The 35th edition of this highly competitive eight-month course in international security policy is designed for high performing professionals seeking to enhance their career and effectively respond to the world’s most pressing security challenges.
Participants also have the opportunity to take part in the concurrent Master of Advanced Studies in International and European Security (MAS), jointly run with the Global Studies Institute of the University of Geneva. The MAS programme has the highest level of accreditation awarded to degrees in Switzerland.
 

This course offers you a unique opportunity to:

• Strengthen your leadership skillset within a multi-cultural and cross-sectoral environment
• Acquire knowledge and skills to increase your effectiveness as a security policy practitioner
• Enhance your ability to generate constructive policy responses and solutions.

You will benefit from an innovative and interactive learning methodology, led by over 120 expert scholars and practitioners from across the globe, as well as benefiting from collaborative peer to peer simulations and case studies, to turn knowledge into practice.

Open to mid-career professionals working in national ministries. Applications from IOs, NGOs, civil society, academia and the private sector will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates must have had exposure to peace and security issues. Serving officers must have completed an advanced military staff course.
 

Participants should be dynamic and highly motivated to study issues of international security, in addition to demonstrating clear potential for leadership. Additionally, certain specific criteria are required:

• Applicants should have a university degree or be serving officers (Advanced Military Staff Course completed).
• Applicants should be at a mid-career level, and have a corresponding level of professional or academic experience in the field of international security. Post-graduate training and/or mission experience is an asset.
• Applicants should have an excellent knowledge of spoken and written English, the working language for the LISC. A deficit in language capabilities will hinder an applicant’s involvement in the course, and may lead to their ineligibility to participate.
• The LISC depends on the continuous full-time engagement of all participants throughout the course.

The course is offered free of tuition charges for participants as part of Switzerland’s contribution to the Partnership for Peace Programme. Fees apply for the MAS Programme. GCSP reserves the right to modify the programme dates, location and fee at any time.

COVID-19 Update: The recruitment process for the 2020-2021 edition is now closed. However, a place may become available in the exceptional case of a cancellation. Therefore, please send your CV to [email protected] if you would like to be considered in such circumstances.