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Proximity to power and access to thought leaders create rich academic and professional opportunities.

The school’s respected faculty of scholars and practitioners bring unparalleled insight and experience to the classroom.

Join a community of diverse individuals of vision, intellect and creativity with a common commitment to positive change.

Students choose courses that combine high academic standards with application to their policy interests.

Each day at Johns Hopkins SAIS something happens that can improve the world. Come visit one of our classes. We have saved you a seat.

Welcome
Master of Arts
Master of Arts in International Affairs
Master of Arts in International Studies
Master of Arts in Global Risk
Master of International Economics and Finance
Master of Arts in Global Policy
Master of International Public Policy
Doctor of Philosophy
HNC Certificate
Dual-Degree and Cooperative Programs
MA - ML Dual-Degree with the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University
Exchange Programs
Certificate and Non-Degree Programs
Executive Training

Global Presence, International Perspective

Our unique interdisciplinary education provides the theoretical insight and practical tools required for a successful career in today's global environment. A presence on three continents and a network of partnerships with leading global educational institutions set Johns Hopkins SAIS apart. Students combine the study of international economics with key policy areas of global concern that span the world's pivotal regions. Our curriculum is complemented by a specialized, practical language proficiency program. Johns Hopkins SAIS produces innovative thinkers and problem-solvers, equipped to deal with global challenges in any context around the world.

 

Master of Arts

This two-year program for full-time students is the cornerstone of the Johns Hopkins SAIS experience. The curriculum focuses on interdisciplinary course work in international economics, international relations, policy and regional studies, quantitative reasoning and languages. All MA students concentrate in International Economics and either a policy area or region of the world.

About half of all entering MA students spend a year at SAIS Europe and a year in Washington, while the other half spend both years in Washington. Students who are proficient in Mandarin may pursue the HNC Certificate/MA by completing two semesters in Nanjing to receive a Certificate in Chinese and American Studies, combined with two to three semesters in the MA program in Washington.
 
At a Glance
  • Emphasizes international economics, global themes world regions and languages
  • Offers study in Washington, Bologna and Nanjing
  • Allows dual-degree and exchange options with other premier institutions
 

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Master of Arts in International Affairs

The MAIA is a research-oriented degree program offered only at the SAIS Europe campus. Students submit a thesis instead of taking two of the non-language courses normally required for the MA degree.

Students currently enrolled in one of the Cooperative Programs with SAIS Europe apply directly to the MAIA program. If admitted, they attend their second year at SAIS Europe to complete the MAIA.

Students who are not affiliated with one of the cooperative programs must first apply to the MA program (Bologna campus). After being admitted, the student must submit an MAIA application during their first semester of study at SAIS Europe. Students are then selected on the basis of their performance in the first semester, their academic potential, and their research proposal that will become the subject of their MAIA thesis in the second year of the degree program. These students will attend SAIS Europe for two years.
At a Glance
  • Offered only at SAIS Europe
  • Entails course work as well as thesis research and defense
  • Students must take courses or demonstrate competence in Economics
  • Other courses are chosen from approximately 75 courses offered at SAIS Europe each year
  • Foreign language proficiency required

     

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    Master of Arts in International Studies

    Offered at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC), this two-year program is the only master’s degree fully accredited in both China and the United States. Students complete course work and a thesis in Chinese, culminating in a degree jointly awarded by Johns Hopkins SAIS and Nanjing University. Mandarin proficiency required.
    At a Glance
    • Prior Chinese proficiency at the intermediate to advanced level required
    • Offered only at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center
    • Awarded jointly by Johns Hopkins SAIS and Nanjing University

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      Master of Arts in Global Risk

      Offered at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy this 13-month, cohort-based program builds on the core strengths of Johns Hopkins SAIS in multi-disciplinary analysis by introducing students to the broad array of concepts and tools from the social sciences that are necessary to undertake sophisticated political and economic risk analysis. The MAGR will produce a graduate who understands the details of risk analysis, possesses professional quantitative skills, and is able to apply these tools to policy problems or investment decisions as they are affected by political events.   

      At a Glance
      • Courses are taught by faculty, renowned for their interdisciplinary approach to the study of economics, politics and history, as well as recent innovative work in the field of risk and uncertainty.
      • Students complete a capstone project in the form of a focused summer internship or original thesis.
      • MAGR students benefit from SAIS Europe’s international community with classmates from over 40 countries. 
      • Accepting applications for fall cohort (early decision 1 November, regular decision 7 January)

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      Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance

      The MIEF degree program is an 11-month, full-time, cohort-based program that prepares students to understand advanced economic theories, master professional quantitative and econometric skills, and assess a wide range of international economic and financial scenarios. Further, students develop their own perspectives by interacting one-on-one with world renowned scholars who have decades of experience in Macroeconomics, International Finance, International Trade, and Development. MIEF students learn at an accelerated pace and take advantage of an expedited transition to post- graduate employment in meaningful economic and financial analysis positions in a broad range of private and public sector capacities.

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        Master of Arts in Global Policy 

        The 16-month Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP), designed specifically for highly-motivated, experienced professionals with at least seven years of full-time work experience, is ideal for candidates seeking a deeper understanding of the social, economic and political issues influencing policy decisions, while continuing to work full-time. Studying with world-class scholars and practitioners, students gain the skills and knowledge required for success in our rapidly transforming world. 

        Students move through the program in a cohort format, and classes meet on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. The curriculum includes four residencies, simulated or real world experiences, designed to maximize learning in a fast-paced and stimulating learning environment. The MAGP curriculum is carefully designed to support students in integrating the knowledge gained in the classroom into their professional careers. 

        At a Glance
        • Designed for highly-motivated, fully-employed, working professionals
        • Delivered via a convenient, alternating Friday and Saturday schedule
        • Culminates with an international residency, where students travel abroad as a cohort to address a current global policy challenge
        • Accepting applications for Fall 2017 at the Washington, DC campus

        Master of Arts in Global Policy Admissions Open Office Hours

        • Saturday, Feb 17, 2018 10am – 2pm
        • Location:  Location: 1740 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Room 317.

        The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Admissions Office will host office hours specifically for prospective students for the Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP).

        Request a Brochure

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        Join us for an Information Session

         

        Master of International Public Policy

        This flexible, full-time degree is designed for experienced professionals with at least seven years of full-time work experience who wish to develop advanced analytical and leadership skills. Studying under world-class scholars and practitioners, students customize their course of study from an array of functional, regional, and economic course topics to advance their expertise and position themselves for continued professional success.
        At a Glance
        • Designed for experienced professionals with at least seven years of relevant work experience
        • Completed full-time over one academic year
        • Offered at the Washington, DC and SAIS Europe Campuses

          Request a Brochure

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          Doctor of Philosophy

          This full-time program is for individuals who hold a Master and seek to become scholars as well as practitioners in international relations. Each PhD candidate works with a faculty adviser to design a unique academic and research plan to prepare for their dissertation. Students develop a comprehensive understanding of qualitative and quantitative analytic skills, international relations, economics, and regional studies.

          At a Glance
          • Each PhD student works with a faculty adviser to plan a comprehensive curriculum
          • Curriculum emphasizes qualitative and quantitative analytic skills
          • Program requires passing three comprehensive exams
          • Students write and defend a prospectus and dissertation

          Learn more about the PhD program

          HNC Certificate

          The one-year Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC) Certificate gives students flexibility in course selection while deepening their knowledge of Sino-global relations. Graduate-level courses in topics such as economics, energy, and law offered in Chinese help develop linguistic and cultural fluency. Intermediate to advanced level proficiency in Mandarin is required prior to beginning study.

          Prospective students who seek to expand their graduate studies and obtain a masters degree are encouraged to apply to the HNC Certificate/MA program. Students in this program continue their studies by spending an additional two to three semesters in Washington, DC or Bologna, Italy. (One semester must be completed in Washington, DC)

          Note: An offer of admission to either the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s certificate program or masters of arts degree program at Johns Hopkins SAIS does not constitute admission to the other institution or program.

          At a Glance

          • Prior Chinese proficiency at the intermediate to advanced level required
          • Emphasizes international economics, global themes world regions, and languages
          • Combined study in both Nanjing, China and Washington, DC

          Learn more

          Dual-Degree and Cooperative Programs

          To enhance their graduate education and professional opportunities, some students pursue dual-degree or cooperative programs in business, law, public administration, public health, public policy, and international diplomacy. The school offers partnerships with leading graduate schools in the United States and around the globe.  Students may create an ad hoc dual-degree program of study (non-formal program) with other prominent universities. Proposals for ad hoc dual-degrees are possible, but must be approved by the Office of Academic Affairs. NOTE: Only top-ranked professional schools will be considered for ad-hoc dual-degrees. To be admitted to any of the dual-degree programs, students must apply to, and be accepted by, both schools independently. To start your Master of Arts application click here.

          For those accepted to a dual-degree program, the school reduces the number of required courses from 16 to 12 in recognition of course work taken at another approved school. Students in the dual-degree program receive a quarter/semester of advanced standing at each school, allowing them to complete the two degrees in one year less than traditionally required.


          Dual-Degree Options


          Global Business

          Global Health
          International Law
          International Relations
          Public Policy

           


          Cooperative Degree Programs

          SAIS Europe offers cooperative two-year degree programs with leading European universities for students in the Bologna-based Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) program. Students may begin their course of study at either institution, earning a Diploma or Master’s degree from both. Cooperative degree candidates satisfy SAIS Europe’s prerequisites in economics and languages and write an original 20,000 word thesis. Students apply to both institutions. Please contact the SAIS Europe Admissions Office for more information.

          • Institut d’études politiques de Lille (Sciences Po Lille, France)
            Students who are pursuing their first year of study for the Master’s cycle at Lille can apply to SAIS Europe in Bologna for a second year of study. Upon successful completion of their second year at SAIS Europe, students will earn both a Master’s degree from Sciences Po and Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Students who begin at SAIS Europe will earn the Bologna Diploma and then go on to pursue a Master’s at Sciences Po Lille. 
          • Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Austria
            Students who begin the program in Vienna can apply to spend their second year of study in Bologna at SAIS Europe. Upon successful completion of study, students earn a MAIA from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Students who begin their first year of study at SAIS Europe can spend their second year at the Diplomatic Academy. Upon successful completion of their second year in Vienna, students earn both a Master of Advanced International Studies (MAIS) from the Diplomatic Academy and a Bologna Diploma. 
          • University of Leiden, the Netherlands
            Students who are pursuing their first year of Master’s study at Leiden can apply to SAIS Europe in Bologna for a second year of study. Upon successful completion of their second year at SAIS Europe, students will earn both a Master of Arts in International Relations (Humanities) from the University of Leiden and a MAIA from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Students who begin at SAIS Europe will earn the Bologna Diploma and then go on to pursue a MA in International Relations at the University of Leiden. 
          • University of Bologna, Italy
            SAIS Europe offers four, two-year cooperative degree programs with the University of Bologna at campuses in Bologna, Forlì and Rimini.

            Facoltà di Scienze Politiche, Bologna and Forlì
            Students who begin the program at the University of Bologna and complete their second year at SAIS Europe earn both a Laurea Magistrale in Relazioni Internazionali (RILM) and an MAIA from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Those who begin at University of Bologna, Forlì  and complete their second year at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe earn both a Laurea Magistrale in Scienze Internazionali e Diplomatiche (SID) and an MAIA from Johns Hopkins SAIS.  Students who complete their first year of study at SAIS Europe earn the Bologna Diploma and then pursue either the RILM or SID at the University of Bologna.

            Resource Economics and Sustainable Development of the School of Economics,   Management and Statistics, Rimini
            Students who begin the program at the University of Bologna, Rimini and complete their second year at SAIS Europe earn both  a Laurea Magistrale in Economics and Market Policy and a MAIA from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Students who complete their first year of study at SAIS Europe earn the Bologna Diploma and then pursue the Laurea Magistrale in Economics and Market Policy at the University of Bologna, Rimini.

            School of Economics, Management and Statistics, Bologna
            Students who begin the program at the University of Bologna and complete their second year at SAIS Europe earn both earn a Laurea Magistrale in Economics and a MAIA from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Students who complete their first year of study at SAIS Europe and second year at the University of Bologna will earn both the MAIA degree from Johns Hopkins SAIS and the Laurea Magistrale in Economics from the University of Bologna.

           

          MA -  ML Dual-Degree with the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University

          IMPORTANT DATES:

          Johns Hopkins SAIS:

          Application Deadline:
          Early Notification - November 1, 2017
          Regular Decision - January 8, 2018
           
          Decision Notification Date:
          Early Notification - December 30, 2017
          Regular Decision - March 9, 2018

          For more information on the Johns Hopkins SAIS admissions process, please click here.


          Tsinghua University:

          Application Deadline:
          March 31, 2018

          Notification Date:
          April 14, 2018

          For more information on the Tsinghua University admissions process, please click here.
           

          Overview


          Johns Hopkins SAIS and the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s top universities, offer a groundbreaking dual-degree program. Tsinghua’s president recently welcomed the first cohort and admissions are now open for the second.  Each cohort will have roughly an equal number of Chinese and non-Chinese students.

          Students spend the first academic year at Tsinghua and then three semesters at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington, DC (Fall/Spring/Fall). As with all dual-degree arrangements, students have the opportunity to complete the school's MA requirements in three instead of four semesters, but both degrees are conferred only when all requirements are met at both schools.  After completion of these requirements, students will be awarded a Master of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a Master of Law degree and graduation certificate from Tsinghua.

          This dual-degree program combines the qualities of two world-class institutions to provide an enriched and expansive experience featuring different perspectives on international relations and global affairs. The goal is to equip students with a sound grasp of economics, excellent analytic skills, and interdisciplinary research abilities. The program will help students become elite professionals around the world who take an active role in global governance and who can excel in multiple career paths after graduation, including civil service in government ministries involved with foreign and commerce affairs, research roles at institutes devoted to public policy and foreign affairs, international organizations, and international financial institutions.

          Current first cohort student Keji Mao was recently featured for his research work in the school's South Asia Studies program.
           

          NexGen Global Forum

           
          The NexGen Global Forum is a Beijing-based research organization founded by the inaugural cohort of the Johns Hopkins SAIS—Tsinghua University Dual Degree Master’s Program. NexGen Global Forum provides a real window into the dynamic nature of this program.  You can view video testimonials from current students on the NexGen homepage as well as profiles, blog posts, as well as recent and ongoing research projects.
           
          NexGen Global Forum’s mission is to advance greater mutual understanding of foreign policy and cultural perceptions by reexamining traditional frameworks of debate on current events. Through both conventional and innovative engagement approaches, NexGen Global Forum endeavors to build an inclusive platform for balanced dialogue that highlights diverse perspectives from academia, government, business, and the local community.
           

          Admissions


          Applicants will apply to both institutions separately and concurrently. They will be evaluated for admissions by each institution based on their respective requirements and criteria. For administrative identification purposes, applicants for the dual-degree program will be requested to indicate their intentions clearly on their applications to both institutions.

          For information about the Tsinghua University admissions process, please click here. Questions can be directed to iisws@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn. For information on the Johns Hopkins SAIS admissions process, click here. Questions can be directed to sais.dc.admissions@jhu.edu.

           

          Program structure
           

          • Johns Hopkins SAIS

          Students must complete all prescribed MA requirements (International Economics, Quantitative Reasoning, Concentration(s), Cores, and language), but receive 16 credits (one semester) worth of electives through the dual-degree, allowing them the opportunity to complete the degree in three instead of four semesters.  All students choose at least one concentration (world region and/or international policy area).  You may view specific curricula here by selecting an area of study and then “curriculum”.
           

          • Tsinghua

          This is a specialized curriculum created for the dual-degree program.  Features include a customized simulated think tank course exclusively for the program, a policy practicum spanning the entire time at Tsinghua, and the possibility for policy research oriented field trips to rural China and/or another country.  Aside from a first semester course in Chinese language and culture (with a second semester option), all instruction is in English.

          You can find more detailed information on the Tsinghua curriculum here.  Please contact iisws@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn with any questions.

          Exchange Programs

          Participating in an exchange program offers students a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives on their program of study. The school offers three exchange programs for MA students entering their third semester. The exchange partnerships include:

          • The Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University in the Yuan, Haidian District in Beijing, China.
            Students can choose courses, taught in English, in subject areas ranging from security studies to public diplomacy. Study at Tsinghua affords students the opportunity to be surrounded by scholars from around the world in the international and cultural capital of Beijing.

           

          • Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) School of Public Policy at National University of Singapore at the Bukit Timah Campus.
            Ranked first in Asia, NUS is a top university with strong global partnerships and faculty who bring real-life policy experience to the classroom. Students take classes taught in English in topics such as urban development, globalization and economic development.

           

          • Sciences Po in Paris, France.
            Students can choose English taught courses within the Paris School of International Affairs, School of Public Affairs, Urban School, European Affairs, Economics & Business, and Communications. In Paris, students can take advantage of the internationally diverse community while being in a capital city that draws leading figures from around the world.

          Certificate and Non-Degree Programs

          The school offers a number of certificate and non-degree programs for individuals looking to improve their knowledge of international relations or international development who aren't looking for a full-time degree program or who are looking to augment their current credentials.

          Executive Education

          Professors and practitioners are thought leaders in the fields of international development, international economics and international relations. Partner with Executive Education to develop customized programs and seminars to address the complex global challenges and issues specific to your organization.

          At a Glance
          • Custom programs can vary in topic, duration and location
          • Taught by internationally recognized scholars and practitioners
          • Programs can be customized to include site visits relevant to course topics
          • Clients around the world include educational institutions, embassies, governments, NGOs, nonprofits, private companies and public institutions
          • Participants can benefit from locations in Washington, DC; Bologna, Italy; and Nanjing, China

          Learn more about Executive Education programs