The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Global Master of Arts Program
Medford, USA
MA
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
May 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 76,506 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, Blended
Fletcher’s Executive Master of Arts in Global Affairs is engineered for professionals who wish to remain in the workforce while earning an elite global affairs degree. It combines online learning with two in-person immersions—one in Boston and one in an international location. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum provides a 360-degree perspective of international affairs that is essential to succeeding as a global leader.
Advance your career or pivot to a new one
The Global Master of Arts Program is a hybrid master’s program that combines the best of in-person residencies with the flexibility of online studies. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum provides a 360-degree perspective of international affairs that is essential to succeeding as a global leader. The first hybrid program of its kind, GMAP allows seasoned professionals to earn a Master of Arts in International Relations from anywhere in the world while maintaining a full-time career.
The thoughtfully sequenced GMAP curriculum recognizes that the cultural, historical, and external forces that shape international affairs are deeply interconnected. Drawing from the broader Fletcher curriculum, GMAP’s coursework provides the skills and building blocks required by international affairs leaders in today’s complex and globally integrated world.
Key Features
- Online program allows you to work and study on your schedule
- Two in-person immersions – one international and one on Fletcher’s Boston-area campus
- Two skills summits: Data Science and AI for Global Leaders, and Arts of Communication
- Year-long lab to culminate your studies in one final project
| SUMMER TERM |
|---|
| Initial Residency (3 credits) |
| 1.5 credits: Global Leadership (Professor Diane Ryan) + 1.5 credits: Negotiation Strategy and Skills (Professors Eileen Babbitt & Diana Chigas) |
| 5/18/26-6/4/26: online coursework 6/5/26-6/13/26: Fletcher Residency (8 nights/ 9 days) 6/15/26-6/21/26: final assignments |
| 6/22/26-6/28/26: off week |
| Summer Module (3 credits) |
| 1.5 credits: Political Analysis: International Politics (Professor Jeff Taliaferro) + 1.5 credits: Global Economic Development (Professor Steven Block) |
| 6/29/26-8/9/26: 6 weeks online coursework 8/10/26-8/16/26: final assignments |
| Year-Long Course (1 credit) |
| Leadership and Negotiation Year-Long Lab (Professors Eileen Babbitt, Diana Chigas, Diane Ryan) |
| 6/29/26-8/16/26: online coursework |
| Summer Skill Summit (.5 credit) |
| .5 credit: Data Science and AI for Global Leaders (Professor Anna Haensch) |
| 8/17/26-8/20/26: online coursework 8/21/26-8/23/26: live skill summit |
| 8/24/26-8/30/26: off week |
| FALL TERM |
| Fall 1 Module (3 credits) |
| 1.5 credits: Cyber Policy Analysis & Risk Management (Professor Josephine Wolff) + 1.5 credits: International Legal System (Professor Chidi Odinkalu) |
| 8/31/26-10/11/26: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 10/12/26-10/18/26: final assignments |
| Year-Long Course (1 credit) |
| Leadership and Negotiation Year-Long Lab (Professors Eileen Babbitt, Diana Chigas, Diane Ryan) |
| 8/31/26-12/6/26: online coursework |
| Fall 2 modules (3 credits) |
|---|
| 1.5 credits: Global Security Governance: International Law and Institutions (Professor Ian Johnstone) + 1.5 credits: Addressing Global Environmental Challenges (Professor Melissa McCracken) |
| 10/19/26-11/29/26: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 11/30/26-12/6/26: final assignments |
| Fall Skill Summit (.5 credit) |
| .5 credit: Arts of Communication (Professor Lawrence Quartana) |
| 12/7/26-12/10/26: online coursework |
| 12/11/26-12/13/26: live skill summit |
| 12/14/26-1/4/27: 3-week winter break |
| SPRING TERM |
| Spring Module 1 (3 credits) |
| 1.0 credits: Policy Lab (Professors Kim Wilson and Melita Sawyer) + 1.5 credits: Public Policy Formulation and Practice (Professor Carlos Alvarado Quesada) + 1.5 credits: The Role of Force in the 21st Century International Security and Conflict Environment (Professors Richard Shultz & Michael Sullivan) |
| 1/4/27-2/14/27: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 2/15/27-2/21/27: final assignments |
| 2/22/27-2/28/27: off week |
| Year Long Course (1 credit) |
| Leadership and Negotiation Year-Long Lab (Professors Eileen Babbitt, Diana Chigas, Diane Ryan) |
| 2/1/27-5/6/27 |
| International Residency (2.5 credits) |
| 1.0 credits: International Security Simulation + 1.5 credits: Policy Lab (Professors Kim Wilson and Melita Sawyer) |
| 3/1/27 -3/10/27 online coursework |
| 3/12/27-3/21/27: International Residency (9 night/10 day) (Fletcher Spring Break) |
| Spring 2 Module (2.5 credits) |
| 1.5 credits: Global Economic Governance: Sustainable Trade and Investment (Professor Joel Trachtman) + 1 credit: Policy Memo Development (Professors Kim Wilson and Melita Sawyer) |
| 3/22/27-5/2/27: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 5/3/27-5/9/27: final assignments |
| 5/23/27: Fletcher Commencement |
Prospective students are required to indicate on their admissions application if they wish to be considered for scholarship aid. By doing so, you open the door to a range of financial opportunities designed to help you succeed at Fletcher.
Fletcher offers over $7 million in scholarships and financial aid each year. Prospective students are required to indicate on their admissions application if they wish to be considered for scholarship aid. By doing so, you open the door to a range of financial opportunities designed to help you succeed at Fletcher.
Fletcher scholarships
Fletcher scholarships, awarded on the basis of a holistic application review and demonstrated financial need, are available to both U.S. and international students. These scholarships are designed to support your educational journey, covering a portion of tuition costs. It's important to note that most scholarship awards do not cover full tuition, so we encourage students to explore additional funding sources. By taking advantage of all available resources early in the process, you can build a comprehensive financial plan that empowers you to fully engage in your Fletcher experience.
Federal loans
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online. The Tufts school code is 002219.
- You will need an FSA ID number to apply online.
- You are encouraged to complete your FAFSA by February 15 to allow provisional credits to be reflected on your Tufts tuition bill, which will be available electronically in early July.
- Need-based financial aid awards will arrive via email from Tufts Student Financial Services. Please monitor your junk and spam filters to be sure you receive this important message.
Supplemental scholarships for enrolled students
Fletcher is pleased to offer several additional scholarship opportunities to enrolled students. The following scholarships are awarded annually and may provide funding in addition to institutional scholarship aid. Fletcher will send enrolled students annual application announcements for the following, each of which requires a separate application:
- Dacor Bacon House Foundation Fellowship: Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR), an association of US Foreign Service Officers in Washington, D.C., awards the Bacon House Foundation Fellowship annually to a Fletcher student, in an amount up to $10,000 ($5,000 per semester). The award is made primarily on the basis of academic excellence and requires an expressed interest in an international relations field such as language, conflict resolution, international economics, or environmental science.
- The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund: The Will of Dolores Zohrab Liebmann created a perpetual charitable trust designated as "The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund" for the purpose of funding advanced education and graduate study grants. Each award covers the cost of tuition and an $18,000 annual stipend. Tufts University nominates three qualified candidates for this fellowship; Fletcher may put forward two candidates for the Tufts University selection committee to consider.
- Gregory Henderson Scholarship: This scholarship is made possible through a gift from the Estate of Maia Henderson, a longtime friend of Fletcher. The Henderson Scholarship supports Fletcher students pursuing Korean Studies. The terms of this scholarship are explicit: scholarship recipients will be required to submit a letter of thanks to the trustees of the estate detailing their pursuit of Korean Studies while at Fletcher.
- The John L. Robinson Educational Fund Fellowship: The John L. Robinson Educational Fund at the North Texas Community Foundation (The Robinson Fund) will grant scholarships on a competitive basis to second-year master's students studying United States-Arab World commercial diplomacy and business diplomacy. Fellowship recipients will receive a full-tuition scholarship for their second year of study at The Fletcher School. Open to MALD and MIB students who are academically qualified with a demonstrated interest in United States-Arab World commercial diplomacy and business diplomacy.
External scholarships
External scholarships can provide additional support as you finance your education.