent survey.

Four years ago, I took stock of Canada’s international relations field, examining the demographics of the professors who study international relations as well as what they think of Canadian IR institutions. My analysis was based on a 2014 survey done by the Teaching, Research and International Policy [TRIP] project. TRIP surveys academics around the world on a whole suite of questions about every four years and surveys American IR scholars more frequently on public policy issues.

TRIP re-ran the worldwide survey in the spring of 2018, releasing the results to its research teams a few months ago (the results are not yet publicly available online). For the Canadian sub-survey, of the approximately 600 scholars contacted by the project, more than 200 answered, producing a response rate of nearly 33 percent — the best response rate of any country. As I am part of the team of academics who assist with the project, I would like to update Canadians on the state of international relations in this country.

To be clear, only so much can change in a short period. Still, as we can see below, when it comes to the field’s demographics, there have been some modest changes, even progress, in the last few years. In my previous report for OpenCanada, I compared Canada to the United Kingdom and the United States. In this report, I will compare the new results to the 2014 survey.

First, the latest results show that Canadian IR scholarship is still a male-dominated field. (All the results are based on those who filled out the survey — and my analysis here is based on the assumption the respondents are a reflection of those in the field as a whole.)

The percentages have changed modestly, with female respondents increasing to 34 percent from 29 percent. While this might be an artifact of who responded last time versus this time, movement does seem to be in a more diverse direction.

Similarly, the field is mostly white (81 percent):

In 2014, the respondents were 83 percent white, so it is hard to say that the field is becoming much more diverse along race or ethnicity.

The most striking change is the aging of the professoriate:

It may be that response rates favoured older scholars, but this figure suggests the field is getting older. It perhaps may be the case that the past several years have seen less hiring of junior faculty. There has been much written about the aging professoriate, so we should not be too surprised by this finding. The end of mandatory retirement in Canada in 2007 has made it possible for older professors to stick around longer. Because much of the inequality is baked into the decisions of the past, if the field continues to age, it will be difficult to make much more progress on diversifying.

As for the results of rankings of schools and think tanks, again, since not much time has passed, and reputations are sticky, we should not expect to see significant changes.

Canada’s IR scholars were asked which three doctoral programs in Canada they would recommend for an academic career either in political science or international relations:

The big three remain quite dominant, each listed at a far greater rate than the others. These three programs are generally the most “American” in terms of outlooks, methodology and past hiring practices — more quantitative, less focused on “critical” security studies, and more willing to hire Americans. The rest were mentioned by four percent of the respondents or less in 2018.

(To be clear, some of the institutions, such as the Carleton and Ottawa entries, like last time, may refer to multiple programs, as respondents usually did not distinguish between political science, international affairs and other programs. For the rankings, the survey did not prompt respondents about names of programs — they filled in whatever answers they chose. I then combined the answers for those places where there is more than one program. For PhDs, some schools in Canada have multiple programs, so we listed by school. For MA programs, most programs have distinctive names that respondents listed.)

We did ask new questions about what IR scholars are telling students who are thinking of applying for PhD programs. Fifty-four percent would encourage only the “very best students” to pursue a PhD, 13 percent would encourage students not to pursue a PhD, and 29 percent would neither encourage nor discourage. Four percent would choose otherwise. Definitely not a very encouraging environment, which shows that professors are well aware that the pursuit of an academic position in IR these days is quite difficult. When asked if they would recommend students pursue a PhD in the United States rather than in Canada, 39 percent said yes, 25 percent said no, and the rest were uncertain. This is interesting given the somewhat widely held belief that having an American PhD makes one more competitive.

Like last time, the survey also asked Canada’s IR scholars which MA programs they would recommend for those seeking a career in policy. Again, the results did not change much:

Location, money and history continue to matter. Carleton’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) remains the top ranked program, but the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy is closing the gap. The University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) program was mentioned a few more times than in 2014. Waterloo’s Balsillie School of International Affairs received the same amount of recommendations as last time, while the University of British Columbia got a bit more notice. Université Laval in Quebec City was recommended a few more times, with York University’s Glendon School of Public and International Affairs supplanting Dalhousie in Halifax.

Finally, the survey asked Canada’s IR scholars to rank the top three think tanks in Canada. They were not prompted by definitions or specifications of think tanks.

The Frasier Institute was mentioned more than twice as much in 2018 as it was in 2014, as was the C.D. Howe Institute and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The Canadian Global Affairs Institute was mentioned about as frequently as last time (despite changing its name from the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute). The Centre for International Governance Innovation (the publisher of this site) is now ranked second but was mentioned much less frequently. The Canadian International Council was mentioned far less, about as third as often as last time. As a result, there is more consensus about which think tanks are in the top five, but no single think tank stands out that much among the top five. The North-South Institute dropped off, of course, as its funding was killed as the first survey was out in the field.

As I mentioned above, reputations are sticky, so it is not surprising that we have not seen that much change in four years. There have been some significant changes to IR in Canada — the patterns of funding, the expectations about public engagement, and the like — that are worth exploring further.

IR scholars were also asked about their perspectives on parties, world leaders and significant threats, and their answers — as well as more academically-inclined questions about the profession itself, such as expectations about hiring, tenure, publications, languages and more — will likely prompt/require further analysis in future.

What does all of this say for the state of Canadian IR? That the field is rather stable — there have been some modest changes, making the field slightly more diverse, but the fundamentals (which programs excel, for instance) are largely consistent with past perceptions. It would take a significant wave of retirements and new hiring to significantly alter the landscape of Canadian IR scholarship, and there is nothing on the horizon to suggest such sea-change is likely soon.

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At Open Canada, we believe this must change. If anything, the pandemic has taught us we can’t afford to ignore the changing world. What’s more, we believe, most Canadians don’t want to. Many of us, after all, come from somewhere else and have connections that reach around the world.

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