Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

About the course

A US-style BA taught in English, a few minutes from the UN district in Geneva, covering diplomacy, human rights, geopolitics and international migration. Teaching is in small classes, with guest speakers from international organisations, field trips to Geneva agencies and optional credit-bearing internships. An emphasis in International Economics is available.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Webster Geneva does not publish a specific Leaving Certificate rule. It needs a school-leaving diploma that is recognised for entry to higher education, plus transcripts covering your three most recent years of school. It converts your grades to a US GPA and expects about 2.5 out of 4.0, or an average of about 80% on a percentage scale. Ask admissions how it converts Higher Level H1-H8 and Ordinary Level O1-O8 grades. You can be offered a place before your results, based on your school record so far; the offer becomes final once your official results arrive.
• Admission is holistic, based on your grades, a 300-400 word motivation essay and two teacher references. There is no entrance exam or interview, and the SAT and ACT are optional. The degree requires either study abroad or 6 credits in a foreign language, and studying in Geneva as an international student already meets the study abroad part.
• English: no test is needed if you studied for three years at an accredited secondary school in Ireland. Ireland is on Webster’s list of English-waiver countries.

How to apply

1. Prepare documentsGather transcripts for your last three school years, a 300-400 word motivation essay, two teacher references (one can be from your guidance counsellor) and a scan of your passport.
2. Apply onlineApply through the Webster Geneva online application or the Common App and choose the August start. Aim to apply by 1 May 2027 for priority consideration, and by 2 May for most scholarships.
3. Receive a provisional offerWebster usually gives a decision within about 10 days (at most two weeks) of receiving all documents. An offer made before your results is provisional until your Leaving Cert results arrive.
4. Pay deposits and registerPay the CHF 1,500 enrolment deposit and the CHF 1,000 housing deposit. As an EU citizen you need no visa, but you must register with the Geneva authorities once you arrive, and Webster helps with this at orientation.

Costs

• Webster Geneva is a private US university campus and charges the same tuition to everyone: CHF 17,500 per 16-week semester, or CHF 35,000 a year (the published rate for 2025-26 and 2026-27; roughly EUR 37,500 at current exchange rates, so the euro figure will move). Textbooks are included. After an offer you pay a CHF 1,500 enrolment deposit (credited to your first semester) and a CHF 1,000 housing deposit, because first-year students must live on campus. Webster estimates total yearly costs including housing, food and insurance at CHF 52,200-59,500.

At a glance