April 25, 2011

SAIS and INSEAD launch dual-degree program

The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, a top international relations graduate school, and INSEAD, the leading international business school, last week announced an agreement to establish a dual-degree program. The new offering will allow students from both schools to work toward completing the SAIS Master of Arts and INSEAD Master of Business Administration simultaneously.

The INSEAD-SAIS Dual-Degree Program will prepare students for careers that combine international relations and business administration. Students admitted to both programs will be able to complete the two degrees in two and a half years—instead of the three years required to complete the degrees separately—by spending one and a half years at SAIS and one year at INSEAD.

Dipak C. Jain, dean of INSEAD, said, “We share a similar vision with SAIS to develop globally minded leaders in business and beyond. The INSEAD-SAIS Dual-Degree Program will be especially valuable for those who seek management responsibilities in international corporations, financial institutions, economic and development institutions, and government agencies.”

For students accepted in the program, SAIS will reduce the number of required courses from 16 to 12 in recognition of course work taken at INSEAD; all graduation requirements must be completed within these 12 courses. Those completing the INSEAD MBA must take five periods of course work for a total of 23.5 courses, including 13 core courses and 10.5 elective courses.

“SAIS is pleased to be part of this new relationship,” said SAIS Dean Jessica P. Einhorn. “It will be beneficial not only to participating dual-degree students but to the SAIS community as a whole, as we add to the diversity of students and interests. We are confident that, with INSEAD as our partner, the students who pursue dual degrees will find that the whole is greater than the sum of such excellent parts, and doors will open for superb careers of international engagement.”

Participants may begin the program at either SAIS or INSEAD. At SAIS, students can start in either Washington, D.C., or Bologna, Italy, with the final (third) semester being in Washington. At INSEAD, students can start in either Fontainebleau, France, or Singapore, and can thereafter exchange between the two campuses, as well as participate in exchanges with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

“There is a clear need for students to have a sophisticated understanding of both international affairs and management issues in an increasingly complex and interdependent world,” said Jake Cohen, dean of INSEAD’s MBA program. “The INSEAD-SAIS dual degree provides a unique international framework for students who envision global careers in a fast-changing world.”

Only students in the SAIS MA program studying at the SAIS Washington or Bologna campuses and students in the INSEAD MBA program enrolled at the school’s Fontainebleau or Singapore campuses will be eligible to participate in the dual-degree program.

Career and student services will be available from the time the student matriculates at either institution until completion of the program.