UN Geneva Graduate Study Programme 2026 (Fully Funded) Deadline: 20 February, 2026

If you’ve ever imagined working with the United Nations or being part of global policy conversations, the UN Geneva Graduate Study Programme (GSP) is one of the most direct paths to that world. And the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of the most interesting yet.

This two-week summer programme brings together graduate students from around the world for an inside view of how the UN works, how global decisions are shaped, and how Geneva has become the center of international diplomacy. The 2026 session runs from 29 June to 10 July at the historic Palais des Nations.

UN Graduate Study Programme Summary

Host Country	Switzerland
Host Organization	United Nations
Eligible Nationalities	All
Degree Level	Master’s and above
Duration	2 weeks
Deadline	20 February 2026

What Makes the 2026 Programme Special?

This year’s theme focuses on AI and Emerging Technologies, a topic shaping every major international conversation. From data rights to global security, AI is rewriting policy debates, and the UN is leading many of them.

Participants get direct access to experts, researchers, diplomats, and UN officials who work on these issues daily. The programme mixes lectures, group work, presentations, and visits to institutions across International Geneva.

For students interested in tech, governance, human rights, or global development, this year’s theme is especially valuable.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to all currently enrolled graduate students between 22 and 32 years old.
You must have:

• A completed Bachelor’s degree
• Current enrollment in a Master’s, MBA, PhD, or similar programme
• Strong written and spoken English
• No full-time employment at the time of application

Regional and gender diversity are part of the selection process, so applicants from underrepresented regions are encouraged to apply.

What It Costs

Participation is free, but students must cover their own travel, visa, accommodation, and meals. The UN cannot offer financial aid, though some participants in past years secured support from universities or government scholarship bodies.

What You Need to Apply

You’ll need to submit:

• A one-page CV
• A 60-second motivation video
• A one-page recommendation letter
• Passport copy (EU/EFTA applicants may use national ID)
• Bachelor’s diploma
• Proof of current graduate enrollment

All documents must be in English.

Results are announced in the first week of April 2026.

Why the Programme Matters

The GSP isn’t a job placement programme, but it gives something rare:
exposure, access, and credibility.

Students join a global network of alumni, many of whom later work with governments, NGOs, research institutes, and the UN itself. The programme has run for more than 63 years, with over 3,500 participants from more than 120 countries.

For anyone interested in a future in global governance, this is one of the strongest early-career experiences available.

Should You Apply?

If you’re a graduate student in international relations, law, public policy, development, AI, technology governance, or related fields, the 2026 GSP is worth serious consideration. The theme aligns perfectly with the future of global policy, and the experience can open doors that are hard to access otherwise.