Winter Survey of International Organizations (WSIO)
Winter Survey of International Organizations (WSIO) is offered during January term as an abridged version of the summer SIO. It provides students with an overview of the goals, functioning, and significance of key international organizations in today’s fast-changing global environment.
The course examines the achievements and failures of some of the world’s most important economic, political, and humanitarian organizations from an interdisciplinary perspective. The SIO offers students an intellectually stimulating, innovative and diverse program of study in a safe environment, with maximum exposure to the cultural and political life of contemporary Switzerland, Europe and the world of international diplomacy.
Class meetings are held four days a week, with one or two days reserved for on-site visits allowing students to see the day-to-day operations and meet with senior representatives of major international organizations, such as the United Nations, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Labor Organization, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross (all based in Geneva), as well as the E.U. Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights in nearby Strasbourg, France.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the SIO is open to qualified undergraduates or graduate students:
- in good academic standing at a recognized college/university
- fluency in English (both written and oral)
- GPA of 3.0 or equivalent
- valid travel documents (passport).
Submission of all application materials online must be completed by March 15.
Completed application forms should be submitted as early as possible to provide adequate time for consideration. It is in the best interest of the candidate to apply early as places are limited.
