IHEID Scholarship Allocation Process The process by which IHEID allocates scholarships has been reviewed by l Inspection cantonale des finances (ICF) de l Etat de Genève, and the financial reports are presented to the foundations or institutions that provide a significant number of scholarships: the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Hans Wildsdorf Foundation. It has also been peer-reviewed and given positive feedback by the director of the admissions and scholarships office of the Fletcher School of Diplomacy. The following information is included in this guide: I. Selection Process a. Academic and financial rankings b. Additional donor criteria c. Distribution between: i. Institute level 1. students and continuing students ii. Department level 1. Master s candidates and PhD candidates II. Emergency Fund and Other Options III. Helpful Hints
I. Selection Process: Scholarships are awarded using two parallel sets of criteria: academic merit and financial need. The two lists are created independently, and then merged together to determine scholarship recipients. While this merged list is the primary determinant of the allocation of scholarships, additional factors can affect the final decision including: additional donor-specific criteria, the distribution of scholarships between incoming students and continuing students, and the distribution of scholarships between masters students and PhD students. Academic Ranking Each year, professors within each department meet to establish an academic ranking of their students. Students are divided into two pools: - students include 1 st year Master s Students and 1 st year PhD students. - students include 2 nd year Master s Students and continuing PhD students. Criteria: students will be ranked based on their application to IHEID. students will be ranked according to: - GPA - Letters of recommendation - Professors input. The minimum GPA required to be eligible is a 4.75. master s students GPAs will include both first and second semester grades. Possible exception: If a first-year student has a particularly difficult time adjusting and produces less than adequate grades the first semester, but achieves much higher grades the second semester, the 4.75 minimum grade average requirement can be waived. A numbered list is created for incoming and continuing students, which will then be merged with the financial need rankings. Financial Need Ranking A complex model that takes into account 20-30 different indicators of financial need is used to assign each student a financial need score of A, B, C, or D. A. A score of A generally reflects that without a scholarship, a student would not be able to enroll at IHEID or continue to attend IHEID. Within this category, there is further granularity: A+, A, and A-. A score of A+ indicates the greatest level of need. B. A score of B means that it would be more difficult, but possible, for a student to enroll in or continue attending IHEID. Within this category, there is also further granularity: B+, B, and B-. C. A score of C means that a student has the financial means to enroll in and continue attending IHEID and therefore is ineligible for a scholarship. D. A score of D means that a student s application is either incomplete, or the student did not provide accurate information on their application. This student is ineligible for a scholarship. Indicators include: Nationality, permanent residence, whether a student is dependent on or independent from their parents, how many dependents a student s parents are responsible for, échelon de revenue of country of origin, accumulated loans, spouse/number of kids, geographic distance from Geneva, etc.
Academic Ranking + Financial Need Ranking = Merged List Academic Ranking Financial Need Ranking Crossed Rankings List *Priority given to Academic Ranking Additional Factors 2. Student 2 3. Student 3 4. Student 4 5. Student 5 6. Student 6 7. Student 7 8. Student 8 9. Student 9 10. Student 10 11 12. Student 12 A Student 1 Student 10 Student 6 B Student 5 Student 9 Student 3 Student 4 C Student 2 Student 7 Student 11 D Student 8 Student 12 2. Student 2 3. Student 3 4. Student 4 5. Student 5 6. Student 6 7. Student 7 8. Student 8 9. Student 9 10. Student 10 11 12. Student 12 2. Student 3 3. Student 4 4. Student 5 5. Student 6 6. Student 9 7. Student 10 Additional Factors Donors requests and additional criteria Distribution between First-year students and continuing student Distribution between Masters Students and PhD students Explanations Below *See previous page for explanation of A through D. Additional donor criteria The bulk of scholarships are funded through student tuition fees. However, IHEID also receives funds from foundations and private donors who specify additional criteria to be taken into account for the allocation of the scholarships. These sources of funding include Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The primary requirement of these institutions is that their scholarships go to nationals from developing countries. In order to satisfy their requests, the merged list can be adjusted. IHEID also receives a few scholarship funds specifically intended for students from a particular country, or to be allocated based on academic merit alone. For more information on these scholarships, see: http://graduateinstitute.ch/corporate/admissions/feesscholarships_en.html.
Distribution: incoming students vs. continuing students; Masters vs. PhDs Institute level As mentioned earlier, students are divided into two pools for the purpose of scholarship allocation at the institute level: incoming students and continuing students. The percentage of available scholarships awarded to each group is determined at the IHEID administration level. In fact, incoming students receive a higher number of scholarships than the continuing students. The rationale behind this is that continuing students are assumed to have a better chance of obtaining a source of income, and scholarships are used as a way of attracting highcaliber students who could not come to IHEID without financial support. This break-down changes from year to year. Department level The Master s and PhD departments are each allotted a specific number of scholarships. Once the institute level allocation is determined by the IHEID Directorate, each department has the autonomy to decide how to split its scholarships between its Master s candidates and PhD candidates. Distribution of Scholarships Level at which division is determined: Scholarship Pool Institute Level Students Students Department Level *Exception: MIA and MDev do not have PhD programs. All scholarships go to Master s students. Masters PhDs Masters PhDs
II. Emergency Fund and Other Options There is a growing emergency fund for students who did not meet the academic level of achievement necessary to be awarded a scholarship but are facing significant financial difficulties that are likely to result in not being able to continue their studies. It is important for such students to visit the following link: http://graduateinstitute.ch/students/home/infoadmin/bourses_en.html. In addition to the emergency fund, it is possible to develop individual payment plans to delay paying the full tuition amount all at once if the finance department determines that the request is legitimate. III. Helpful Hints Submit a complete application. An incomplete application immediately renders you ineligible for a scholarship. Students are able to verify that their applications are complete on their follow-up (Campus). Furthermore, you could schedule and appointment through scholarships@graduateinstitute.ch email address before submitting your final application to ensure that everything is in order. Get to know your professors. They will be writing your recommendations, and can provide input in the academic ranking process. Your personal statement should focus on your personal financial situation, rather than on your academic aspirations or contributions at the institute. Be specific about your individual circumstances and needs. If you are encountering financial difficulties, communicate them as soon as possible to the finance department. A number of solutions are available. Contact Information: Email: scholarships@graduateinstitute.ch