MIA Dual Degree with The Fletcher School
Why opt for one Master's degree if you can earn two from top schools with only one application?
In just two years, you can earn two Master's degrees from two top schools on two continents, combining a proven record in diplomacy with business excellence. Get access to two world-class networks in diplomacy and business with your degrees in Master in International Affairs and Governance (MIA) & Master in Law and Diplomacy (MALD). All it takes is just one application.
Our dual degree graduates are currently working across the public and private sectors, with banking and financial institutions, in consulting, in federal and state government, in international organisations, NGOs and diplomatic organisations, as well as in academia. Among the employers are Credit Suisse, Zurich Insurance Group, the European Commission, the United Nations, Swiss Diplomacy, USAID, DCAF.
"Pursuing this dual degree was an amazing experience. I met students from all over the world and had the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by truly committed and inspiring faculty and practitioners at two professional schools... In addition to an outstanding education, I have benefited from two impressive alumni networks which has helped my career in humanitarian assistance."
Daniel Trusilo
MIA & MALD 2013, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Washington, D.C.
All dual degree students pursue the MALD at the Fletcher School in their first year and continue their studies on the MIA programme at the University of St.Gallen in their second year.
The dual degree programme starts once a year in the autumn semester only. As a dual degree student, you may choose among three options for your MIA curriculum. All dual degree students write their Master's thesis at the University of St.Gallen.
One application - two Master's degrees. Apply directly to our dual degree programme in International Affairs.
Alternatively, current Master's students may also apply once they are enrolled in the MIA programme. In this case (internal application), participants in the dual degree programme are selected first by the MIA programme directors and subsequently by the Admissions Office of The Fletcher School.
Direct application:
Students apply online directly to the dual degree programme via the application page on the Fletcher School website. Participants are admitted by a joint committee of representatives of the Fletcher School and the MIA programme.
Internal application for MIA students:
Students apply through Mobility Online. The MIA programme prepares a shortlist of candidates and forwards their recommendations to the Admissions Office at The Fletcher School.
Direct application:
Please submit your application and the required documents online via The Fletcher School's application portal:
For details on any of the required documents, please refer to Fletcher's Application Management website.
Internal application for MIA students:
Please submit your application through Mobility Online. The online portal opens for applications in October, and following documents (in English) have to be uploaded:
The two letters of recommendation should be submitted in a sealed envelope or sent directly by the referee via E-mail.
For the reference letter, please use the Reference Letter template.
Please note the different deadlines for direct and internal applications:
Direct application:
The application deadline for a start in the Autumn Semester 2023 ends on 20th February 2023: Online Application.
Participants are selected by a joint committee from The Fletcher School and the University of St.Gallen. More information can be found on the websites of The Fletcher School.
Internal application for MIA students:
To graduate from The Fletcher School in Law, all MALD degree requirements must be met. Eight of the sixteen semester courses must be completed at The Fletcher School while the equivalent of the other eight will be completed in St. Gallen as required by the MIA programme. The students will also have to fulfil all breadth and fields of study requirements of the MALD programme.
Course | Regular MIA | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 |
| Mandatory courses | ||||
| International Politics & Market Economy | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| International Law & Business Strategy | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Data Analytics and Causal Inference | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Strategies of Social Science Inquiry | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Cases in International Affairs | 4 | 4 | ||
| MIA Mornings: Skills and Competences | 2 | 2 | ||
| Core Electives | ||||
| Thematic Courses | 4-20 | 4-20 | 4-20 | 4-20 |
| Methodological Courses | 0-16 | 0-16 | 0-16 | 0-16 |
| Consultancy Projects | 4-12 | 4-12 | 4-12 | 4-12 |
| Independent Electives | 0-8 | 0-8 | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| Master's Thesis | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Contextual Studies | 18 | - | - | - |
| Total | 90 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
All Dual Degree students write their Master's thesis at the University of St.Gallen.
A total of 90 credits have to be completed. Dual degree students complete 60 ECTS at the University of St.Gallen. Four MALD courses (30 ECTS) are credited towards the M.A. HSG. Students can select four courses from the compulsory courses and core electives at Fletcher (breadth requirements and fields of study). Dual Degree students may not apply for "Practice Credits" as they may not credit more than 30 external credits to their MIA diploma.
The grades from Boston are converted as follows: Since Autumn 2021, we determine quarter grades for all our dual degree students, according to the Grading Scale below.
| The Fletcher School Boston | University of St.Gallen |
| A | 6 |
| A- | 5.5 |
| B+ | 5 |
| B | 5 |
| B- | 4.5 |
| C+ | 4.5 |
| C | 4 |
| C- | 4 |
| D+ | 3.5 |
| D | 3 |
| D- | 2.5 |
| F | I |
The grade average of a HSG Master's degree HG results from the weighting of the completed 90 credits. For Ph.D. studies at the University of St.Gallen a grade average of 5.0 is required.
The calculation of the negative weighted credit points takes into account the courses completed in Melford which are credited to a HSG Master's degree (equivalent to 30 credits). Across the total of 90 credits 13.5 negative weighted credit points may be accumulated.
Tuition fees apply at the institution where Double Degree students are currently registered. Students pay tuition fees to The Fletcher School in their first year and to the HSG in their second year.
At The Fletcher School tuition fees per academic year amount to approximately 45'000 USD. In addition, living expenses are about 1'400 - 1'700 USD per month. Double Degree students have access to financial aid programmes at The Fletcher School and may apply for scholarships or teaching assistantships. The Fletcher Financial Aid Application must be submitted directly to the Admissions Office at the Fletcher School, see Quick Links.
Scholarship opportunities for Master's students looking to study in the US can be found on swissuniversities and on the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein website.