The Strength of Neutrality in International Diplomacy: Our Dual Degree in Switzerland

The Dual Degrees are a highlight of our Master’s in International Affairs and Governance (MIA) – and the Dual Degree with Sciences Po has a special place amongst them, with Sciences Po being one of our most important international partners. This year, Sciences Po and the University of St.Gallen (HSG) look back at 20 years of successfully managing their Dual Degree together. This collaboration has been a landmark in the internationalisation history of the University of St.Gallen, as the programme with Sciences Po was once the first of its kind for HSG. And today, it is still its most substantial dual degree, having generated more than 250 graduates to date. 

Since 20 years, this programme has been a great asset for HSG in general and for the MIA programme in particular, and even more so for many ambitious and talented students, who were able to study at two outstanding universities in two different countries, who could benefit from both Sciences Po’s and HSG’s respective strengths, who were able to customise their degrees in International Affairs and who can now access two important alumni networks. 

A milestone of this dual degree has been the open recruitment and direct application process which we implemented ten years ago – a change to which Sciences Po had to nudge us at first. This innovation has since lifted our joint programme to new levels in terms of quantity and quality of applications as well as international diversity of applicants. This dual degree has become highly attractive and competitive, with more than a hundred applications each year for about 20 places.

We are extremely thankful to our colleagues at Sciences Po for the exceptionally productive and trusting collaboration during the past 20 years. And, of course, to our marvelous alumni for making us so proud! Dual Degree graduates today pursue careers as entrepreneurs and in private corporations such as Zurich Insurance, Moody’s and Google, in the public sector like the Assemblée Nationale, Interpol and the Swiss Development Agency, and in International Organisations such as the European Union, UNEP and the OECD. It’s particularly moving to see that so many alumni from the first cohorts have joined our celebrations on 15 March, thus paying tribute to this wonderful cooperation.