The United Nations Information Service’s Graduate Study Programme provides an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of the United Nations System and the International Geneva through first-hand observations, lectures and study. The Graduate Study Programme is held at the United Nations Office at Geneva in early July every year.
This seminar, as part of the educational outreach programmes undertaken by the United Nations, provides an opportunity for outstanding graduate and postgraduate students from all over the world to deepen their understanding of the principles, purposes and activities of the United Nations, its related agencies and the International Geneva as a whole.
58th Graduate Study Programme
The GSP theme for 2020 is “United Nations at 75: Shaping Our Future Together”.
The selection for the 58th Graduate Study Programme has been completed, and the selected participants have been contacted by email. Decisions of the Selection Committee are final and cannot be appealed.
Bearing in mind the global COVID-19 pandemics and the impossibility to predict how the situation will evolve over the next several months, a decision has been made that the 58th GSP will be held in a condensed, online format from 29 June to 3 July. There will be no physical sessions in Geneva, and participants will not be required to travel to Switzerland. Instead, a number of interactive presentations will be organized using existing video technologies. Further details and guidance will be shared directly with the selected participants in the course of May.
Most sessions are held in English, therefore absolute fluency in English is essential. As several sessions will be held in French, solid working knowledge of French is also needed.
Applicants must be between 22 and 32 years of age at the time of application.
Applications for the 2020 Graduate Study Programme are no longer being accepted. Please check this site again in late 2020 for the opportunity to apply for the 2021 Programme.
The online application form is to be filled in on our website, accompanied by a copy of the applicant’s passport, a letter of recommendation (in English or French only) from a university or governmental authority, proof of current enrolment (at the time of application) in a Master’s degree programme or a postgraduate degree programme (or equivalent), and university diplomas obtained.
Please note that incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
Once selected, successful candidates will be asked ahead of time to provide a medical certificate attesting good health and a proof of medical insurance coverage in Switzerland at the time of the GSP (these two documents will only be accepted in English or French). Applications from those already employed full time cannot be considered.
Candidates will be notified of the Selection Committee's decision by mid-April 2020. Participation in this programme is free of charge. The United Nations does not make any financial contribution towards the travel costs and residential expenses of participants. Governments or universities may offer grants to selected candidates. Candidates should seek advice from their universities on this point.
Participants in the Graduate Study Programme are selected by a Selection Committee composed of officials of the United Nations Office at Geneva with various backgrounds and professional experiences.
The Selection Committee is guided by the following criteria:
• Academic background
• Extracurricular activities
• Geographical balance
• Gender balance
• Knowledge of the two working languages of the Programme (English and French)
• Usefulness of the Programme for the career of the applicant
In order to give the largest number of students the possibility to participate in the Programme, applicants who have already participated in previous editions of the Graduate Study Programme will not be considered by the Committee.
Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. The Selection Committee does not disclose the motivation of its choices. Decisions of the Selection Committee are final and cannot be appealed.
