The Master in
African Studies

Africa is experiencing radical changes. Whether it is in the economic, social, environmental demographic or political sphere, African societies are evolving fast. This Master's programme provides the critical distance needed to understand these transformations in all their complexity. The curriculum stands out for its interdisciplinarity, combining approaches from the social, natural and human sciences. It also provides a long-term perspective and gives students the opportunity to study Africa not in isolation, but in terms of the continent's interactions with the rest of the world.

The Master's programme begins with a number of core cross-disciplinary classes. After the first semester, students take more specialised courses and electives. They can choose from a broad range of classes covering topics such as environmental issues, state formation and the development of societies.

Geneva, which houses many international organisations, is a unique place to study these dynamics. This Master's programme also places particular emphasis on experience in the field, and students can take advantage of exchanges with UNIGE's partner universities in Africa. To complete their course, students choose between a «research» option, which includes a fieldwork and a thesis, and a «professionalising» option involving a work placement/internship over several months and a detailed internship report.