Detailed Information
Programs of Study
The American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy (AGSIRD) is an American institution of higher education located in Paris and specializing in international relations as well as related complementary disciplines such as international law and peace studies. It is located in Paris and accredited in the United States as an affiliated campus of Arcadia University in Pennsylvania.
All AGSIRD courses are taught in English and based on the American model of higher education. They also take advantage of the cultural, institutional, and academic resources of Paris. Along with the master’s programs, students have the opportunity to take courses in the French language at the School’s world-renowned partner institution, Alliance Française.
Students at AGSIRD are prepared to begin or advance careers in international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government, and diplomacy as well as international business, journalism, academics, and other fields that require interaction with disparate countries and cultures.
AGSIRD offers full-time and part-time programs. The programs available are the Master of Arts (M.A.) in international relations and diplomacy (a two-year, full-time M.A. program; an accelerated eighteen-month program; and extended part-time programs), including optional specialization certificates; a Ph.D. program in international relations and diplomacy; a dual-degree program–American M.A. and French master’s program in diplomacy and strategic negotiations, in partnership with University of Paris–Sud 11; a dual-degree program–American M.A. and European LL.M. in French and European union law, in partnership with the University of Cergy-Pontoise, France; a one-month intensive summer program in French language and French and European history, politics, and diplomacy, in partnership with Alliance Française (open to graduates and undergraduates); and two-course certificate programs in various subjects, such as conflict resolution, conflict and geopolitics, foreign policy, economics, and international law (for a complete list, students should visit the Web site). Single courses can also be chosen “à la carte”.
Research Facilities
In addition to the School’s specialized collection of international relations materials available for loan, students have access to the libraries at the two French partner universities and a wide variety of libraries in Paris, including the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the specialized libraries of UNESCO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other institutions. Students also have access to Arcadia University’s online resources.
Financial Aid
AGSIRD offers financial aid, such as loans and scholarships, to open its program to all motivated and deserving students, whatever their financial possibilities. American students studying at AGSIRD are eligible for Federal Stafford Student Loans (up to $20,500) and can apply for private loans from Sallie Mae up to the full cost of attendance. For non-U.S. students, AGSIRD also offers school loans up to 50 percent of the tuition.
Need-based grants can be awarded by the financial aid office, and students of high academic merit can apply for the John A. Lee Memorial Scholarship. Students can work in France up to 19½ hours per week during the school year and full-time during breaks.
Cost of Study
Tuition for each 3-credit course is €2000. From the time of the student's enrollment, this price remains unchanged for up to three years. Unless credits are transferred from another university, the full tuition for the M.A. program is €30,000, including the French language option (€28,000 otherwise). The typical breakdown by semester is given on the School's Web site. A registration fee of €70 per semester is added; no other fee is levied.
Living and Housing Costs
Housing and living costs for students in the two-year M.A. program range from €13,400 to €19,200 in the first year and from €12,100 to €16,800 in the second year. This includes rent, books, medical coverage, local transportation, two overseas travels, food, and utilities as well as recreation and other personal expenses. The breakdown and additional details are on the School's Web site.
Student Group
AGSIRD welcomes students from various backgrounds. Although Americans represent the largest single national group, students at AGSIRD come from more than twenty different countries. They range from recent graduates to professionals seeking knowledge or career advancement. The student body is around 50, allowing for close interaction with professors, which AGSIRD believes is very important, especially at the graduate level.
Student Outcomes
AGSIRD graduates often pursue careers in diplomacy and other areas of government service; intergovernmental organizations, such as the UN and UNESCO; NGOs; think tanks; journalism and other media; international banks and businesses; consultancies; and academics.
Location
AGSIRD is located in Paris in a lively area between the traditional student district of the Latin Quarter and the historical artists’ district of Montparnasse. In addition to the rich culture of France, the programs take advantage of the presence in Paris of many NGOs, international organizations (OECD, UNESCO), diplomatic missions, and headquarters of multinational corporations. Students also enjoy visiting France and Europe during the breaks.
The School
The American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy was established in 1994 and was originally designed for diplomats posted in Paris. It is now open to both students who have recently completed their undergraduate degree and professionals seeking knowledge and career advancement. It is an affiliated campus of Arcadia University, which is located on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is accredited in the United States by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Applying
Applicants come from a wide variety of national backgrounds and educational histories. AGSIRD admissions are selective, but the School emphasizes individual consideration of each of its candidates. Students are encouraged to have as much preparation as possible in history, economics, or social sciences. The School also values personal experience in other cultures as well as practical, professional work experience. No knowledge of French is required to apply, but language ability is appreciated. To be considered for admission, master’s applicants must have completed the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, and Ph.D. applicants must hold a master’s degree in international relations or a related discipline.
Applicants should submit an application form (available at http://www.agsird.edu/images/pdf/agsird_ma_application_form.pdf), official transcripts of all previous university work, a one- to three-page personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a nonrefundable €50 application fee. A GRE score of at least 1100 (combined verbal and quantitative) and an analytical writing score of at least 5 are normally required (school code: 0632). Nonnative speakers of English who did not graduate from an American university must submit their official TOEFL scores. A minimum score of 600 on the paper-based test or 90 on the Internet-based test is required (school code: 0230). All documents in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by certified translations. In some cases, AGSIRD may request additional material, and applicants may be asked to take an interview.
Applications are considered up to six weeks before the beginning of the semester applied for. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, and notifications of admission status are mailed within four weeks of receipt of completed application materials. Admitted candidates confirm their enrollment with a €350 nonrefundable deposit that is credited toward their first semester’s tuition.
The Faculty
- The faculty is composed of both accomplished scholars and professional diplomats. It draws from a dozen countries.
- Ruchi Anand (India), Ph.D., Purdue.
- Bixio Barenco (Switzerland), Ph.D., Berkeley.
- Mariam Habibi (Iran), Ph.D., Paris Institute of Political Studies.
- Nikita Harwich (Venezuela), Ph.D., London School of Economics.
- Oleg Kobtzeff (United States, France), Ph.D., Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne).
- Anton Koslov (Russia, France), D.E.A., School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (Paris).
- Virginia Lindsay (United States, Ireland), J.D., California, San Francisco; LL.M., Georgetown.
- Matthias Maass (Germany), Ph.D., Tufts (Fletcher).
- Sir Christopher MacRae, KCMG (United Kingdom), B.A. (Hons), Oxford; Henry Fellow, Harvard.
- Steven McGiffen (United Kingdom), Ph.D., Manchester (England).
- David Pike (United States, France), Ph.D., Stanford; Ph.D., Toulouse (France).
- Kaveh Rahnema (Iran, France), D.E.A., Paris X (Nanterre).
- Eileen Servidio-Delabre (United States, France), D.E.A., Paris II (Pantheon-Assas).
- Joav Toker (Israel, France), M.I.A., Columbia.
- Paul Vallet (United States, France), Ph.D., Cambridge.
- John West (Australia), Head of Public Affairs Division at OECD and Director of OECD Forum; M.Com., South Wales (Australia).
- Fawn Wilderson-Legros (United States), J.D., Georgetown.
- Douglas Yates (United States), Ph.D., Boston University.
Correspondence and Information
American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy
101 Boulevard Raspail
75006 Paris, France
Telephone:
33(0) 1 47 20 00 94
Fax:
33(0) 1 47 20 81 89
Email:
info@agsird.edu
