Education and Courses

On this website we provide information on courses and study programmes for global research provided by Swiss institutions

International Graduate School North-South (IGS-North-South)

The IGS North-South is dedicated to advancing sustainable development worldwide. It focuses on postgraduate education at the PhD level to establish a leading international research network that analyses the impacts and opportunities of global change. The IGS North-South emphasizes an integrative, partnership-based research approach, as well as innovation and application. More than 100 PhD candidates from around the world are currently enrolled in the programme.

The IGS North-South was developed within the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South. It is based on an inter-university agreement between the universities of Basel, Bern, Lausanne and Zurich in Switzerland, and selected cooperation agreements with leading universities from countries in the global South and East.

Swiss School of Latin American Studies

The interdisciplinary and inter-university Swiss School of Latin American Studies (SSLAS) consists of a training and research forum for doctoral and postdoctoral students in the social sciences and the humanities working on Latin America.

Masters in Sustainability Transformations

This innovative Master’s in Sustainability Transformations at the University of Bern seeks to train students to become sustainability specialists. Upon completion of the programme, they will be equipped to critically analyse sustainability issues in interconnected dimensions and develop comprehensive practical solutions at local, national, and international levels. Students will identify solutions that address the causes – and not just the symptoms – of sustainability problems. The programme thus seeks to achieve genuine, far-reaching transformation rather than simply increasing efficiency or improving existing systems.

Masters in African Studies - University of Basel

The MA African Studies program helps students develop knowledge about Africa’s past, current and future role in framing the globalized world. It also encourages them to critically engage with global knowledge production and the representation of reality.

MAS ETH Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development

The Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development qualifies students to contribute to global sustainability in an inclusive world and to become decision makers in international cooperation. The programme provides a broad understanding of local and global development challenges, skills for working in interdisciplinary and intercultural teams, and the tools and methods used in organisations engaged in international cooperation. During their eight-months on-the-job training abroad, students apply their knowledge as junior professionals in an international organisation. The programme is designed for graduates from all disciplines: from the natural and engineering sciences to the humanities and social sciences.

MAS International Health

The SwissTPH Master of Advanced Studies International Health (MAS IH) prepares students to act as international health experts and implementers, capable of addressing health challenges in inter-sectoral environments across multiple levels and cultures, from the community to the international/global stage, with a particular focus on disadvantaged populations. Graduates of the programme fill a critical gap in the number of well-trained personnel available to strengthen health systems and improve access to health for all.

MAS Peace & Conflict

The swisspeace Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) Peace & Conflict aims at understanding how peacebuilding can transform violent conflicts by using peaceful means, promoting peace, rebuilding societies affected by war, and preventing violence from re-emerging. This MAS program bridges academic findings with current insights from peacebuilding practice.

MBA International Health Management

This Master of Business Administration in International Health Management is designed for professionals who are passionate about global and public health and wish to develop strong management and leadership skills. The global and diverse student body comes from a wide range of backgrounds, fostering international and interdisciplinary collaboration.

DAS Health Care and Management: From Research to Implementation

The SwissTPH Diploma of Advanced Studies in “Health Care and Management: From Research to Implementation” (DAS HCM) course provides international participants with the core competencies for understanding and reacting to health challenges at a world-leading institute in global and public health. Participants acquire a range of skills and knowledge needed to work as a public health professional in resource-constrained settings.

DAS Peace & Conflict

The swisspeace Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in Peace & Conflict program provides a holistic understanding of peacebuilding aimed at transforming violent conflict by peaceful means, promoting peace, rebuilding societies affected by war and preventing violence from re-erupting. This postgraduate DAS program bridges current academic findings with the latest insights from peacebuilding practice.

CAS ETH Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development offers professionals a unique opportunity to learn about scientifically founded concepts on development, to apply tools for results-based management, to reflect on own experiences, and to share best-practice and discuss future practice with colleagues.

CAS WASH - Certificate of Advanced Studies in Water Sanitation and Hygiene for humanitarian and developing contexts

The course is designed to empower practitioners with an understanding of the fundamentals of the WASH sector, both in the humanitarian and development contexts. It introduces students to the core principles for planning, designing and implementing activities to improve sustainable and equitable access to domestic water supply and sanitation services and to improve hygiene behaviours.

This study program is jointly organized by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and the University of Neuchâtel, (Uni-NE).

CAS Sustainable Development

The University of Bern Certificate of Advanced Studies on Sustainable Development provides participants with a solid basis in knowledge for sustainable development, offers space for reflection, and reveals tailored solutions for implementation. They learn to recognise different understandings of sustainable development, to reflect critically on them and to build bridges between the various actors and their approaches. Individual modules may also be taken as training courses on specific themes.

CAS Health Research and Interventions

The SwissTPH Certificate of Advanced Studies in Health Research and Interventions (CAS HRI) provides international participants with an in-depth understanding of global health. Participants develop competencies in collecting, analysing, and evaluating health-related data in low- and middle-income societies, while gaining skills to address interrelated health determinants and challenges across disciplines.

CAS Health Systems and Management

The SwissTPH Certificate of Advanced Studies in Health Systems and Management (CAS HSM) provides international participants with the competencies to strategically plan and implement sustainable improvements in health systems, addressing inequities and taking into account social, legal and ethical responsibilities. Participants also acquire the ability to communicate, collaborate and lead in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment and to critically reflect on the role, decision-making process and impact of global health actors.

CAS Internationale Zusammenarbeit und globale Gesundheit

Der SwissTPH Certificate of Advanced Studies Internationale Zusammenarbeit und Globale Gesundheit vermittelt die Grundlagen und Kompetenzen, um Gesundheit in multikulturellen und globalen Kontexten zu verstehen. Der Kurs richtet sich an Fachkräfte aus allen Bereichen des Gesundheitswesens und an Interessierte aus anderen Berufsgruppen, die sich in ihrer Arbeit mit interkultureller Kommunikation, Migration und Gesundheit im globalen Kontext auseinandersetzen oder sich auf eine Tätigkeit im Ausland vorbereiten. Der Kurs ist von der Universität Basel akkreditiert.

CAS Peace Mediation & Dialogue

The swisspeace Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Peace Mediation & Dialogue targets future mediators interested in understanding how negotiation, mediation, and dialogue can promote peace processes. The program runs from fall to fall. The three modules take place at the cultural center kHaus in Basel or in a virtual format.

CAS Dealing with the Past

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Dealing with the Past is designed for professionals and academics working in transitional justice and peacebuilding. The program offers a unique opportunity to learn how to better support societies emerging from violence and conflict to address their past and prepare for the future. The CAS runs from fall to fall. Participants can choose from a wide selection of courses that take place either at the cultural center kHaus in Basel or in a virtual format.

CAS Peacebuilding Essentials

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Peacebuilding Essentials is designed for practitioners and academics interested in bridging their own experiences with current conceptual insights and practical knowledge on peacebuilding.

Courses at ETH Nadel

For programme leaders and task managers we offer specialized 2 to 5 days courses on a wide range of policies and methods to foster sustainable development and poverty reduction. Participants can choose from 30 different courses to advance their expertise.

Courses at SwissTPH

SwissTPH offer a wide range of courses for an unique competency-based learning experience in diverse fields such as international health, epidemiology, public health, clinical practice and management.

Courses at swisspeace

swisspeace offers several peacebuilding courses in collaboration with the University of Basel, bridging current academic findings with the latest insights from peacebuilding practice.