The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies was founded in 1927 as one of the first schools in the world dedicated to the study of international relations. A small and selective institution with about 600 graduate students from over 90 countries, the Graduate Institute owes its reputation to the quality of its cosmopolitan faculty, the strength of its core sections (economics, history and politics, law, political science), its bilingual English-French education (most classes are given in English), and a policy-relevant approach facilitated by its immediate proximity to numerous international organizations (WTO, WHO, WIPO, ILO, HCR) as well as many NGO's and multinational firms. Check out their Exchange Program 2025-2026 Fact Sheet.
Curriculum: The Graduate Institute offers courses in a variety of fields that will complement the Elliott School graduate curriculum. The course catalog shows the classes offered last academic year. Students typically take five courses per semester.
Enrollment and Transfer of Credit: All exchange students from the Elliott School are required to be enrolled at the Graduate Institute as full-time students for the equivalent of 9 or 10 GW credits. Students may transfer up to 10 GW credits from the partner into the Elliott School M.A. programs. Students must earn the equivalent of a B grade or higher in a given course to be eligible for transfer credit.
- Grade 4.25 at the Graduate Institute = Grade B at GW
- 6 ECTS credits at the Graduate Institute = 3 credits at GW
Academic Calendar: Fall semester classes will run from mid-September through late December, and the spring semester classes from February through the end of May. Courses are held during the daytime. View the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies academic calendar.
Language of Instruction: Courses at the Graduate Institute are taught in both English and French. Exchange students to the Graduate Institute are not required to have French language skills, but some knowledge of French is helpful, as students will have more course options.
Housing: The Graduate Institute offers housing options for exchange students. Students must apply for housing when they are accepted into the exchange program.
Tuition and Fees: Elliott School graduate tuition and fees are payable directly to GW and are based upon full-time enrollment for the equivalent of 9 to 10 credit hours.
