Graduate Programmes

The OSCE Academy offers three graduate programmes: the MA in Politics and Security, MA in Economic Governance and Development, and MA in Human Rights and Sustainability (MAHRS). These are multidisciplinary programmes that give young Central Asian professionals a chance to receive a high quality graduate degree in the region. Curriculum is developed by international team of education specialists and reflects the key trends in the relevant academic fields. Instructors of the Academy come from various countries and regions. The language of instruction is English.

MA in Politics and Security enrolls about 25-30 students annually. Students come from all Central Asian states, Afghanistan, and Mongolia. The curriculum is rigorous, drawing from the most relevant aspects of International Relations, Comparative Politics, Security Studies and Development. The programme has been operating since 2004. 

MA in Economic Governance and Development, launched in 2011, enrolls maximum 25 students from all Central Asian states, Afghanistan, and Mongolia every year. The programme is essentially multi-disciplinary, with courses covering Economics, International Development, Public Policy and other relevant fields. 

MA in Human Rights and Sustainability (MAHRS), the new programme launched in 2023, enrolls maximum 25 students from all Central Asian states, Afghanistan, and Mongolia every year. MAHRS is the first interdisciplinary Programme for Human Rights in Central Asia, implemented in cooperation with the Global Campus of Human Rights in Venice, focusing on learning, applying, monitoring, and implementing human rights, good governance and sustainability principles and norms as stipulated by the UN Human Rights Regimes and the 2015 SDGs (Agenda 2030).  It aims to train and empower young scholars and professionals and graduate students to work and be active in the spheres of public administration, CSOs, and IGOs. The programme is financed by the European Union (EU) and the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. 


Faculty of the MA Programmes consists of a good mixture of international and local professionals, nearly all having doctoral degrees and active in research. The Norwegian Institute of International Relations, Geneva Center for Security and PeaceGerman Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) are among key partners both in teaching, training and student support.

Admission to the programmes is highly competitive and is based on the academic and professional merit. For more information about the programmes and admission, please visit the pages of the relevant programme.