Global Development and WMD Nonproliferation – Your Personal Contribution
“Today, when bilateral relations between Russia and the United States are at an extremely low level, the double-degree master’s program carried out jointly by the two countries is of particular importance. Normalization of relations between Russia and the United States is simply necessary, and the only way to do this is to learn to understand each other’s position After graduating from the MGIMO-MIIS-PIR Center double degree master’s program, I can confidently say that my choice of master’s degree turned out to be the right one. prepare a new generation of high-class experts”
Inna Rodina, graduate of the 4th intake (2019-2021) of the double-degree master’s program “Global security, nuclear policy and WMD nonproliferation” (Russia)
About the program
The International Double Degree Master’s Program “Global Security, Nuclear Policy, WMD Nonproliferation” is an innovative high-level educational product, which is implemented in cooperation with three reputable scientific and educational centers of Russia and the USA: MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Middbury Institute of International Studies in Monterey (MIIS, California , USA) and the PIR Center.
Agreements to launch a joint master’s program were reached in 2015. At the same time, the three founders of the program, MGIMO, MIIS and PIR Center, signed the relevant documents on its creation. Already in 2016, the first enrollment of students took place. Within five sets from 2016 to 2020. More than 40 students from different parts of the world have become participants in the double diploma program. So, in addition to Russian and American students, representatives of Canada, China, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, and the Republic of Korea are studying on the program.
A unique feature of the program is the combination of experience, knowledge, talent and efforts of the world’s leading experts in the field of nonproliferation and global security. Training is conducted in English. Foreign students can study Russian. Graduates of the master’s program receive diplomas from two universities – Russian and American. Upon successful completion of the program, a master’s degree is awarded in the direction of “International Relations” at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and “Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies” at MIIS.
The educational process in the double-degree master’s program in nonproliferation takes two years. Since the launch of the program in 2016, the first semester for first-year students has traditionally been held in Moscow, on the basis of MGIMO and PIR Center. Masters students spend the second and third semesters at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies in Monterey, California, USA. During the fourth semester, they undergo internships in international organizations (for example, the IAEA, UNODA, CTBTO, OPCW), government departments, leading expert centers and commercial structures in Russia, the USA and the leading capitals of the world, and also complete work on their master’s theses.
1 degree course
First semester Moscow, Russia Main MGIMO courses PIR Center Specialized Courses Research work Extra-curricular activities under the auspices of the PIR Center
Second semester Monterey, California, USA MIIS Core Courses Elective courses MIIS Research work
2 degree course
Fall semester MIIS Core Courses Elective courses MIIS Dissertation work
Spring semester Internships Completion of the dissertation Defense of the thesis
A young specialist in the course of studying at the program receives both fundamental knowledge of the theory and history of international relations, as well as applied knowledge related to the functioning of WMD nonproliferation regimes, international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, arms control negotiations, masters the methods of political analysis, gets acquainted with how with Russian and American approaches to nonproliferation issues.
Among the issues to be studied within the program
nuclear power and global energy
the future of the nuclear nonproliferation regime
the role of nuclear weapons in the security policy of individual states and military-political blocs
missile defense and missile proliferation risks
national and international export control regimes
use of information and communication technologies for political and military purposes
cyber threats to the security of critical infrastructure
regional problems of non-proliferation and nuclear security
new challenges and threats to national and international security
nuclear safety; critical knowledge management
modern processes in the energy sector and proliferation risks
The double degree program allows you to combine the efforts of the best scientific and teaching teams on nonproliferation in Russia and the United States. Among the teachers are not only famous scientists, but also practitioners with extensive experience in international work. From the Russian side, E.P. Buzhinskiy, A.V. Vorontsov, M.N. Lysenko, A. I. Nikitin, V. A. Orlov, V. I. Trubnikov, A. V. Ubeev, E. V. Chernenko, T. A. Shakleina and others.
PIR Center, for its part, organizes extracurricular activities in offline and online formats, including:
Visits to Russian government departments, commercial structures and media offices
Meetings and discussions with experts and specialists from Russia and other countries of the world
Conducting interactive sessions, such as debates
Admission conditions
international cooperation in the field of WMD nonproliferation and global security
development of nuclear energy in a broad economic and political context, including in countries that have begun to create national nuclear programs (CIS countries, the Near and Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America)
international relations, strategic aspects of world politics and Russian-American relations
The dual degree master’s program recruits applicants of all nationalities, including individuals with little or no professional experience.
Requirements for candidates:
Bachelor’s degree in any specialty.
Good academic performance.
Proficiency in English at IELTS 6.5 TOEFL 79 (IBT) or equivalent.
Required documents
The following documents are required to form a dossier*:
Fill out the form and pay the service fee
Transcript of previous education and diploma (if you already have one)
Motivation letter
Resume or CV
Recommendations (one required, two preferred)
TOEFL or IELTS certificate
GRE certificate is an added advantage
*all documents must be translated into English
How to apply
To submit documents, you must:
send a dossier (full package of documents) to the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey
register on the MGIMO online platform (before July 1).
Important! Scholarships are provided for Russian students. Every year, the PIR Center announces a competition for a scholarship, the issuance of which became possible thanks to the support of The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
