Welcome
With approximately 100 students engaged in coursework or research, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program is an integral and vibrant component of The Fletcher School. Fully engaged in the life of the Fletcher community, students in the PhD program also form their own tight-knit group of scholars at the forefront of international interdisciplinary research.
Though many Fletcher PhD students have previously completed Fletcher’s MALD degree, others have received master’s degrees from another university. Either way, admission requires prior completion of a master’s degree in a field that is relevant to international relations and directly related to the applicant’s proposed PhD studies.
Fletcher PhD students’ research fields range from global climate change to post-conflict societies to the dynamics of nuclear proliferation. What their research shares is an interdisciplinary approach and a focus on real-world situations. After completing their degrees, our graduates go on to high-level careers in academia, research, non-profit organizations, government, and the private sector.